High school seniors give UCLA a trial run
By Rachanee Srisavasdi
Daily Bruin Staff
Armed with sleeping bags and backpacks, visiting high school
students sat around Reiber Fireside Lounge Thursday debating the
attractiveness of different colleges.
"I don’t know about UCLA … I think I want to go to UC San
Diego," one student said. "It’s in one of the best surfing areas in
the state."
By looking at the students, one couldn’t tell they were the
state’s top high school scholars, placing in the top 3 percent of
their class. -or that the Office of Admissions is attempting to woo
the teenagers to attend UCLA in Fall 1996, and become the UCLA
class of 2000.
The UCLA overnight program – which invites top scholars from
Northern California and Orange County – enables students to see an
informal side to college life, according to program
coordinators.
"UCLA is interested in the top state scholars," said Victoria
Lee-Jerrems, from the Office of Admissions. "They enhance UCLA and
often add more to the campus environment."
Yet at Thursday’s welcome, the top state scholars did not seem
too concerned with their future contributions to higher education,
but just with having a good time – including Chris Kao, a senior at
Woodbridge High School in Orange County.
"My host took me to two parties," Kao said. "It was a whole new
experience … It’s great that there are so many parties at college
that you could just walk around and follow the noise."
But Kao’s stay was not just about parties. His student host
showed him around campus, the dorms and took him to classes Friday.
Dorm food was good, Kao said, though he thought the dorm rooms were
a bit too small.
"The class I went to with (my student host) was boring," Kao
said. "The professor was like this talking head."
Tentatively considering engineering, Kao already received a
letter from UCLA’s engineering department, stating he was
recommended for admissions. However, Kao said he is still unsure
which university he will choose.
"I really want to pick the best college for me," Kao said. "I
like UCLA. It’s different from other UCs. It’s more crowded, much
more exciting.
"I think dorm life and meeting new people is what I’m looking
forward to," he added.
Stefanie Cohen, a senior at University High School in Irvine,
said the program made her want to come to UCLA even more.
"The program was great," Cohen said. "It gave me more of an idea
what classes are like here."
According to program coordinator Andrea Sexton, the program is
the first chance for many students to experience college life.
"I liked the program because it wasn’t structured," Kao said.
"They didn’t make you come to meetings every two hours … they
just let you go with the student host."
UCLA students living in the dorms volunteered to host the high
school students for the night.
"Unlike tours which acquaint parents and students with the
campus, (coming) overnight gives an opportunity to see what
everyday life is like here," said Cohen’s student host Kristen
Medina, a third-year sociology student.
Cohen, who is undecided about a major, said her first choice has
always been UCLA. She also said that most other seniors at her
school would prefer to attend a UC college because of their
affordability and close proximity to home.
"I’m looking forward to college now that it’s getting closer,"
Cohen said. "I worry if I’ll be able to handle it, both
academically and socially.
"I’ll miss high school, especially coming here and not knowing
anyone," she added. "But I’m looking forward to experiencing
something different than high school."
The relatively affordable cost of a UC education is a key reason
top scholars choose to attend UCLA, according to Sexton.
Kao said private colleges are not an option for him because of
the expense.
"Money is a big consideration," Kao said. "I’m working hard to
get a scholarship and my dad said whichever college offers me a
scholarship is the one I’ll go to."
Parents were also enthusiastic about the cost of a UC education,
which is on the average about $20,000 less than a private
university.
"The cost of a UC is very nice compared to a private school,"
said Norman Hirsch, a parent of one of the high school students in
the program. "And the UC is just as a competitive system as any of
the private schools."
Safety was his major concern when his daughter attends college,
he added.
"We’ve been anxiously waiting," he said. "College is a big
change. It’s the end of her childhood and the beginning of becoming
an adult."
Since the start of the overnight program last year, the
percentage of top scholars attending UCLA has risen by 19 percent,
according to the Office of Admissions. This year, about 200
students have or will attend the program, which has four sessions
late February and mid-April.
"It’s exciting to think I’ll be in the Class of 2000," Cohen
said. "I’m sure there will be a lot expected from our class, but
it’ll be a new beginning for us."
FRED HE/Daily Bruin
Chris Kao, a senior at Woodridge High School in Orange County,
bids farewell to his UCLA host, Michael delaCruz, a first-year
student and Reiber Hall resident. Kao was part of a program that
brought top high school scholars to UCLA.
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