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Critical College Access
by Tony Collatos
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< -- return to Paths to College for this issue
For the past seven years I have worked with urban students and their families to research the pathways urban youth travel through secondary schools to higher education. A very large percentage of these students are now attending a four year university, although I can’t say that it has been, or is now, easy for them. I have been a teacher, mentor, and friend to these students. As a researcher, I have tried to learn what I could about what would help them gain acceptance to four-year colleges and universities. All of this work has led me to identify five essential requirements for college eligibility.
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5 Requirements for College Access
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I. Take the Right Courses- You must meet A-G eligibility and take courses that California schools recognize as college prep. In order to attend a California public university, a student must complete all the required courses in subjects such as math, science, English, social studies, language, and specified electives. Too often students are enrolled in classes that do not meet these minimum requirements or their own high schools do not offer the right courses for college. |
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II. Get the Right Grades- You must pass all college prep courses with a C- or higher in order to meet the minimum qualifications for admission to a four-year university. Just “getting by” and making it to graduation isn’t good enough, even if some teachers or counselors think that is all you can or need to do. Ds don’t count for college. Don’t get them; but if you do, re-take the class. |
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III. Take the Right Tests- You must complete the SAT, ACT, or SAT II, depending on the particular four-year school you are applying to. For example, most University of California campuses require students to take the SAT II. Many students who do not receive competent counseling are advised not to prepare for these tests. That’s a big mistake. Find out what tests you need and get the right preparation. |
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IV. Participate in the Right Activities- Extra-curricular (outside of the classroom) activities help you compete for college admission. Colleges look favorably on outside participation because they want students who are well rounded and who are potential leaders. Also, participation in these activities may place you in groups of students who are also preparing for college. Often, the students who are most active in school activities are students who spend the most time studying. Good extra-curricular activities to consider are athletics, theater, music, cultural organizations, clubs, and tutoring and volunteer work. |
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V. Right Decisions- You must make personal and social decisions that increase your opportunity to attend a university and decrease the possibility of limited options. Too often the decisions determining a student’s ability to attend a four-year university have more to do with decisions they make outside of the classroom than their academic ability. A student’s college pathway is greatly influenced by their personal or social decisions and I have found guidance surrounding these decisions is the most neglected during the college access process. Furthermore, as a college advisor and mentor, the most critical period of college access does not take place during the November application process, rather after they have been admitted. Some of the most vital decisions negatively affecting a student's potential to attend to a university takes place between January and September during their senior year. |
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.5 Requirements for College Access
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