Transferring for a degree
Student commutes between Boston and Port Angeles to achieve his BA in song-writing; Peninsula College provides the basics
sebastian edgerton
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Campus Life
David Rivers is a transfer student by definition. He graduated from Peninsula College with an AA-degree in 2006. He then transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston from 2007-2008, and now is back at Peninsula this fall for his non-music prerequisites for a Bachelor's in song writing, which he will finish off at Berklee.
Here at PC he says he is just "trying to get prerequisites out of the way."
A Baccalaureate in song writing could include basic pop, country and musical theatre. Rivers hopes to concentrate on stage performance music as opposed to movies and Hollywood. This would look and sound like musical theatre rock.
Rivers has two main reasons for transferring, "It's cheaper to go to Peninsula College," also explaining that his family lives in Port Angeles.
The non-music classes at Berklee, Rivers said, were less than optimal. He said "their non-music classes, to be honest, suck." Of Peninsula College, Rivers said; "I knew the faculty so I knew what I was getting myself into."
He said transferring between the two schools went smoothly. Berklee College allows a year off so he could reapply for his scholarships and financial aid when he returns.
"Living space is pretty much the hardest thing," he said. He and his roommate in Boston, must find a place next fall.
There is a bit of change on the Peninsula College campus, River said, but "it's the same teachers that are the heart of the college."
River's found that recognition of credits earned at Berklee gave him some trouble when he reapplied at Peninsula College. PC didn't recognize the musical credits he had earned at Berklee. Rivers is not trying to finish his degree at PC, but instead is taking the prerequisite basics for his new degree and saving the music courses for Berklee.
For example, one class he is taking at Peninsula College is "World Civilizations" from Michael Cassella-Blackburn.
Rivers said, "Studying here prepared me for studying elsewhere."
For the kid who goes directly from high school to a four-year institute, Rivers said it is a shock leaving home for the first time. Besides the shock he said the first two years are spent on partying, which Rivers believes is a developmental issue. Because of this River recommends the Running Start program. "It's a great opportunity," he said.
Rivers was a home-school student who went to a public high school for a year before starting Peninsula College. He said he would have been very frustrated if he had stayed in the high school for the last two years.
And since he was going to college so close to his home, he was able to stay with his parents, which he said helped him to "be really focused on my studies at Peninsula College."
Offering advice for new students, Rivers said, "don't waste your time or your money." Saying that to succeed a "combination between perseverance and passion helps you succeed in college and beyond."
Regardless of how interesting a subject, Rivers said it is all valuable. "We benefit from pushing ourselves."
Here at PC he says he is just "trying to get prerequisites out of the way."
A Baccalaureate in song writing could include basic pop, country and musical theatre. Rivers hopes to concentrate on stage performance music as opposed to movies and Hollywood. This would look and sound like musical theatre rock.
Rivers has two main reasons for transferring, "It's cheaper to go to Peninsula College," also explaining that his family lives in Port Angeles.
The non-music classes at Berklee, Rivers said, were less than optimal. He said "their non-music classes, to be honest, suck." Of Peninsula College, Rivers said; "I knew the faculty so I knew what I was getting myself into."
He said transferring between the two schools went smoothly. Berklee College allows a year off so he could reapply for his scholarships and financial aid when he returns.
"Living space is pretty much the hardest thing," he said. He and his roommate in Boston, must find a place next fall.
There is a bit of change on the Peninsula College campus, River said, but "it's the same teachers that are the heart of the college."
River's found that recognition of credits earned at Berklee gave him some trouble when he reapplied at Peninsula College. PC didn't recognize the musical credits he had earned at Berklee. Rivers is not trying to finish his degree at PC, but instead is taking the prerequisite basics for his new degree and saving the music courses for Berklee.
For example, one class he is taking at Peninsula College is "World Civilizations" from Michael Cassella-Blackburn.
Rivers said, "Studying here prepared me for studying elsewhere."
For the kid who goes directly from high school to a four-year institute, Rivers said it is a shock leaving home for the first time. Besides the shock he said the first two years are spent on partying, which Rivers believes is a developmental issue. Because of this River recommends the Running Start program. "It's a great opportunity," he said.
Rivers was a home-school student who went to a public high school for a year before starting Peninsula College. He said he would have been very frustrated if he had stayed in the high school for the last two years.
And since he was going to college so close to his home, he was able to stay with his parents, which he said helped him to "be really focused on my studies at Peninsula College."
Offering advice for new students, Rivers said, "don't waste your time or your money." Saying that to succeed a "combination between perseverance and passion helps you succeed in college and beyond."
Regardless of how interesting a subject, Rivers said it is all valuable. "We benefit from pushing ourselves."
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