Q&A with Alum Umika Kuroda
Umika Kuroda
On the third week of October, colleges across the country recognize National Transfer Student Week (NTSW) to celebrate transfer students and the professionals who support them throughout their academic journeys.
In celebration of this year’s NTSW theme, “Unlocking Potential: Keys to the Transfer Journey,” we got to know recent graduate and 2024 Graphic Communication Department ‘Outstanding Senior’ Umika Kuroda (Graphic Communication, ’24).
As a student, Kuroda competed in the Xplor Communication Design Competition, and the Phoenix Challenge Flexographic Competition, where both teams placed first. They also volunteered at the Shakespeare Press Museum where they trained students on how to do letterpress, worked part-time at the Transfer Center and played violin in the Cal Poly Symphony.
Kuroda shares what it was like working in the Cal Poly Transfer Center and what their transfer journey has looked like from community college to post-graduation.
The winning Phoenix Challenge team (left to right: graphic
communication student Umika Kuroda, consumer packaging
concentration student Claire Schatz, graphic communication
students Alex Woon, Jasmine Lee, Jacob Sterrett, and
Sydney Doyle).
Where did your college career begin and how did you find yourself at Cal Poly?
I attended community college at Sacramento City College with the intention of pursuing user experience/user interface (UX/UI) design. However, I ended up earning an associate’s degree in psychology while taking graphic communication courses on the side. I realized that I enjoyed the UX/UI coursework a lot more and began looking for university programs that offered study in it.
Wanting to stay in California, I did not apply for private universities because the tuition would’ve been too expensive. Cal Poly fit within my needs and was the only university that offered UX/UI courses that were linked to more creative study as opposed to cognitive science.
During your time at Cal Poly, you were heavily involved with the Transfer Center. What was the experience like?
I got involved with the Transfer Center when I saw that they were looking for a student graphic designer. It seemed like the perfect opportunity especially because campus jobs prioritize your school schedule, and I knew I could still maintain some work-school-life balance.
My favorite part of working for the center was connecting with other transfer students and helping people. I’ve been in mentorship and teaching roles before, so it was rewarding to be able to provide insight and influence people who were in the same situation that I was recently in.
As a recent graduate, what was the job search experience like for you?
I secured a job before graduation due to help from two professors in the Graphic Communication Department. Both of them vouched for me and my work ethic to recruiters at a career fair booth, and I strongly believe that was the push that got me that job.
Another reason I was able to secure that position is because I went to career fairs, attended professors’ office hours regularly (even if I didn’t have questions, but just to get to know them) and tried to connect with people. As a transfer student, this can be hard because you’re only at Cal Poly for a short amount of time, so you have to make a conscious effort to do these things. But if you do, it is rewarding. You will enjoy your classes more because of those connections with your professors and they will genuinely want to see you succeed because they know you. And when the time comes time, they will vouch for you like they did for me.
What has post-graduation been like for you?
Post-graduation, I had a job for a couple of months, but I quickly found out that it was just not for me. Having a job right after graduation is every student’s dream, but we often feel pressure to find something as soon as possible. I was so worried about proving myself during my probationary period but one of my good friends said, “A probationary period isn’t just for the employer to find out if you’re a good fit for job, it’s for you to find out if the job is a good fit for you.”
I was lucky enough to be able to move back home to Davis, California until I secure another full-time position. I also decided to take a class this semester at my community college with one of my former professors where I get to serve as a project manager for a design team and be part of another design team — working on two different projects for real clients.
What advice would you give to transfer students at Cal Poly?
Other than making connections with professors, I would say making connections with other students. I saw many of my friends make friends living on campus by saying “hi” to passersby and simply knocking on neighbors’ doors and inviting them for dinner. Getting as involved as possible both within and outside of my major was where I made the most connections.
Celebrate NTSW with the Cal Poly Transfer Center! See the full event schedule.