Recalling his past educational experience, Bradley Pultz recognizes his growth as a student. “I had a pretty large gap between high school and college.” After high school, “I was not the most exemplary student, I struggled with many classes, I barely passed high school. I did not think I was going to go to college.” After enrolling in courses at his community college, Pultz successfully resumed his educational path to Berkeley.
Pultz has always had a strong interest in the arts. Conversations with a curator at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art inspired Pultz to take community college classes in Art History and then anthropology. “During Covid, I had the opportunity to take some community college classes and I went into things that were interesting and fun to me, which was mostly art history, and then I got interested in Anthropology and I pushed for the associate degree to transfer and I started applying.” The vast overlap between the disciplines encouraged Bradley to pursue a double major in History of Art and anthropology. “I found out I enjoy the classes and that there was a lot of overlap between art history that sucked me into the rest of the program. My Art History focus is Ancient and Medieval Art of Europe so there is a lot of overlap.”
Classes with Lisa Pieraccini further developed his interest in Ancient and Medieval art, while also connecting him to a community of fellow passionate History of Art students. “The Pieraccini class- I made a few friends in that class, there are three people that I got really close to, we call ourselves bread people because of a lecture centered around Roman bread! That's our joke, we are the bread people, and we are all taking classes together next fall. We like Pieraccini a lot. She is amazing.” Pultz and his friends are excited to take Pieraccini again in the fall. “The professors are some of the best in the field. The archeological research facility has an active test pit, it is kind of amazing.”
Reflecting on his transition to Berkeley, Pultz describes his transition, during Covid-19. “Most of the classes I took were completely online, so coming to a large campus as big as Berkeley was a little shock.” However, Pultz had the opportunity to participate in a transfer program which allowed him to get accustomed to the campus. “I did a transfer education program last summer, that kind of gave me the chance to explore campus, it wasn't super crowded. I took one class online and one that was in person, and that gave me a nice blending of the two, rather than jumping in the pool right into the deep end.” Pultz Participated in the Transfer Edge program, which is available to transfer students.
Pultz encourages students to apply to Berkeley. “It never hurts to apply. I did not expect Berkeley, but I got in. it is better to have the option than to not have them at all. It is always worth applying especially if there's a chance you might get in.”
Berkeley has opened many doors for Pultz, which has motivated him to further his studies to begin applying to grad school. “Much like when I did my UC and CSU applications, I am casting a pretty broad net to different schools to make sure I get in somewhere decent. That way I have options.” Pultz advises that you give yourself options for opportunity. “That is my biggest one: making sure you have options.”
Learn more about transferring to UC Berkeley here.
Visit the Division of Arts & Humanities Transfer Guide here.