Admitted transfer students and their families explored academic programs, connected with faculty and students, and experienced campus life firsthand during Highlander Day for Transfer Students on May 9 at UC Riverside.
Throughout the day, CNAS welcomed future Highlanders with a full lineup of transfer-focused programming, including multilingual tours led by CNAS Science Ambassadors, faculty meet-and-greets, student panels, lab tours, and opportunities to learn more about majors, research, advising, and student support services.
From the moment students arrived, the focus extended beyond academics. The event was designed to help admitted transfer students envision themselves as part of the UCR community — not only in classrooms and laboratories, but also through mentorship, research, leadership opportunities, and campus connections.
Visitors spent the day exploring the breadth of opportunities within CNAS. Science Ambassadors guided tours across campus, included visits to the Organic Chemistry Teaching Lab and the Geology Museum. Admitted transfer students were able to met with faculty and advisors representing departments across the college during the CNAS College and Majors Fair on the Student Success Building lawn.
Inside the CNAS Welcome Session, Stephanie Dingwall, Divisional Dean of Student Academic Affairs, emphasized the college’s commitment to creating a supportive and connected environment for transfer students entering a large research university.
“We empower our students to pursue their passions, follow their dreams, and we support them however we can to get there,” Dingwall said. She highlighted the importance of engagement, belonging, research opportunities, faculty mentorship, and individualized advising within CNAS.
For many attendees, one of the most impactful parts of the day came from hearing directly from current transfer students during multiple student panels and open house discussions.
Students shared candid reflections about navigating the transfer process, adjusting to university life, finding community, and discovering opportunities they had never imagined before arriving at UCR.
Samantha Guli, a fourth-year biochemistry major, described arriving at Highlander Day as an admitted student while balancing the responsibilities of being both a transfer student and a parent. Unsure whether she truly belonged at a large research university, she said a single conversation changed her perspective.
“It took one person to make a lasting impression on me,” Guli said. “I realized the support here was that strong, and this is where I belonged.”
Other students echoed similar experiences, describing the welcoming culture they found within CNAS and the relationships they built with faculty, mentors, and peers.
Camila Hernandez, a graduating entomology major who transferred from Victor Valley College, said she was drawn to UCR’s strong sense of community and opportunities for hands-on learning and research.
“When I came to UCR, I was able to immediately talk to professors in my major, and they were so willing to help and support me,” Hernandez said.
Fourth-year biology major Emily Kubaski said one of the strengths of UCR is the number of ways students can become involved both academically and socially.
“UCR offers a lot of research opportunities,” Kubaski said. “There’s so many ways to get connected to UCR, learn more about the campus, build relationships with faculty, and find community.”
Kubaski also encouraged admitted transfer students not to compare themselves to a “traditional” college experience.
“It’s okay to not have a traditional pathway,” she said. “You can create your own experience here. If you put in the work, you’ll find opportunities, build community, and truly benefit from everything the campus has to offer.”
CNAS student Angel Zarobinski, a plant biology major graduating this year, reflected on how different it felt to return to Highlander Day as a student panelist after once sitting in the audience herself as an admitted transfer student.
“I remember sitting in that same room listening to other students share their stories,” Zarobinski said. “Now, sitting on the panel myself, I realize I followed many of those same steps to succeed here at UCR.”
Her advice to incoming transfer students was straightforward: “Take advantage of every opportunity available to you. Apply, ask questions, and put yourself out there. Those opportunities exist for a reason — because UCR believes you can succeed.”
Many of the conversations throughout the day centered on the importance of mentorship, balance, and finding a sense of belonging during the transition to a research university.
Rosendo Silva, a CNAS Transfer Connections Peer Mentor, encouraged students to think intentionally about what they want from their college experience and to seek out resources and relationships that support those goals.
“UCR has been one of those places that really has felt like home,” he said. “I’ve been able to build a community, build resources, and connect with individuals that have really helped me along my journey.”
Silva emphasized that every student’s path looks different and that learning to find balance is part of the transfer journey.
“We all have different goals, different needs, and different paths,” he said. “Taking the time to understand what you want from your college experience early on can really help you take advantage of the opportunities and support systems around you.”
Throughout the day, transfer students also learned about programs specifically designed to support their transition to UCR, including Transfer Connections, peer mentoring, undergraduate research programs, and the CNAS STEM Room — a dedicated gathering space for transfer students within Pierce Hall.
Liz Jimenez, Manager of Transfer Success Programs for CNAS, said Highlander Day gives students an opportunity to begin imagining themselves as part of the campus community before classes even begin.
For many students, she said, the day is about more than choosing a university — it is about discovering a network of support and opportunities that will help them succeed after they arrive.
Amanda Arrieta, a biochemistry major, Transfer Connections Peer Mentor and CNAS Science Ambassador, shared how participating in transfer-focused programs helped shape her own experience at UCR. Before transferring, Arrieta participated in RISE, the Research in Science and Engineering summer program that introduced her to campus, faculty mentorship, and undergraduate research opportunities.
Since arriving at UCR, Arrieta has become deeply involved in research, mentorship, outreach, and student leadership. She also created “STEM Café,” a student-centered community event that brings students together over specialty coffee and conversation.
“We consistently get over 100 people at STEM Café now,” Arrieta said during the open house session. “My goal is to create community and give students an opportunity to get to know each other.”
Arrieta said one of the biggest lessons she hopes students take away from Highlander Day is the importance of finding support systems and community early on.
“When you transfer, it can look a lot different than what you expected,” Arrieta said. “Finding support systems here, finding your community, even if it’s not within your major, is important.”
She added that one of the deciding factors in choosing UCR was seeing firsthand how willing faculty, staff, and students were to support transfer students before they even arrived on campus.
“UCR faculty, staff, and students were taking time out of their day to connect and share resources with us before we even arrived on campus,” Arrieta said. “That made a huge impact on me and really showed how supportive the UCR community is.”
By the end of the afternoon, many students left not only with information about majors and academic programs, but also with a clearer sense of the community, support, and possibilities waiting for them at CNAS.
For admitted transfer students still considering their next step, Highlander Day offered a glimpse into what life at UCR can look like — a place where students are encouraged to explore, connect, grow, and belong.
Admitted transfer students planning to attend UC Riverside must submit their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) by June 1, 2026.
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