Meet our Transfer Mentors

Name: Heer

Major:  Chemical Engineering

Type of Transfer:  External, then Internal

Residence:   Commuter

Hobbies/Interests: Listening to music, knitting and collecting sweatshirts

Favorite Quote: "The postcard says wish you were here. But I'd rather I was there, holding on to the simple things

before they disappear" - Rise Against

Words of Wisdom: I know coming to Rutgers can be a large place, so try to figure out where your classes are and

what bus to take before classes start.

Fun Facts: I am left handed

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Name:  Charles

Major: Chemical Engineering

Type of Transfer: External Transfer

Residence: Non-commuter, off campus

Hobbies/ Interests: watching sports, going to the beach, exploring new types of food, exploring new

places, playing real time strategy computer games, reading sci-fi books

Favorite Quote: “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he

has his freedom.”

“It takes heart to be a guerilla warrior because you’re on your own. In conventional warfare, you have tanks and a whole

lot of people with you to back you up, planes over your head and all that kind of stuff. But a guerilla is on his own. All

you have is a riffle, some sneakers, and a bowl of rice, and that’s all you need, and a lot of heart.” –Malcolm X

Words of wisdom: Work hard, be diligent, get involved.

Fun Facts: I love animals. I like to blow bubbles. I like to explore nature. I like to play and record music (although I don’t

get the chance much anymore). My first concert was the Dropkick Murphys when I was 13. My icon is also my favorite

novel and the same cover as the edition I own.

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 Name:  Julia

Major: Industrial and Systems Engineering

Type of Transfer: External transfer from Quinnipiac to Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences. The

next semester I then transferred to the School of Engineering.

Residence: Off campus near College Ave

Hobbies/Interests: I am a member of the Rutgers Equestrian team, and I try to stay active throughout the semester by

going to the gym regularly.

Favorite quote: "Don't count the day done until you make the day count." This was said by a little old lady I saw in a

Buzzfeed post. This quote motivates me to do something productive every day.

Words of wisdom: Take advantage of all the opportunities at Rutgers that interest you. There is something

for everybody ranging from scuba-diving to hacking computers and everything in between.

Fun fact:  I have an adorable baby bunny named Benny that my future transfer mentees can come play with!

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 Name: Thomas

Major: Civil/Environmental Engineering

Type of Transfer: Originally I wanted to study architecture. I was accepted into Pratt Institute,

which has a highly ranked architecture program. I committed to that school for that reason

alone. After the first 12 days, I realized that Pratt was a terrible match for me and that

engineering would suit my interests and needs much better. As a result, I withdrew and luckily

in time to be able to sign up at Raritan Valley Community College. I spent a year at RV (due to how classes lined up)

and then transferred to Rutgers for the fall of 2014.

Residence: I will be living in BEST Hall on Busch Campus.

Hobbies/Interests: I have a great interest in music. I listen to all types genres of music, play several instruments, and

produce/record music electronically. I am very active. I go to the gym almost every day. I am able to find an appropriate

balance of schoolwork and physical activity. Lastly, I embrace my creativity. I love any activity that involves thinking

differently. I took many art courses in high school and continue to take part in this passion when time allows for me to

do so.

Favorite quote: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

Words of Wisdom: The most important advice I could give to a transfer student is to make engineering friends in any

way possible. When I first transferred to Rutgers I thought I could handle all of my courses on my own and learn the

material by solely going to lectures and studying by myself. Realistically, this is not the only way to do so. It is very

beneficial to have friends who are in the same courses as you so that you can review the concepts you are learning in

class in a group. You may think you know something, but you may actually not have a full understanding. The only way

you will find this out is by studying with others.  

Fun facts:- Varsity lacrosse player in high school- Guitar is my instrument of choice- Movie/TV Show Enthusiast- Pulp Fiction is my favorite movie

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 Name: Brielle

Major: Chemical Engineering

Type of Transfer: I transferred from Virginia Tech after my first year there, so I understand the

transition of transferring from another big university that is very different from Rutgers.

Residence: I live off campus on College Avenue.

Hobbies/Interests: I’m a sister of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and love being involved on

campus. I danced in Rutgers University Dance Marathon for 30 hours straight this past year.

Fun Facts: I sang all throughout high school and still enjoy singing for fun. I also hula danced for 13 years, but had to

stop once I got to college. I love to read, watch Netflix, and listen to music.

I have great studying tips and also would love to be able to help in any classes. In addition to academics, I am always

here to grab lunch, have a study date at the library, or to just talking about anything.

Name: Omar

Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Type of Transfer: Internationally, Externally, and then Internally

Residence: Commuter

Hobbies/ Interests: Teaching, shows, learning

Favorite Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Words of wisdom: Don’t lose your way. You’ll see a lot of obstacles and changes but

always remember what you love and why you want to do it coming in.

Fun Facts: Google used to be called Backrub.

Name: Andrew

Major: Mechanical Engineering - Aerospace Concentration

Type of Transfer: External - transferred with credits from American Military University,

Internal - transferred from School of Arts and Sciences to School of Engineering

Residence: Off-campus

Hobbies/ Interests: entrepreneurship, volunteering, leadership, learning, the outdoors, basketball, running

Favorite Quote: "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."

- Zig Ziglar

Words of wisdom for a new transfer: Rutgers is massive - explore and find your niche, then OWN it. If your niche

doesn't exist, create it.

Fun Facts: I spent four years in the Marine Corps after high school

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Name: Vineeth

Major: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Type of Transfer: Internal Transfer from the School of Arts and Sciences during my

first semester of my sophomore year.

Residence: Commuter/non-commuter

Hobbies/Interests: Basketball - I played throughout high school on my varsity team

and in addition to that I played for various AAU clubs in the northeast area.

I enjoy being around my friends and family and spending time with them. I love to watch movies, and listen to music. I

am not big on reading, but I will always remember “The Alchemist”.

Favorite Quote: “It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” And “There is only one

thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”―Paulo Coelho, Alchemist

Words of Wisdom: Engineering is definitely a tough and intimidating path to pursue, especially as a freshmen and I

can say that for sure because of the struggle I went through to adapt to the college education system coming from a

small high school. Whenever, we think we are the only ones going through a certain hardship or issue, we are wrong. I

was under the impression that after doing so miserably on my first semester exams as a freshmen I wouldn’t be able

continue studying in the math and science stream at Rutgers. However, a major life lesson I learned from freshmen

year and life in general is that it’s not about how well we succeed in our ambitions, but how well we can cope with

failures which we encounter in our path to achieve them. Success merely shows yourself off to the world, but a small

failure can teach you what the world has to offer to you. The only thing between what you are and what you want to

become is yourself and once you overcome that, you can achieve anything that you put your mind to.

Fun Facts: I was born in South India and came to the United States when I was about 4 years old. I am an only child

and the only family I have here is my parents as the rest are back in the homeland. My favorite restaurant is between

On the Border and Olive Garden. Two of my many favorite movies are I Am Legend and The Great Gatsby. My favorite

T.V. shows are Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. I work at Nautica in Secaucus at the moment, and also work in my

Dad’s Law Office.

Name: Angela

Major: Chemical Engineering

Type of Transfer: External

Residence: Non-commuter living off campus (Douglass)

Hobbies/Interests: Outdoors, Sports, Soccer, gym/working out, beach, surfing,

snowboarding, crocheting, reading

Favorite quote: “It is too often that we wish life away, live and love now.”

Words of Wisdom: Meet people, make friends, step out of your comfort zone, focus on your education (the reason you

are here) while still getting involved. You only get to do college once, so make the most of it.

Fun Facts: I have a twin sister. My favorite color is teal blue. I have a collection of movie ticket stubs.

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Name: Anna

Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering

Type of Transfer: External. Originally I am from Poland.

Residence: Dorms on Douglass campus

Hobbies/Interests: Every time I have a chance to travel I just take advantage of the

opportunity. It makes me leave my comfort zone, be off balance and it is a great feeling.

There is nothing better than going on adventures, discovering new places, observing how

cultures and people differ, and admiring beauty of nature. Other activities that I enjoy are exploring abandoned places,

hiking, and canoeing.

Favorite quote: “It’s all about the journey, not the destination.”

Words of Wisdom: “The world is your playground”, so start your game at Rutgers. Expand your limits, meet new

people, get involved, experience new things, make and share memories. Do not be scared of unknown; just be curious.

Life won’t be easy, if it was it wouldn’t be so interesting. Remember, it is all you and the choices you make; YOU are

creating your future and your way to happiness.

Name: Dillon

Major: Bioenvironmental Engineering

Type of Transfer: External from the Polytechnic University on Puerto Rico.

Residence: Off-campus

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy surfing, off-road motor sports, music, working out, art,

meditation, and other personal enhancement activities.

Favorite Quote: "The tragedy of life is not death but what we let die inside of us while we live" -Norman CousinsWords of Wisdom: As a transfer student himself, Dillon will help you embark on your new journey here at Rutgers

where he will lead you in the right direction to become the best person and student you can be while advancing your

studies and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Fun Facts: Former member of the RU Paint ball Team Grows his own herbs using a homemade aquaponic system

Name: Ryan

Major: Mechanical engineering

Type of Transfer: Internal from the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences

Residence: I will be living off campus within walking distance of the College Ave campus.

Hobbies/Interests: Space, the universe, soccer, and going on adventures with friends. I

have a passion for nature and the world around me. I have a deep curiosity about the way

things work and a desire to learn new things.

Favorite quote: “A new consciousness is developing which sees the Earth as a single organism and recognizes that an

organism at war with itself is doomed. We are one planet. One of the great revelations of the age of space exploration is

the image of the earth finite and lonely, somehow vulnerable, bearing the entire human species through the oceans of

space and time.” - Professor Carl Sagan

Words of Wisdom: Some advice that I would give is that time management is very important. It is also very crucial to

be active on campus and join clubs and organizations.

Fun Facts: I have two dogs at home, I enjoy every type of music, and I am a lefty.

Name: Manassa

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Major: Electrical Engineering

Type of Transfer: International

Residence: Non-Commuter; I live off campus.

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy reading books and listening to music. I also love dancing and have been trained in Indian

classical dance.

Favorite Quote: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”-Steve Jobs

Words of Wisdom: Change can be overwhelming, but the key to get adjusted is to accept the reality in front of you and

to embrace it with an open mind.

Fun Facts: Rutgers has the most amazing grease truck ever. I love grabbing a bite once in a while from there and it is a

must try for anyone who goes to Rutgers. If you are a fitness freak then Werblin recreation center on Busch Campus is

the place to be at.

Name: Joyce

Major: Packaging Engineering

Type of Transfer: Internal

Residence: Commuter (but, I lived on campus over the past two summers)

Hobbies/Interests: Cooking & Baking; Watching Variety Shows; Food Shopping; Japanese

Anime & Comics

Favorite Quote: “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with

the heart.” — Helen Keller

Words of Wisdom: “Your capacity to learn from your mistakes and move on will be key to your ultimate success and

achievement." — Amy E. Dean

Fun Facts: I love traveling. My dad and two older sisters are all Chemical Engineers. Every fall semester, I always have

at least one exam that is scheduled on the week of my birthday.

Name: Youssef

Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering

Type of Transfer: I was originally enrolled at Rutgers Newark then transferred to Rutgers New

Brunswick right after my freshman year.

Residence: I commute from Edison

Hobbies/Interests: I go snowboarding during the winter and I body board/surf during the

summer. I also hit the gym almost every day making it one of my favorite things to do. Academic interests include

building bridges, being on a construction site and motivating and inspiring people (That’s why I am a mentor).

Favorite quote: “When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who

have been given less.” (Narrated by Muslim).

Words of wisdom: Don’t wish for college to be over, pick your friends very carefully, only take that which is good from

each person and leave the bad influences, MAKE USE OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE AT RUTGERS, get

involved and maintain you GPA!

Fun Facts: I am outgoing and confident in approaching people and talking to them about anything varying from a

technical engineering problem to an outdoors adventure. I respect and appreciate different cultures since I lived in four

different countries, and travelled to more than six. I enjoy being outdoors and playing sports, and I appreciate all four

seasons. I hope to influence others to worry less, and smile often!

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Name: Jerry

Major: Chemical Engineering

Type of Transfer: International 2+2

Residence: Non-commuter, off campus

Hobbies/interests: Soccer, FIFA video game and watching

movies

Favorite Quote: “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick but don’t lose faith.” --Steven Jobs

Words of Wisdom: Get involved in the big engineering family and challenge yourself every day.

Fun Facts: I chose a chemical major coincidently because I used a wrong code, but so far I like it. I am a Real

Madrid fan but I have a lot soccer balls with FC Barcelona logo.

Name: Chris

Major: Civil Engineering

Type of Transfer: I graduated from Mercer County Community College with an A.S. in

Engineering Sciences. I transferred to Rutgers School of Engineering.

Residence: Off campus housing in the Douglass Campus area

Hobbies/Interests: During the summers, I worked for the Rutgers Infrastructure Monitoring and Evaluating (RIME)

group on Busch Campus. Some hobbies are playing sports including soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and basketball. I enjoy

playing most video games. I also enjoy being social and meeting new people.

Favorite Quote: "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing

nothing." - George Bernard ShawWords of Wisdom: The School of Engineering is a well-respected place. The learning style is different from most other

schools. It is critical to not fall behind, because when you do it is much harder to catch up.

Fun Facts: Played soccer for 12 years and have been a referee for 4 years. Brother of the Delta Chi Fraternity. First

vacation I took alone was to ski the mountains this winter with friends.

Name: Gloria

Major: Chemical Engineering

Type of Transfer: As an international student from Beijing, China

Residence: Off-campus

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy exploring American campus life which is different from the campus

life I had before. That’s why my hobbies are traveling around and collecting postcards.

My favorite quote is from Abraham Lincoln: “I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.”

As for words of Wisdom for new transfer students: I’d highly recommend you ask whenever you have a question!

That attitude really helped me a lot, especially during the first few months. People at Rutgers are so kind that asking for

help can make a new transfer’s life so much easier.

Fun Facts: I love all kinds of food from all over the world!

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