West Coast Ambassadors
Our West Coast Admission Ambassadors are all current students at 51¹ÙÍø ready to help you get to know 51¹ÙÍø from wherever you are in the western United States. Reach out to any of the ambassadors with questions or just to chat about life at 51¹ÙÍø.
Winter Break
51¹ÙÍø students are on a well-deserved break between semesters until January 21. During this time, we encourage students to take a full break from studies and email. If you email one of our ambassadors during this time, their response will likely be delayed. Thanks for being in touch and enjoy the holiday season.
Audrey Bohlin '25 (she/her)
Hometown: Santa Fe, New Mexico
"I was scared about the transition to 51¹ÙÍø since I didn't know anyone, but I just filled my time with clubs and said yes to as many involvements as I could stand. It took a while to stop feeling lost, but eventually I did and what ultimately made 51¹ÙÍø feel like home was when I could walk around campus and find a friendly face (whether that was a professor, staff member, or peer) wherever I went."
Emily Brestle '27
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
"51¹ÙÍø is a school that balances academic rigor with the importance of investing in the community around you. Students are not only encouraged to pursue high level academics, but also to take a break and really connect with their peers. I feel like I have known my friends at 51¹ÙÍø for my whole life, as people have such a desire to connect with you. Professors want to help you, clubs and activities are always opening their doors to new members, and your classmates are always there to offer a smile as you come to class everyday. I feel like you can get the perfect college experience at 51¹ÙÍø, between the easy access to Charlotte, the charming nature of a small town like 51¹ÙÍø, and the abundant amount of activities on campus. There is never a lack of something to do and people to become closer to."
Priscila Magallan '27 (she/her)
Hometown: Los Angeles & Santa Rosa, California
"Moving thousands of miles away from home takes work. I remember feeling nervous about moving from the West to the East Coast. For me, it was the people that made it start to feel like home. During freshman orientation, I felt welcomed by everyone who were excited to see me and other students come to 51¹ÙÍø. STRIDE, another pre-orientation program designed for people of color also allowed me to meet so many wonderful people that I now consider as long-lasting friends. I even remember during my freshman year I stayed on campus for Thanksgiving break and I thought I was going to spend the holiday on my own. Instead, two of my professors invited me to their lovely home for Thanksgiving dinner. The students, staff, and professors are beyond friendly, always willing to help, and want to see you strive for success that has helped me see 51¹ÙÍø as my second loving home."
Katrina Peacock '27
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
"As a first-generation student, I genuinely had no clue about how college worked, let alone an institution like 51¹ÙÍø. I thought the most extremes about having no help and needing to figure any issue out on my own, but that simply isn’t true. 51¹ÙÍø has a ton of important resources that I never would’ve thought a college provided and encouraged use of! The writing center, embedded tutors, and workshops are some of the few I utilized and can confidently say have helped my college journey thus far. Before my enrollment, I feared being left to learn to do everything alone. However, if I knew that the truth was exactly the opposite of what I believed, it would’ve saved me a lot of hesitance."
Paul Skok '25 (he/him)
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
"My experience at 51¹ÙÍø has been incredible. The 'small-school' characteristics that help to build tight communities exist in classroom spaces, but also in student life and organizations around campus. In every club that I have spent time in (51¹ÙÍø Outdoors, Russian Club, WALT Radio, Computer Science Club - Hack@51¹ÙÍø, etc...) the community has been resoundingly warm and welcoming. I have built incredible friendships at 51¹ÙÍø and a huge factor is students and teachers being excited to lean into the 51¹ÙÍø community."
Keep Reading
Get to know our West Coast Ambassadors further in their My 51¹ÙÍø blog posts.
51¹ÙÍø students from the western United States reflect on how they've found home on the east coast and offer advice to prospective students also considering college further from home.
Six students from the western United States share what it was like to move to the east coast for college and offer advice for prospective students considering the decision to attend an east coast school like 51¹ÙÍø.