Chloe Ma (she/her) | SURF & URAP | Spring ’25
Chloe Ma is a transfer student from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is currently a double major in ethnic studies and sociology, and is interested in understanding how society functions and theorizing her personal experiences. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. and work in academia.
Chloe previously participated in URAP and is continuing her research in SURF L&S. For her SURF project and honors thesis, she is studying the experiences of undocumented Asian immigrants in higher education institutions.
How has participating in URAP & SURF made your academic experience more fulfilling?
I transferred to Cal because I wanted to be more involved in research, and both URAP and SURF have provided me the opportunities. I was involved in URAP my junior year where I conducted secondary research on the Chinese American community. Through SURF, I was able to get a headstart on my honors thesis that I’m doing this academic year. These programs have helped me to achieve my goals for transferring.
What advice do you have for new and incoming transfers interested in applying to and participating in similar research programs?
Getting involved in research opportunities can be intimidating sometimes, especially as a transfer student, but I encourage students: Apply for the opportunities you want even if you think you don’t stand a chance. The worst thing that can happen is they say “no,” but if you never try, you may never know. I am also a peer advisor in the OURS program, and to students who are reading this, please feel free to stop by my drop-in office hours and schedule an appointment with me via email (chloema@berkeley.edu) so we can talk more about navigating research opportunities on campus as a transfer student!
Fiona Rain Murphy (she/her) | SURF | Fall ‘25
Fiona Rain Murphy is a transfer student from Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. She is currently a double major in Celtic studies & English, and plans to attend graduate school to continue working on her Irish language abilities. She hopes to eventually work in education or cultural outreach programming.
Fiona participated in SURF L&S, where she researched the representations of infidelity in early Irish sagas.
How has participating in SURF L&S made your academic experience more fulfilling?
With the generosity of SURF I have been able to spend more time researching and studying, and less time worrying about affording school. It is also just a wonderful thing to have Celtic studies included in such a scholarship program.
What advice do you have for new and incoming transfers interested in applying to and participating in research?
If you have an interest, commit to it. It is worth the time and effort of getting to really know your field, if it means receiving funding to research something you really love.
Nima Elie (he/him) | UCDC | Fall ‘24
Nima is a transfer student from Los Angeles Pierce College. He attends the Haas School of Business, where he studies the intersection of business policy and technology. He is particularly fascinated by how special interests can drive success in the private sector, and eventually plans to apply this knowledge in building his own company.
Nima participated in our UCDC program, where he gained hands-on experience in politics and policy-making.
How has participating in UCDC made your academic experience more fulfilling?
Being in the middle of policy-making and politics has really opened my eyes to how businesses operate and what success can mean in both public and private spaces.
What advice do you have for new and incoming transfers interested in applying to and participating in experiential learning programs like UCDC?
My advice for incoming transfers: A. Keep an open mind—don’t shut any doors before they open. B. Focus on creating real, meaningful relationships.
Genie Sullivan (they/them) | National Scholarships | Summer ‘25
Genie is a transfer student from Laney College in Oakland, California. They are currently majoring in sociology, with a special emphasis on the sociological aspects of data, digital technologies, and data-intensive technologies. They plan to pursue a Ph.D. in sociology to better understand how social relations are changing.
How has pursuing national scholarships like Voyager & Strauss made your academic experience more fulfilling?
I think that the Obama Foundation Voyager Scholarship and the Strauss Foundation Scholarship have given further meaning and importance to my academic work. I see public service and public sociology as an important responsibility for anyone working in the sociological field today.
What advice do you have for new and incoming transfers interested in applying to and participating in nationally competitive scholarships?
I would encourage people to take the time to deeply think about their position in relation to society and then move forward with others to radically change the issues important to them. Thinking strategically and collectively in this way not only makes you a good candidate for these programs, but it makes you an accountable community member.
Sara Ahlich (she/her) | National Scholarships | Fall ‘24
Sara is a transfer student from Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California. She is currently majoring in conservation and resources, and is passionate about protecting and managing our natural world. She is excited about the abundance and diversity of professional opportunities in the environmental field, and currently she is most interested in pursuing fire ecology, forest ecology, and conservation biology.
Sara is a recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship, which funded her Russian language studies in the virtual CLS Spark program and the overseas summer program in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
How has the Critical Language Scholarships program made your academic experience more fulfilling?
The Critical Language Scholarship was a really nice way to introduce new interests and adventure into an already exciting time at Cal. After my summer in Bishkek with CLS, I continued my Russian studies at Berkeley and was introduced to the amazing professors and communities in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. I love the College of Natural Resources (CNR) world, but I felt lucky to dabble in a new subject!
What advice do you have for new and incoming transfers interested in applying to and participating in nationally competitive scholarships?
I think transfer students often have compelling reasons and inspiring stories that describe their path to Berkeley, although we tend to sell ourselves short. CLS seeks diversity in their cohorts, which includes wanting a range of experiences and fields of study, so use your status as a transfer student to your advantage!