If it were not for the grants he was offered, Jose might not have chosen to go to UCLA or might have had to take on crippling student debt.
Jose Tapia is currently a fourth year undergraduate student who transferred to UCLA. His major is Political Science with a minor in Public Affairs. Growing up in South Los Angeles, Jose lived in a working class neighborhood. While a student at Lynwood High School, he began to consider pursuing higher education, deciding the best route for him was to attend community college. He received his associate’s degree in photography while fulfilling the requirements to transfer to a four-year university.
Fearing the prospect of taking on too much debt, he searched for lower cost universities because he felt he could not afford an education at a University of California (UC) campus or a private institution. However, after speaking to several UCLA representatives, he realized that there were numerous opportunities to receive financial aid. He also spoke to some of his friends who attended UCLA and who appreciated the high level of education they were receiving there. He applied to UCLA and was accepted, and offered several financial aid awards, mostly from Cal Grants and directly from UCLA. If it were not for the grants he was offered, Jose might not have chosen to go to UCLA or might have had to take on crippling student debt. Jose believes funding for Pell Grants is essential.