Meaningful stepping stone before transfer

Eric Polanski cast a wide net in high school, applying to more than a dozen colleges as he searched for the best opportunity. His decision to attend CLC came down the getting the best return on his investment.

“For me, it was all about the location and affordability,” Polanski said. “CLC is close to home, had the lowest cost of attendance and had great resources available to me.”

Polanski came to CLC interested in studying business but switched to computer science after his time as a student worker with public relations and marketing. He did coding work on the website, which tapped into his interest in computers, and the experience clarified computer science as a career choice.

Polanski planned to transfer to a four-year college or university after two years at CLC. When he started researching opportunities, Northwestern University rose to the top of the list. Along with having a prestigious computer science program, Northwestern is, like CLC, close by, so Polanski could continue living at home. When he visited the campus, the community felt natural and right for him.

Transferring was a big shift, but Polanski felt like CLC made him ready for the opportunity.

“I felt very prepared for the academic load,” Polanski said. “Some CLC classes were actually harder than some of the classes I took at Northwestern.”

Northwestern was not a school Polanski anticipated being an option. He credits his time at CLC for building his resume. At CLC, Polanski was Student Government Association president, founder of the chess club, and an active member of numerous other extracurriculars.

“CLC gives you the opportunity to capitalize on having more time, and you can put more on your resume before transferring,” Polanski said. “It gives you extra time to prove yourself.”

This story is from the summer 2026 edition of the CLC Connects Magazine. Published twice a year, CLC Connects shares the stories, people and impact behind College of Lake County. The magazine helps connect with our community by highlighting student success, innovative programs, partnerships and the many ways CLC is transforming lives across Lake County.