Student Experience at College of San Mateo
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Student Experience
Jeff Lowenstein
Jeff Lowenstein College of San Mateo
Santa Clara University, B.S., Economics

As a graduating senior at Serra High School, Jeff Lowenstein had been accepted to several colleges, including Loyola Marymount and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, but decided to attend CSM. His plan was to stay close to home and save money so that he could transfer to Santa Clara University (SCU), which was his top choice in a four-year university.

At CSM, Jeff challenged himself by enrolling in tough classes.  One of those classes turned out to be what he considers his most interesting subject: statistics, taught by Professor Linda Phipps. For many students, an individual professor stands out as a favorite, and for Jeff, it was Professor Phipps.

“I would say looking back from high school through college, I do not remember a lot of my professors, but Linda Phipps stands out as the best. Most people cringe when they hear the word statistics, but she made the class enjoyable and applicable and I often refer to it as my best class in college. In my second semester, Professor Phipps was my calculus instructor, and once again she did not let down; she challenged the class and each student, but taught the material so that it was understandable.”

After a year of study at CSM, Jeff was accepted to SCU as an economics major. He gives credit to Professor Phipps for the excellent preparation and foundation in statistics that proved to be a tremendous help in the many economics classes he took at SCU. “I still use what she taught me today, which is a credit to CSM and the caliber of faculty they have teaching.”

An additional benefit of Jeff’s community college experience is that CSM made it possible for him to attend the university that was his number one choice, even though he did not get accepted from high school. “That one year at CSM was so valuable that it allowed me to springboard to my planned four-year institution and hit the ground running when I arrived.”

Jeff graduated from SCU with a B.S degree in economics. He currently owns his own business, Outsourceit, a business processing outsourcing company working with corporate and government clients.

Addendum to Jeff’s Story

Jeff has an additional connection with CSM: his father worked for the college in the early 1960s when it was located at Coyote Point. As a member of the facilities staff, Jeff’s dad helped the college move into its new College Heights campus in 1963, CSM’s current site. He worked for the college district until he passed away in 1980. For his years of service, the college district dedicated a special tree and plaque in his honor at Cañada College, where he also worked.