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Baez Sola will soon become a UCF alumnus, joining graduates around the world who are grateful for the DirectConnect to UCF program and how it streamlined their transfer process, guiding them along the path to earning a UCF degree. The program, launched in 2006, guarantees admission to UCF for any student with an A.A. or A.S. from one of six partner state colleges, consistent with university policy. However, with approximately 4,200 degrees awarded each year to DirectConnect to UCF students say it’s much more than the guaranteed admission. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the simplification of the life transition. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the peace of mind knowing the journey to graduation will be more focused and less time-consuming. Perhaps most important of all are the academic success coaches who come alongside each student when they need it most.

Beth Ganz is one of those coaches in the UCF Transfer Center.

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After high school, she attended Palm Beach State College and then transferred once, twice, three times, eventually earning a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree from Florida Atlantic University. Ganz never forgot what it was like to be a transfer student. It 麻豆精品 S檚 why she accepted a position as an academic success coach shortly after DirectConnect to UCF welcomed its first students. Since then, she 麻豆精品 S檚 advised thousands of transfer students, including her own son.

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There 麻豆精品 S檚 a misperception that the obstacles are always related to academics when, in fact, they 麻豆精品 S檙e often related to life. Ganz is among a handful coaches who help transfer students navigate housing, paperwork, language differences, selecting a major, even general fear. They 麻豆精品 S檝e helped those same students thrive and go on to careers as doctors, nurses, executives in hospitality, engineers in the space program, business owners, and researchers and developers in the tech sector.

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Haileigh Galloway 麻豆精品 S�23 graduated from UCF with a degree in psychology before landing a position as a clinical research coordinator at Nationwide Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Hospital (NCH) in Ohio 麻豆精品 S� the same hospital where she and her brother and sister were treated for medical issues as kids. Galloway sees her research at NCH as a big step closer to medical school and part of 麻豆精品 S淕od 麻豆精品 S檚 plan for my life. 麻豆精品 S�

Do not believe, however, that the steps have always been perfectly laid out for Galloway.

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Galloway was homeschooled, earning an A.A. while dual enrolled at Eastern Florida. After accepting her high school diploma and her A.A., she entered a small private university to finish her bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檇 considered UCF my dream school for a long time, 麻豆精品 S� she says, 麻豆精品 S渂ut my parents and I thought it might be too big for an introverted 17-year-old. As it turned out, the smaller college wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 for me, so after a lot of praying I took the leap and transferred to UCF. 麻豆精品 S�

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Looking back at her steps, Galloway says it was easily the best decision because two things happened. First, she found a research opportunity at UCF. And second, she became a PeerKnight coach.

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Galloway 麻豆精品 S檚 story points to the core value propositions of DirectConnect to UCF beyond guaranteed enrollment. Transfer students are given a clear path to graduation and a relationship. You 麻豆精品 S檇 never suspect today, for example, that Baez Sola ever wrestled with either of those. Truth is, he was filled with angst. Shortly after enrolling at UCF through DirectConnect, he started working for ConeXiones, a peer-support program within DirectConnect. He also learned hands-on entrepreneurship through UCF’s Blackstone Launchpad and business practices through the university 麻豆精品 S檚 Professional Selling Program. He 麻豆精品 S檚 now interviewing for jobs well ahead of his projected graduation. He even has a new vision: to create a business and encourage people facing difficult questions on their own academic and life journeys.

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