TlDR;
I want to transfer from a small(er) community college to UC Berekely’s mechanical engineering program, does being an SI look good on my transfer application?
Hi all, I am a second-year mechanical engineering student studying at a relatively small community college in California. It has always been my dream to transfer to UC Berkeley since I graduated a couple of years ago (I completely biffed high school) and I have maintained a 4.0 GPA as of last semester. However, I currently have no extracurriculars/major-related volunteer work, and I haven’t been able to participate in clubs or activities because my college shut down nearly all clubs and activities due to Covid-19. However, the one thing that I do have going for me is my paid position as a Supplemental Instruction Leader for precalculus & trigonometry, introduction to calculus, and general chemistry 1. I TA during lecture hours and conduct online tutoring sessions with groups of 2-7 students throughout the week (I will be conducting in-person sessions starting this fall). I touch base with my professors on a near-daily basis, and I attend training sessions both before and during the semester. I truly believe that my experience as an SI has strengthened my understanding of the subject matter, and given me the interpersonal skills that I have lacked for the majority of my life (go figure!). My question is, despite being a PAID position, will this experience make a significant impact when it comes time to submit my transfer applications? Other than my grades, I am afraid that I am a relatively unimpressive and unassuming person on paper, and I can feel my time at community college slowly coming to a close. In short, should I be worried? Does anybody have any advice for me?
Thanks.