Youth Should Never Be A Barrier To Learning.
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The Early Entrance Experience
Testimonials From Those Who Have Lived It
This page contains observations and remarks regarding the
Early Entry Program at CSULA
Comments below are sorted with most recent submissions first.
| My child is in the CSULA Eep program. I'm glad the program exists, however, if I had to do it over again, I. . . would. . .well. . put my child in the EEP program. Mostly that's because the alternatives for a bright 13-year-old are nil. Money is thrown at the other end of the spectrum, for low-achieving and learning disabled, but not much the other way. I am thankful for a university such as Cal State LA for the opportunity for my child in spite of its whimsical but so-true nickname, "Cal State 2.0" in reference to its non-competitive nature. Therein is the rub, Cal State, make no mistake provides a great service to help the underprivileged, the disadvantaged, namely people of color. As demographics at Cal State are a matter of public record, EEP is anything but representative of the demographics of Cal State LA. Whereas, the majority of Cal State Students at Hispanic, the EEP takes in a larger percentage of Asians and Whites. Most in EEP are wealthy, at least considerably wealthier than the general Cal State Student, and many EEPsters had attended private schools (as opposed to public ghetto schools) and would be attending the likes of Harvard, Stanford, etc. if they had stayed the course and completed high school instead of dropping out and attending Cal State. Also, perhaps because they have heard themselves called "gifted" for so long, many seem to have chips on their shoulders which is nurtured in the EEP environment. Cockiness is the norm. Simple thank yous and respect for a parent who visits is not the norm. Parties and frat life abound. I hate the hazing that goes on with Provisionals and with freshmen. The water balloon fight in the Halls of the Fine Arts building each August--I'm surprised Cal State puts up with it. Then there's the annual trip to Catalina. One of the things they do is pass around a glass of--I forgot what they called it--but it may contain anything from ketchup to spit and the one who dares to chug it is the "winner." That's pretty stupid stuff coming from supposedly "bright" kids. Last year was a trip to Big Bear, unchaperoned by an adult, but EEP officials, when pressed, said it was chaperoned. When I checked, the chaperons were elders--18-year-olds--in the EEP program. What a joke. One of the girls, 16 years old, spent days and nights snuggled up and cozy in the cabin with her boyfriend, one of the chaperons. In spite of all this crapola, the EEP environment is better than the alternatives for my child, the real, dumbed down world. One must make the most of the opportunity, and that because some of this unsavory stuff may happen, your child doesn't have to. Easier said than done. |
- Aaron, Parent |
| This program is excellent. It gives the gifted student a place to be themselves. It is the outlet that is so desperately lacking in today's society, the ability for younger students to study and learn at the adult level. It's only flaw (like any other school program) is that it is underfunded and understaffed. Our son entered the program at age 12 and never looked back. Like any parent, we were apprehensive and unsure whether it was the right place for him, but time and our son proved to us that it was the right choice. Not only did he gain his bachelor's degree at age 18, but he also gained additional confidence and respect for himself, lasting friendships, the ability to grow and develop at his own pace and the ability to feel proud of his intelligence and accomplishments. As a parent, you definitely have to trust in your student's abilities and that they have the ability to handle a lot more independence at a much earlier age than most, which is no easy feat, I know. This program was a huge impact in our son's life for the better. No regrets whatsover. |
- Therese King, Parent (Class of 2001) |
| Bah, phooey. I didn't get accepted into this program, when I tried out last summer, but it is truly the best. It isn't about the classes. It's all about the people in the program. |
- Goldachev, Provisional |
| None of the EEP students can say that this program hasn't changed their lives forever. I know that I have personally benefited greatly from this opportunity as have countless others who have graduated from the program. EEP provides a haven for students who are bored, unchallenged and otherwise fed up with the mediocrity that is so overwhelming within the public school system. The college classes provide EEP students with challenging material they are not able to find in regular school. The CSULA campus also provides unique opportunities not available in regular school when one considers the various projects (such as the Solar Eagle or Super Mileage Vehicle) and lab research students are able to work on with professors. Not only does EEP provide an intellectual refuge for gifted students but it also provides an open minded social environment. EEP students have a wide range of interests from the stereotypical Dungeons and Dragon nerds to individuals interested in art and theatre to more athletically oriented students. Thus, in a way, it is similar to the average High School clique population yet the EEP students respect each other's interests and don't discriminate against each other purely based upon superficial fluff (which other EEPsters have told me happens regularly in High School). Of course, the entire program would not be in existence if it wasn't for the tireless efforts of the director, Rich Maddox. Rich works endlessly for the students and the task of maintaining EEP is a huge responsibility. Rich not only runs the program but mentors the students and tries to spend as much time as he can with them (which is most of the day) to ensure that he is accessible to anyone with concerns or problems. Even if Rich is unavailable, there is a student councilor on campus 2 days a week whom the students are required to meet with at least once a quarter but may visit if they have further concerns. EEP continues to be an essential program and has proven to be a necessary and life changing asset to all of its students. As previously stated, I have benefited greatly from the opportunities EEP provides and plan to graduate from CSULA in 2006 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Anthropology and will go to graduate school to get a PhD in Anthropology. |
- April Eriksson, Student (Class of 2006) |
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The Early Entrance Program (EEP) at California State University Los Angeles is a wonderful program. Our son was the typical PG kid [Editor's Note: PG = "profoundly gifted"] who by the seventh grade was bored in school, being criticized for asking to many questions and demanding comprehensive answers, chastised for wanting to hang out with the adults, and consequently becoming unproductive and very unhappy. My wife found the EEP through the internet as a way to give our son the rapid acceleration that he needed. Our son applied at age 12 and took the WPC test (like a SAT) along with 900 other applicants. He was one of about 70 students that were admitted to the provisional summer program that requires the students to take two college courses. Additionally, the summer program allows the students (and their families) to see if rapid acceleration to college is the correct choice, and for the school to see if the student is ready academically and has the self discipline and social skills to interact appropriately on a college campus. Our son (by now 13) was one of the 25 students admitted each year to the fall quarter as full time students. He is now 17 and a senior with plans for graduate school and then to law school. Most of the EEP students go on to graduate school often to the finest medical, law, and high technology programs in the country. But what makes EEP so wonderful are the people. The 100+ students in the EEP are a very diverse group of young people who are extremely bright, interesting, well mannered and provide a fantastic peer group where being smart is admired not penalized. The program is run by an excellent director with many years of experience who does a wonderful job managing the various demands of a rapid acceleration college program while focusing his incredible energy on the well being and happiness of the students. The professors at the university love the kids in the EEP. They appreciate the voracious appetite for knowledge and bright-eyed desire for learning these kids bring to class. The program has been in operation for over twenty years and has produced hundreds of happy, well-adjusted, highly productive young adults that are a credit to the university. The program is so successful it is being used as a model to hopefully develop similar programs at other universities around the country. |
- Ned Fenton, Parent |
| Admissions decisions are very arbitrary and capricious. Blatant favoritism. No one knows which faculty members are involved in the admission process. People who are running the program do not have the proper academic qualification or credentials to judge the candidates. Provisional quarter and mentor program is a joke involving ritualistic fraternity initiation methods that at a time results in physical and verbal abuse of the candidates. IT IS UNFORTUNATE TO SEE THAT A PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE STATE THRIVES ON DEGRDATION AND HUMILIATION OF BRIGHT MINDS!!! |
- Amy, Parent |
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Nothing fancy, just a few thoughts about being an EEPster at CSLA. I came into EEP when it was still just the freaks, geeks, wierdos, and outcasts. The bespeckled, studious, social misfits that found comfort in books and, through this program, each other. CSLA, being the greatest undergrad place of study around, and the undergrad honors program there containing the best profs I have ever had the pleasure to meet and befriend, was a great medium for this experience as well. The diversity kept any possibility of being an outcast there so, so at a distance. You came to learn and it didn't matter that you were younger or older, black or white, catholic or atheist, you were part of something good. Your friends had all the same goals and values. And they were true and honest with you always. Even the ones I didn't understand or get along with, I still see them or talk to them today. I respect them and in turn myself. Today, the program has become more mainstream. There are more trendy and beautiful people there. The cliques and couples abound. There are many more EEPsters total as well. But the good thing is, the geeks are still there. And they are PART OF the cliques. So even though it's not as pure brainiac and as tight knit of a group as a whole, they're still people that you can relate with being there, and they're still goal-oriented. The look may have changed, but what was true then still remains. You come there to learn. To get your life started sooner. To face challenges. And there you find your peers and true friends. So if you get the invite or the inclination, check out the EEP program at CSLA. I grew up a lot faster, but oh man, do I have a lot to show for it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. |
- Artur, Former Student (Class of 1998) |
| The EEP at CSULA was a tremendous experience for me. I recommend that if you can get in that you do so, it will be an great learning and growing experience for your adult life. The teachers and staff were a wealth of knowledge for me. |
- jeremy weatherby, Former Student |
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This page was last modified 21:32 Saturday, January 14, 2006
