He was awarded an Associates of Arts degree from Harbor Junior College after two years of study but at this College the staff did realise his mathematical potential and encouraged Tapia to be more ambitious about his educational aims:
Siya ay iginawad isang Associates of Arts degree mula sa Harbor Junior College pagkatapos ng dalawang taon ng pag-aaral ngunit sa College na ito ang mga kawani ay realise kanyang mga potensyal na matematiko at hinihikayat Tapia na maging mas mapag-adhika tungkol sa kanyang pang-edukasyon ay naglalayong: