When several Austin Community College District (ACC) Honors Program students earned admission to some of the nation’s most selective universities this year, there was one familiar face helping guide them through the process: Claire Hobbs.
As an ACC alumna who transferred to Yale University and is now preparing to attend Harvard Kennedy School to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy, Hobbs understands firsthand what it takes to navigate the path from community college to a top-tier institution. She shares that experience with ACC students through mentorship and outreach efforts connected to the College’s annual Two-Year to Top-Tier initiative.
“There’s no one recipe for transferring to a top university,” says Hobbs. “We [nontraditional students] came from varied backgrounds, and some of us had even failed at earlier college attempts. I say this in hopes that students looking to transfer will see the value in their own unique stories.”
This fall, six ACC Honors students will continue their academic journeys at highly selective universities, including Yale, Cornell, Columbia, and Brown.
For Hobbs, helping students imagine themselves at institutions like Yale feels especially meaningful because she once faced those same doubts herself. After stepping away from college following high school, Hobbs returned to higher education years later by enrolling at ACC.
“Starting at ACC was scarier than transferring to Yale,” says Hobbs. “The idea of returning to college mid-life was intimidating,” but “ACC gave me that entry point, and I immediately felt at home. I explored my academic interests and built momentum taking hard classes, which made transferring to a school like Yale feel within reach.”
Through ACC’s Honors Program, Hobbs challenged herself academically while building the confidence needed to pursue opportunities she once considered out of reach. She credits ACC faculty, staff, tutors, and classmates with helping her develop the skills and support network that contributed to her success. Today, she encourages students not to limit their own aspirations.
“Don’t self-select out,” she says. “You won’t get the chance to go to your dream school if you don’t apply.” It’s a message that resonates with this year’s cohort of Honors students who will continue their academic journeys at Ivy League universities this fall. Dr. Anne-Marie Thomas, associate dean of the Honors Program, affirms that this message aligns closely with the work ACC continues to do through its transfer initiatives.
“What we’ve found among students is a kind of self-limiting mindset that often prevents them from taking the big swings, even though they are comparable with any student in the nation,” says Thomas. “[We] have made it our mission to counter that mindset and show students that they have earned their places at some of the finest institutions in the world.”
Through the annual Two-Year to Top-Tier initiative, co-hosted by ACC Transfer Services and the Honors Program, students receive guidance on transfer planning, application strategies, and opportunities to connect with ACC alumni who have successfully transferred to highly selective universities. Hobbs hopes her own story and the accomplishments of this year’s transfer students serve as a reminder of what is possible.
“I want everyone at ACC—students, faculty, staff, parents, and administrators—to know that community college students can and do thrive at top universities,” says Hobbs. “I’m grateful for ACC. It was the launchpad for my academic journey. I started here, and it took me further than I imagined. I hope my path inspires other ACC students to aim high and see where it takes them.”
The Two-Year to Top-Tier event will return next spring to help students explore transfer opportunities and connect with representatives from selective colleges and universities nationwide.
The accomplishments of Hobbs and this year’s transfer students also reflect ACC’s ongoing commitment to improving student completion and transfer outcomes, which are key measures in the College’s Institutional Effectiveness Report Card and HB8 performance metrics. Their success highlights the meaningful role faculty and staff play in helping students achieve their academic goals.
For more information about the ACC Honors Program, visit austincc.edu/honors, or visit austincc.edu/transfer for information on ACC’s transfer services.
Tags: Honors Program, Ivy League, Transfer
Back to Top