“I arrived in the United States from Cuba in 2011 and enrolled in HCC’s EAP program (English for Academic Purposes). EAP helped me to learn English as a second language and prepared me for the rigors of transferring to a university.”

— Marcos Clavijo, 2014 HCC Graduate, Second Year Medical student

Having arrived in the United States during my high school to college transition, I found it difficult to learn a new language, get used to the U.S. culture and to navigate the educational system. I also had to work full-time in order to pay for school and books. HCC’s small class sizes, attentive professors and low tuition rates eased my transition and helped me build a solid educational foundation. Small class sizes made it easy to connect with my professors and gave me the confidence and preparation I needed to transfer to a university. All my HCC professors were amazing, but, Dr. Barry Silber and Barbara Smith Palinkas were particularly helpful and encouraging. My professors also advised me to join HCC academic clubs which expanded my education while encouraging university transfer. I graduated from HCC with honors, earned a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Biophysics from the University of South Florida am currently attending Nova Southeastern University studying to be a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. HCC changed my life and helped set my education success in motion.