My experiences at Delta have been amazing — with the exception of the difficult process of navigating my degree path.
I sent my evaluations form in January 2024. At no point during the next 3 semesters was I informed of an error or a problem with the form.
“We have received your transcript evaluation request. Transcript evaluations are processed in the order received, or at the time a degree application is processed,” was the email I received on January 29, 2024.
The email did advise me to make an appointment with a counselor.
The soonest appointment was for March 2024, forced to play a guessing game to fill out my CSU general education requirements form, I was told it could take an entire semester to receive my adjusted units.
In Fall 2024, when I was in Admissions and Records and my Saddleback units still weren’t appearing, I was simply told to bring my transcript in physically, to fill out another form, wait another indeterminate period of time.
“It’s just going to take a little longer,” I assumed.
Silly me.
In August 2024, I met with my counselor to get an update on my transferred units. But my credits were nonexistent in Delta’s system. The counselor reminds me to visit the admissions office to check my transcript status. We play another guessing game, assuming that I just need to take one more class and Spring 2025 would be my last semester.
I ended up taking five more classes.
I checked with Admissions and Records again in January 2025. The same woman helps me, I bring in my Saddleback transcript. She immediately tells me Delta will not accept an unsealed transcript.
At no point had that been mentioned. I ask her to check on my units from Saddleback.
Yay, the transcript exists in my records!
The credits, however, were not accepted for transfer.
I return to my car and sob.
Why’s it taking so long to get any updates or progress? It’s supposed to be my last semester. I should be receiving my associate’s degree and transferring to a university.
Was I being overlooked, lost in the machine? Was short-staffing the reason the evaluations process takes forever? Were other students having the same issue?
“Yes I transferred from Los Medanos College in Pittsburg CA,” said Delta student Joe DeMasi. “My units did take long to transfer though since I didn’t have my “official” transcripts I couldn’t get it transferred till fall ’24 and I feel the process was pretty difficult. I started in spring 2023.”
I angrily write my unhinged email to evaluations, my jaw clenches as tears run down my face. This would be the fourth email to confirm my transferred units. I was sure I would get a quick response when I threatened to make a public comment at the next board meeting about the evaluation incompetence. No response.
At some point, I believed that the evaluations process was AI-generated. The unseen Wizard of Oz. Who’s running this mythical department? Going from evaluations, to admissions, to my counselor, no one could give me an update or any answers.
Eventually, I received help from outside of the admissions department. My units were finally transferred after three semesters of waiting.
However, I have to take another semester. One more class…
I reanalyzed the evaluations process form, just to see if I missed something. If you do bring your transcripts in-person, they must be sealed. The form also mentions the process would take 20-25 weeks. My experience took longer than 52.
At some point, I thought about going back to Saddleback to obtain my degree. But why would I do that when I’ve established myself within Delta’s Mass Communications program.
I originally didn’t want to finish my degree at Delta. In 2021, I was enrolled at Saddleback College when I was living in Irvine. By the end of that year, I had to move back to my hometown, Stockton. I tried everything in my being to avoid Delta College. But here we are.
