For siblings Kiera and James Tran, the journey to Georgia Tech has been one full of focus, determination, and challenges. Both originally coming to the Institute as undergraduate transfer students, James is now finishing up his computer science degree with a focus on robotics, and Kiera completed her B.S. Environmental Science degree and has moved on to her Ph.D. in geophysical glaciology.
Taking the Transfer Route
Kiera initially moved from Vietnam to Athens, Georgia, to live with her sister. Though her sister encouraged Kiera to consider attending the University of Georgia, Kiera was drawn to a degree with a more technical focus.
“I didn’t think something like a majority business school would be a good fit,” said Kiera. “I was really drawn to a place like Tech, and a tech-focused degree.”
However, Kiera didn’t have any existing college credits under her belt, and made the decision to start elsewhere to get some experience before Tech. She started at the University of North Georgia to work on her first credits.
When Kiera ultimately made her transfer to Tech, she found community in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences courses quickly, and various class and research projects helped Kiera get connected on campus.
“My cohort was so small, and that helped me build relationships,” said Kiera. “But beyond that, my professors made sure I found projects to work on around campus, especially in sustainability. So, I started working with my classmates on projects for the benefit of campus, and that’s how I started to get involved and know people.”
James, who moved to Savannah, Georgia, from Vietnam, first heard about Tech from another family member when he was in high school.
“I had heard about it initially from a cousin who went here, and he explained his major and what he wanted to pursue,” said James. “And from then, I started to focus on my work and improving my grades so I could go.”
James initially started his computer science degree at Georgia State University, and transferred to Tech in 2022. Though the School of Computer Science is a much larger program than Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, James noted he has also been able to find camaraderie among his cohort that helped him adjust to Tech.
“The more that’s expected of us in a class, the more we help one another,” he said. “I usually connect with a friend to talk through homework and programming, and that’s a good way to build relationships.”
Advice for Transfer Students
Both Kiera and James recommend prospective transfers to be persistent, focus on career goals throughout the transfer process, and keep an open mind about the community at Tech.
“Everything will be alright,” said Kiera. “It can be a lot to adapt to life at Tech, but it’s an awesome environment where people are so kind to one another, and it’s important to know that there is support.”
James echoes that with advice to interact with the environment at Tech as early as possible to aid in an easy adjustment.
“Start working early,” he said. “And by that, I mean do what you can to get adjusted and get to know campus.”
Chasing Dreams
Ultimately, Kiera and James are enjoying their time at Tech and working towards their professional goals. Beyond the classroom, being at Tech means Kiera and James can work together to support their family, who are now together in the Atlanta area.
When Kiera accepted her Ph.D. position, she was able to step away from her three part-time jobs to focus on academics full-time. And, in addition to her studies, she’s also taken the opportunity to get involved with the Graduate Student Government Association. This year, she was elected President of Grad SGA, with her platform focusing on mental health, post-graduation preparation, and helping graduate students navigate their relationship with their advisor.
Since transferring, James has been able to expand his focus on robotics, an interest he’s held since his high school years. In class and beyond, he’s been able to develop robot circuits, and learn more about robotics in general.
“My old program didn’t have as many opportunities in this field, so I’ve enjoyed being able to work on the development side,” said James. “After graduation, I hope to pursue robotics at a large company, or continue my education to keep learning.”
National Transfer Student Week
National Transfer Student Week takes place Oct. 21 – 25, and schools across Tech’s campus will be hosting information sessions and webinars for prospective transfer students. To sign up for an event, visit the National Transfer Student Week event page.
To learn more about transferring to Georgia Tech, visit the transfer admission website
