Become by Connecting: A Transfer Student’s Road to Commencement
Transfer student Sofia Perez almost didn’t choose Cal Poly Pomona, but two years after she arrived, she is glad she did.
Perez is one of approximately 6,900 graduates expected to walk across the stage at Commencement this weekend. Buoyed by a 4.0 GPA and the campus connections that made her success possible, Perez will carry the communication department banner to lead her peers into the ceremony.
From Community College to Bronco
Perez was inspired by her older brother’s college journey. She followed her brother’s path by starting out at Citrus College to save money and stay close to home before transferring to a four-year university. Of the eight four-year colleges Perez applied for, Cal Poly Pomona was not at the front of mind.
“My mom wanted me to tour CPP again, to see if I could picture myself here instead of just tagging along on my brother’s college tour,” Perez said. “I was reluctant, but we lived only 15 minutes away, so I eventually gave in.”
Perez said that her campus tour helped to sway her decision to become a Bronco, but she needed a bit more information to be certain. This led her to call the Department of Communication directly to learn more about the program.
The department chair at the time, Nell Horowitz, picked up the phone. She answered all of Perez’s questions ranging from class size to internships to post-graduate job opportunities. Horowitz eventually gave Perez a special invitation to “COM Day,” an event normally reserved for communication students only, not prospective students.
“I remember her telling me on the phone ‘Just come to COM Day It’ll really give you a feel for our department.’ And she was right,” Perez said. “That personal experience with the communication professors and current students is what finally helped me realize that CPP was the place for me.”
Campus Involvement: Her Key to Success
Perez officially transferred to Cal Poly Pomona in 2024 and hit the ground running. From day one, she was determined to fit four years’ worth of campus life into her two short years. This included clubs, professional organizations, two campus jobs and an internship.
“Being a transfer student is not easy. It can feel very isolating entering a space where people have already been involved for two years,” Perez said. “But I decided I wanted to be involved and rooted in my college life, so I plugged myself in everywhere I possibly could.”
Perez’s campus involvement included:
- An internship event planning, writing, and running the social media channel for the Communication Department —the very same department she called on the phone before attending CPP.
- A post as director of special events for CPP’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
- A chance to lead a team in her event planning class, serving as co-coordinator for the group as they organized the annual Communication Alumni Night
- A campus job as a writer and social media content creator for the Department of Strategic Communications.
- A second campus job working at the BRIC, the campus gym
- A role in the construction of the 2025 Cal Poly Universities Rose Float, “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs,” including helping sketch the animal designs and building the Highland cow
- The opportunity to make lifelong friends in the CRU Christian club, including many long nights socializing after her classes
Perez added, “I always think that the long days here are the fun days, because you get to do so many things.”
Full Circle Moments Before Graduation
To her surprise, Perez was recognized at the Communication Alumni Night, the event she helped lead in her class.
The current department chair and Perez’s internship mentor, Jason Turcotte, awarded her with their highest accolade, “Communication Student of the Year.”
In a full circle moment during her acceptance speech, Perez reflected fondly on that phone call two years ago that convinced her to attend the university.
“Thank you to Dr. Horowitz for that fateful day that you convinced me to come to COM Day and ultimately, CPP,” she said. “Being part of this department has been the most rewarding and fulfilling experience I could have ever asked for in my college journey.”
Future Plans
Perez, whose communication degree has an emphasis in public relations, is gearing up for her May 15 Commencement. As for what comes after that, she is interviewing for multiple communication jobs and hopes to eventually work in entertainment PR. She reflects that breaking into that specific industry can be challenging, but she feels more than ready.
“I’ve been able to get myself into every corner of this school,” Perez said. “Because of my time here, I feel equipped, confident and eager to dive head-first into my professional path.”