Transfer Application
When I first stepped foot onto Pitzer’s canopy of exotic cacti that bequeathed its resort-like dorms, I saw the translucent shell of a cicada—delicately perched on a wooden handrail. I gently cupped the exoskeleton and carried it to my dorm, to wake up to reminders to outgrow my old skin. I couldn’t imagine how the symbolism of this talisman would soon be realized into my own journey of transformation.
Native Californian cicadas remain dormant for years underground as nymphs before emerging as adults to the brilliant world above. My two years at Pitzer have felt a bit like the cicada’s dormancy period. On the personal level, it’s allowed time for growth, discovery, and maturation. Being the overly optimistic freshmen that I was, I plunged myself into extracurriculars and the social scene of the Claremont consortium. Through joining 5C clubs, I was able to cement strong friendships with students at Pomona who shared my interests, such as dancing in the Groove Nation, writing about human rights for the Claremont Journal of Medicine and Social Justice, leading the Middle Tree Think Tank, and analyzing case-study frameworks in the Pomona Consulting Group.
Academically, I embraced my lifelong zeal for learning— double majoring in cognitive science and philosophy while trying to graduate early— and even enrolling in graduate courses at CGU. The majority of my courses were actually taken at Pomona, including my upper-division philosophy seminar course with Gregory Antil, neuroscience courses with Nicole Weekes, Richard Lewis, and I’m currently in my third cognitive science class with Laura Johnson. I was eager to make the most out of everything Pitzer offered, including its access to the consortium. However, I experienced a pivoting point that sparked my realization about Pitzer’s limitations.
When I witnessed my Pomona friends conducting research with their professors through SURP, it inspired me to pursue research as well. However, both Pitzer doesn’t have a cognitive science department; while I have tried to seek out opportunities at Pitzer, there are no designated protocols or laboratories for my research interest.
Upon meeting with curriculum advisors like Lise Abrams, it was Pomona’s faculty who’ve provided me with support and mentorship. It was Pomona’s classes that enabled me to socialize with others who share my zeal for cognitive science. Later this semester, I will be developing a thesis under Professor Johnson to examine how fluency affect our perceptions of truth. My proposed study has the potential to be published and to contribute to the existing canon of knowledge. All this has been made possible through Pomona’s robust network of resources and connections.
Like the cicada, I have tried to enrich myself with all that’s available at Pitzer—closely cherishing my time there and leaving behind a beautiful, molten cast in the place I’ve called home for the last two years. Fully nourished, I am now ready to take flight and flourish en route to become a cognitive neuropsychologist. There is truly no place better to pursue this field of study than at Pomona. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Professor Johnson and will fully take advantage of everything Pomona offers.