Hear From Our 2026 Graduates
Testimonials from Green River College international students who have transferred to top universities.
Testimonials by Year
2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
Austin Maung
Myanmar
University of Washington - Seattle
Major: Business Management - Finance
"Green River has given me so many opportunities to grow and develop myself throughout my two years of studying here, and without them I don't think I would have been accepted into UW. Through opportunities like working for the International Programs office, tutoring students in public speaking, and being involved on campus with clubs, I learned how to communicate with different people, and become a leader in the community. I have been blessed to know the community and call it my own where I was welcomed regardless of my ability to speak English or which country I came from. The students and staff are all very kind and supportive. Especially our international academic advisors, they have guided me through my journey making sure I achieve my goals. I am forever grateful and proud to be a Green River College alumnus!"
Chi Xiang Chua
Malaysia
Virginia Tech
Also Admitted to: University of Minnesota, Florida Institute of Technology, Colorado State University,
Indiana State University, University of Washington
Major: Building Construction
"Green River College provided many opportunities for students like me. Seeing the upper batch get involved on campus and transfer to top universities inspired me to become a student leader. As an International Student Ambassador (ISA), I learned to develop leadership, communication, and event-planning skills while creating fun memories with students from all around the world. Beyond academics, Green River gave me a second family through the friends & staff I met here. They pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, and become a better version of myself."
Haley Chong
Malaysia
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Also Admitted to: Florida Institute of Technology, State University of New York, Environmental Science
and Forestry (SUNY ESF), University of California, Davis
Major: Environmental Science
"Green River College has given me countless opportunities to grow and excel. During my time at GRC, I was able to improve my adaptability and communication skills while taking on different leadership roles, and I was also lucky enough to meet some amazing people from different cultures. Especially huge thanks to Mr Alvin for being an instrumental part of my transfer process!"
Jason Chong
Malaysia
University of Washington - Seattle
Also Admitted to: UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Major: Biology
"Green River has played a vital role in my transferring application process to a top university, providing endless opportunities for growth both professionally, personally and in education. During my time, I have been grateful to have the opportunity to work in four different jobs on campus as well as taking on leadership positions in several student clubs. The eternal support I've had from my supervisors (shoutout Paz!), club advisors (shoutout Chris!) and instructors (shoutout Dr D!) have streamlined my journey here at GRC. Also, the small student-to-teacher ratio has also supported my academic success here and made it easy to build connections with my professors who were always accessible through office hours and by email."
Lunar (Nguyet) Vo
Vietnam
University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
Also Admitted to: UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara
Major: Psychology
"I want to give a big thanks to the advising team at Green River College. They were always there to guide me with my academic plan and help me take the best classes for my major. At the same time, I also received a lot of support from the IP Team (International Programs). They helped me overcome the challenges of being a new international student when I first came to the U.S. All of that support built a strong foundation and a sense of belonging in me. I grew a lot, both personally and academically."
Maria Agustina Elgart
Argentina
Eastern Washington University
Major: International Affairs
"Green River College helped me get into a top university by allowing me to grow in all kinds of ways. GRC took a new international student, with no clue of what to do or who she wanted to be, and gave me the tools I needed to become the leader I am today, who aspires to change lives for the better."
Min Thwin Phyo (Oscar)
Myanmar
University of British Columbia - Vancouver
Major: Marketing
"Green River helped me grow as a person and made me grow in all of my potentials. The experiences I had in Green River College honed all of my abilities to further my career and future. It was an environment with loved people that made me feel like family to keep me going."
Penghan Chen
China
University of California - Santa Barbara
Also Admitted to: Arizona State University, University of California - Riverside,
University of Maryland
Major: Computer Science
"Green River College provide a diverse and welcoming environment that helped me adapt to life here in the United States quickly. The advisors and professors were always supportive and guided me through the transfer process. They helped me to choose the right courses and provide valuable guidance in both my academic and daily life, The support I receive gave me the confidence and foundation needed to transfer successfully to UCSB."
Rain Lim
Malaysia
University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
Also Admitted to: Emory, NYU, BU, UMiami, Indiana University, UCLA
Major: Business Economics
"Green River College played a huge role in helping me get into a top university. When I first started, I was able to build a strong academic foundation in a supportive learning environment. The smaller class sizes made it easier to connect with professors, ask questions, and receive personalized guidance throughout my academic journey. One of the biggest advantages of Green River was its vibrant Student Life. It provided me with a platform to build connections, develop leadership skills, and be involved in something bigger than just academics. I was fortunate to serve as a member of Student Government, where I helped represent and support the student body. I also worked as an economics tutor, which strengthened my understanding of the subject while allowing me to support other students. Beyond academics, I was involved in several clubs and leadership activities that helped me build meaningful friendships and lasting connections. Looking back, Green River College gave me the confidence, experiences, and opportunities to grow both personally and academically, ultimately becoming the stepping that helped me achieve my goals and preparing for success at a top university."
Wen Haw Kok (Wayne)
Malaysia
University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
Also Admitted to: University of Washington - Seatte, UC San Diego, UC Riverside, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Florida Tech Instituition
Major: Business Economics
"As an international student from Malaysia, Green River College gave me the support, resources, and opportunities needed to achieve my academic goals. The dedicated professors and transfer guidance helped me build a strong foundation and successfully gain admission to top universities. I am grateful for the experience and the community that helped me grow both academically and personally."
Yu Wen Zhang
China
University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA)
Major: Businesss Economic
Also Admitted to:University of California, San Diego (UCSD) University of California,
Irvine (UCI) University of California, Davis (UCD) University of California, Santa
Barbara (UCSB) University of Washington, Foster School of Business
"Green River College played a critical role in both my academic and personal development. Through rigorous coursework in business and economics, I built a strong academic foundation that prepared me for transfer to top universities. At the same time, the supportive environment encouraged me to take on responsibilities beyond the classroom, including helping manage aspects of my family’s business. These experiences strengthened my problem-solving skills, adaptability, and sense of responsibility. In addition, the guidance from advisors and the International Programs team made the transfer process clearer and less stressful. Green River not only helped me achieve my academic goals, but also shaped my confidence and direction for the future."
Zacchaeus Gibson
Singapore
University of Washington - Seattle (Foster School of Business)
Major: Business
"Green River College played a significant role in helping me gain admission to the University of Washington Foster School of Business. As an International Student Ambassador, I helped plan activities and events for incoming international students and the broader student community. Through this role, I learned how to make students feel welcomed and supported during what can often be an overwhelming transition to a new environment and culture. Working with students from diverse backgrounds strengthened my communication, leadership, and teamwork skills while teaching me the importance of building meaningful connections.Beyond my involvement on campus, Green River’s faculty and staff consistently provided guidance, encouragement, and resources that helped me succeed academically and personally. Their support gave me the confidence to pursue ambitious goals and challenged me to reach my full potential. I am forever grateful to the community, and words cannot express my gratitude! "
Zoe Ng Wei Wen
Malaysia
University of Washington - Seattle (Foster School of Business)
Major: Business Administration – Operations and Supply Chain Management
Also Admitted to:University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of San Francisco,
SUNY Genesso, Florida Tech, Pennsylvania State, Oregon State University
"Green River College gave me the foundation, and the confidence, to reach a top university. As an international student who had just finished secondary school, I expected to spend two years in a foundation or post-secondary program before even starting a university degree that would take another 3 or 4 years to complete. Green River College changed that entirely — I was able to skip that extra step and transfer directly as a junior into a four-year university. I completed my associate's degree and got my high school diploma in just a year and a half. Despite my relatively short time at Green River College, I was able to serve as a Club Funding Council voting member, work as an ODEI Office Assistant, and tutor students in public speaking. These opportunities helped me grow far beyond the classroom. What made Green River truly special, though, was the people. The faculty are deeply committed to student success, they made me feel supported every step of the way (shoutout Mark Blaisdell, Megan, Kiran & Roni!) For any international student looking to transfer to a four-year university, Green River College is a great choice to build your foundation, from adjusting to life in USA and being a cost effective step to earning a 4 year degree at a top university."