Nov. 3, 2025
The transfer path to a four-year college can feel daunting. That’s why it’s so important for GRCC students to embrace all of the support resources that are available.
“Right after high school, I planned to study finance at Michigan State University,” Diaz said. “I was a little embarrassed when I realized what a poor financial decision that would be. I’d be spending $30,000 or more per year on school…money that my family didn’t have.”
So Cristian decided to come to GRCC for his general education credits. He had no plans to get involved in anything on campus. To him, this felt like a wise financial decision, but he thought it would be more like an extension of high school.
And then GRCC started a soccer team. Cristian made the team and started to build some connections. When his second year rolled around, Cristian was ready to explore more resources. He got involved in the Honors program, which helped him learn how to create a portfolio and position himself with employers. He also attended business events, such as meetings at the Econ Club, and learned how to talk with successful people. All the while, he was learning about himself.
“I was starting to think that maybe finance wasn’t the right fit,” Diaz said. “My advisor talked to me about marketing, and specifically recommended that I explore the Transfer Bridges program.”
Transfer Bridges connects GRCC students to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at University of Michigan Ann Arbor, offering opportunities to engage and learn about the transfer experience.
“I visited Ann Arbor and decided to apply to U-M,” Diaz said. “Unfortunately, I got really frustrated by the process. I didn’t realize there was help available for the essay portion of the application, and I got overwhelmed.”
That first application was rejected, which dealt Cristian a crushing blow. Cristian figured he would cut his losses and finish his degree elsewhere. In the interim, he had the opportunity to create a video for GRCC’s social media page and discovered a new passion.
“I love content creation,” Diaz said. “I was able to secure an internship and started doing more of it.”
That work helped him realize that he still really wanted to attend U-M. This time around, however, he connected with someone in Transfer Bridges for advice. They in turn, hooked him up with U-M’s Opportunity Hub, and someone there helped him with the essay portion of the application.
“I submitted it a week before the deadline, but didn’t dare get my hopes up,” Diaz said. “And then on February 28 of this year, an email showed up in my inbox. When I opened it, the streamers and confetti poured out onscreen to congratulate me. I was now a U-M student.”
Cristian started U-M this past fall, and the transition to a remote school has been challenging.
“I would not be here without my parents,” Diaz said. “They are both immigrants. They never experienced education like I am receiving. Yet they are both working full time so that I can attend school here. My parents want me to be the best I can be and so I’m doing it, even though it’s hard for me to be away from home. I love them so much for what they are sacrificing.”
Cristian is paying it forward in his own way by working as a Transfer Ambassador.
“As an Ambassador, I talk to students from community colleges who are considering a transfer to U-M,” Diaz said. “I provide feedback on their essays, answer questions, give tours and talk about my own experience. I wish I had had someone to encourage me after high school, so now I’m giving people what I didn’t have. Hopefully the students I meet will feel more confident and secure about their desire to attend U-M. It’s a great school.”
Between classes, homework, being a Transfer Ambassador, and working as a marketing and media assistant for the U-M dining program, Cristian’s schedule is full to the brim. However, he’s learning valuable life lessons as he juggles all his responsibilities.
“As you grow older, you need to have resilience,” Diaz said. “I know that I will have the ability to handle a heavy workload and manage my time when I graduate.”
Learn about the Transfer Bridges program at GRCC.