Student Stories

• Background: Thao Nguyen is an international student from Vietnam who attended Orange Coast College (OCC) and transferred to UC Berkeley [00:03].

• Why OCC: After high school, she felt unprepared to apply directly to top universities due to her writing and lack of extracurricular experience [00:17]. OCC offered student involvement opportunities to build her application [00:28].

• Student Leadership: Served as Secretary of the Student Senate, representing over 23,000 students and helping manage a $1.5 million budget [00:39]. She attributes this experience to helping her get accepted into UC Berkeley [00:54].

• Scholarships: Attended Honors events and received scholarships for three consecutive years, which helped cover school supplies and provided motivation [01:04].

Video source: Thao Nguyen, Vietnam | Orange Coast College Global Engagement Center

• Background: Justin Yeo is an international student from Singapore who studied biology at Orange Coast College (OCC) and transferred to Columbia University [00:03].

• Campus Involvement: Served as Vice President of Scholarly Activities for the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter, leading an "Honors in Action" research project focused on vaccine safety and efficacy [01:13].

• Ivy League Transfer: Discovered through the Honors Program that Ivy League universities actively recruit community college students, leading to his admission to Columbia University [01:43].

• Recommendation: Strongly recommends starting at a community college due to significant tuition savings before transferring to a four-year university [02:02].

Video source: OCC to Ivy League, Justin Yeo – Singapore

• Background: Gabriele Simonti is an international student from Italy and captain of the Men's Water Polo team at Orange Coast College (OCC) [00:05].

• Why OCC: Chosen because OCC is one of the top community colleges in California for transferring to the CSU and UC systems [00:10].

• Water Polo Program: Joined OCC specifically for its water polo program [00:20]. Reached out to the head coach, who promptly responded and assisted him through the application process [00:25].

• Recommendation: Recommends OCC for students looking to balance both high-level athletics and quality education [00:40].

Video source: Gabriele Simonti, Italy | Orange Coast College Global Engagement Center

• Featured Student: Kele Lithuge, an international student from South Africa [00:08].

• Academic Focus: Majoring in Global Studies and International Relations [00:15].

• Why OCC: Chosen for its robust international study programs and resources compared to South Africa [00:20].

• Dance Involvement: Active in Orange Coast College’s dance program, including repertoire and hip-hop classes, as well as faculty choreography [00:35].

• Showcases & Conferences: Represented OCC at events such as the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and the ACDA Baja Conference [01:01].

• Experience: Describes joining OCC as an amazing journey that transformed his college experience [01:14].

Video source: Kele Lithuge | International Student from South Africa