Four choices for California colleges

Relevant Links Table of Contents 100 years of education - Schools chief helps celebrate CATTLE CALL: More than 200 treated to a preview of this weekend. A NEW SET OF EYES Dogs bring choices Initiative increases college rates Higher Education Week: How to pay for education Higher education: Student well on her way to college Partnership starts early to get students into college Four choices for California colleges HIGHER EDUCATION: Students have testing options Our Opinion: Education important to Valley’s future Our Opinion: Young students must learn English Adapting to a unique community Colleges seek local students Westside kids tour tide pools Endless work for school nurses Anne Mallory: Small town girl makes her mark Damon Smith: Turning Luck into Passion Denise Cabanilla: Lessons to last a lifetime Field Trip for Blind Students Caring About Their Community API base reports to be released today Teens prepare for college Teachers Hit the Books - Substitutes go back to school Todd Finnell was awarded CUE’s Technology in Learning Leadership Award Student wins poster contest Opinion: Students need to be challenged Students get sneak peek of professions Eyeing the future Mock trial: Students take over the courtroom Special folks are treated to a special day Too much TV? Grades reflect tube time Through the eyes of the Valley: IVC is key provider of higher education Parents play vital role in college Yazmin Arellano living her dream Coach learned job in college SDSU plans to add two new majors Freshman scholars Valley places focus on growth Choosing college Office of education gets $9M grant Our opinion: Making strides in education 1-on-1 contact is key Viewpoint: Just Warming Up: Don’t waste the chance for an education Higher ed week set Finding friends through mentors Imperial County Men and Women of the Year 2006 ‘BIGGEST SINGLE-DAY EVENT IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY:’Children’s Fair promotes healthy families Peggy Calvin, Sue Tally had ‘the courage to get involved’ Trustees to seek input on drug-testing Teens test career waters Students ‘train’ for the Academic Decathlon Senior Living series: Grandmas make a difference Young artists to design poster, win tickets Safety Seminar - High schoolers learn life skills Moving on up Great American Smokeout: Message is heard loud and clear Child care providers updated on free preschool ‘BUILD ON YOUTH' Conference Seeley FRC’s Grand Opening New Resources and New Look for Niland’s Family Resource Center 4th Annual Regional Migrant Parent Conference Mentoring Children of Promise Success Stories from ICOE’s Veterans On-the-Job Training Program Calexico Community School Students Spread Holiday Spirit Imperial County Office of Education will manage California’s K-12 High Speed Network with its key partners Butte and Mendocino County Offices of Education and School Services of CA, Inc. Teachers are Continual Learners New Leadership for Imperial Schools Wild About Science 2003 Tech Conference Grant Keeps Students on Track Survey Completed! Students break language barrier EdTech Profiles: Heber Personal Stories of Success Inspire Imperial County Hats Off to Nationally Certified Local Teachers Colleges Educate High School Seniors Plenty of fun and sunshine at the 25th annual Children's Fair Migrant seniors focus on college Local Teacher Talent CUHS consecutive win streak intact Eye on Education Central back in winning game with Mock Trials defeat of Southwest I.V. students compete in decathlon Club Live camp enables Valley students Saving a sweetheart through anti-smoking campaign Siblings Workshops More than community service: Some find it fun to help others Team effort targets truancy Ride of Life - Program reaches teens Study shows California kids fill preschools Our Opinion: Three Schools Earn 'Distinguished' Status Central team heads to state capital

By JONATHAN DALE, Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Printed courtesy of Imperial Valley Press, El Centro, CA

CALEXICO — Barbara Monreal listened intently as presenters from a myriad of post-secondary educational opportunities laid out their thoughts on what she should do after this school year.

“The purpose was to explain the requirements of colleges at UCs and CSUs, as well as private colleges and community colleges,” the 17-year-old Calexico High senior said. “They want us to go to college and get a good career, make a living.”

Representatives from several California colleges and universities, as well as the Imperial County Office of Education, continued their Higher Education Week throughout the Imperial Valley on Tuesday by outlining the four main options to Calexico students.

“What Higher Ed Week does is it gives students information and access to different paths of higher education,” said ICOE College-Going Initiative coordinator Javier Ramos.

“One path is community college or vocational training,” he said. “You also have the California State University system, University of California schools and then you have private institutions.”

Lots of options

Imperial Valley College transfer center director Carol Lee was one such community college representative. There are 109 junior colleges in California.

“I’m pushing for the four-year degrees,” Lee said. “They can do their first two years with us, and we can have them all proceed to go to another institution and finish their last two years.

“They can save a good amount of money with us,” she said.

Sonny Nguyen of the University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University representative Josh Drye showed off their colleges, which exist among 75 private schools in California.

“I think a lot of students don’t take advantage of private schools because of the price involved, but there are a lot of different financial opportunities for students,” Drye said.

“It’s really about the benefits for students,” Nguyen said.

“In many cases, private schools have smaller class sizes that allow for more personal interaction between instructors and students.”

State universities were also covered, thanks to CSU East Bay representative Jose Rocha and Angel-Max Guerrero of UC Berkeley. There are 23 CSU campuses and nine UCs.

“My goal is to give students the information to make the right decision of where to go after high school,” Rocha said. “It’s important to know what’s out there.”

“Definitely amplifying their post-secondary options,” Guerrero agreed. “When you have nearly 20 recruiters from the state of California, it definitely brings more awareness to what their options are.”

>> Staff Writer Jonathan Dale can be reached at 337-3440 or at jdale@ivpressonline.com