Low-income, latino males, Arthur and Jesus shares their reasons for applying to private four year colleges. Arthur shares financial reasons, while Jesus shares experiential reasons. Going away doesn’t mean they won’t come back and enrich their communities. Even students with grades that are not the top can great full scholarships to great private colleges. They are looking for diverse students.

Hannah Fong
USC Class of 2012
Hometown: Los Angeles
High School: Westridge

When I was a senior in high school applying to colleges, I avoided liberal arts colleges altogether. I swept them aside because I just didn’t know enough about them. But after a year at a large university I started looking for a smaller scale. I then transferred to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota close to Minneapolis. I loved it and I have to credit this school for largely making me the person and student that I am today. So, to those to whom the term might be unclear, what the heck are these “liberal arts colleges” anyways?

1) They are solely undergraduate institutions.

Liberal arts colleges (LAC’s) in general are made up of only undergraduate students. This means that the only job of professors is to teach and work with undergrads instead of also conducting research with grad students. However, research opportunities are still attainable through professors or other external institutions.

2) They only offer liberal arts and science degrees.

Liberal arts and sciences are the traditional courses – anything from English, history, science, math, computer science etc. They are not pre-professional, (business, communications, architecture, public policy) which means formal training for a specific career. However, a liberal arts degree by no means limits one’s chances in finding a career. A well-rounded education in economics, anthropology, science, and English teaches a student to think critically, speak well, and understand how society works. These are the fundamental skills that would make a person capable of a multitude of careers.

The words university and college are often interchangeable today. But think of a liberal arts college as the College of Arts and Sciences in a larger university. If the humanities, arts, social or natural sciences is what you want (the best choices in my opinion), the LAC is a great place for you!

3) They are small.

The average LAC student body is 1200-3000 students – in comparison with 16,000 undergrads for large universities. Why did this small size work for me? See 4-10 below.

4) Classes are small.

You won’t find lectures of 200 students (understandably, since that would be 10% of the whole school in a single class). I believe the greatest virtue of liberal arts colleges is that the small student body allows them to maintain small class sizes (around 10-25 students) even for introductory and science courses. In the larger school I attended, a typical class had two components 1) a slide-based lecture held by the professor and 2) discussion section held only once a week with the T.A. That’s a little unfortunate because I believe that discussion is the most important part of the class. It is where you learn to convert nebulous ideas into concrete.

The best class I had was composed of only 5 students. We met once a week with the professor from 7 to 10 pm. I never expected to love that class so much. It was discussion-based – in fact the professor rarely lectured for more than 30 minutes. The style was informal but enriching, challenging but exciting, intimate but comfortable. As we delved into the material, we also laughed, joked, and learned about each other. I was never interested in American Studies before, but as I wrote my final paper, I realized how much this one class changed the way I saw everything.

5) Professors want to develop close relationships with the students.

Because classes are small, it is most likely that your professors will know you by face. They will know your personality, your ideas, and your goals. They will want to strengthen your weaknesses, understand if you need an extension on a paper or test, and encourage you to come to their office just to chat. And it won’t be scary.

6) They encourage a cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary college experience.

So many students I encountered seemed to have no boundaries as to what they were interested in. It was not at all unusual to find a physics major minoring in international relations or a geology and English double major. I have learned to think of the sciences and humanities less as dichotomous disciplines, and more as philosophies that see the world from different perspectives and necessitate the use of creative thinking.

7) They offer a great sense of community.

Chances are you will always know more than a couple other students in all of your classes. From school-wide inside jokes, quirky traditions, to campus events that everyone attends, the community always feels supportive and inclusive. When I speak of community, I don’t just imply professors and students, but also the administration, cafeteria staff, athletic department, etc. The administration was always caring and friendly when dealing with any personal matters and would be willing to make exceptions for individual cases. Additionally, many also liked to keep up to date with the accomplishments of students.

You can always find unique courses.

Another class has an interesting story. A course called “Rivers, Humans, and Environmental Justice” was triple-listed among philosophy, creating writing, and environmental studies. It was probably the most unique and unconventional class I will ever have. Not only was the class interrelated in such an unusual way, it was also taught by two professors – one poetry, one philosophy – who would take turns leading discussion. On top of that, we started the class with a two-day camping and canoeing trip along the Minnesota River to gain inspiration for several assignments.

9) They have Division III sports.
If you aren’t a superstar athlete, more chances for you to become involved in varsity athletics instead of being the spectator. Nevertheless, it is never hard to find school pride at games. And for the student to whom athletics is not a concern: school spirit is also derived from great friendships, a supportive and tight-knit community, and the sense of being part of something small but with a distinct personality.

10) Students love their college experience.

For some reason, I have rarely encountered another student at a liberal arts college who wasn’t fanatic about their school. Everything from the caring community, interesting classes, and intellectual atmosphere makes it a little hard to be unhappy. Students often said that the worst thing about Macalester was that it only lasts four years.

In short, the LAC philosophy is that an education is not just about preparing for a future career, but rather to garner the critical thinking skills that will make someone smart and capable for a multitude of careers.

Some links to help you get to know LAC’s:

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/liberal-arts-rankings. Use this list to learn about some great LAC’s

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/07/intellectual-colleges_n_707087.html. Interesting…mostly LAC’s and universities with an LAC feel.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/25/bestkept-secrets-10-colle_n_693686.html#s128810 Another list full of LAC’s

http://www.collegenews.org/x14.xml The Annapolis group is comprised of 130 liberal arts colleges. Their mission is to draw public attention to the value of a liberal arts education. Read what they have to say!

http://www.liberalartscollegereview.com/article_what.php For further clarity.

If you have any questions, you can email me at hf08077@gmail.com

 Gabriel Quiroz

University of California, Los Angeles, Class of 2014 

Hometown: Los Angeles 

High School: Discovery Prep Charter School

It is now 12:47am (October 5th) and I am currently working on a paper that is due in two days, well technically tomorrow because it is now Tuesday. I am also attempting to do some reading that is due today at 10am. Although this may seem a bit overwhelming it is not as bad as it sounds. I usually do my work in the lounge, where I am currently writing this, and there are always several people in here. Currently there are about 8 people in the lounge with me and we are all doing the same thing, working on homework. Working in the lounge really benefits me because it allows me to see that I am not alone.

At home I used to think, “who else is doing homework at 1 am? Am I crazy or there other people still up doing their work?” Working in the lounge has allowed me to see that I am not the only person that stays up doing work. If I ever feel that I just have to much work to do, I usually come to the lounge where I can get some homework done while surrounded by others that are focused on their homework. As the phrase goes “monkey see, monkey do” and that is what helps me get into the mindset of working on homework.

It is now 1 am and I am going back to work. I want to leave you with this idea, surround yourself with positivity and studious people every once in a while because I might just rub off on you.

 Introduction: Here are 15 tips for completing the UC’s newly revamped application system. Remember, while the UC application opened on October 1, you cannot submit your application  until November 1-30.  

But remember-this is a tough year for University of California (UC) admissions. More students than ever are applying, the November 30 application deadline for freshmen and transfers is fixed, and you need to make sure your application is correct and complete.

You only need to complete and submit one application for the 10 campus UC system. Unlike the CSU system, you get to submit your application to all the campuses you select at once. You also pay one total application fee (by number of campuses) to a centralized payment system.

Please let us know if you need help convincing your family of the value of letting you attend a UC, even one a few hours away from home.

1. Have a working email address: Create an email address if you don’t have one. Gmail and hotmail are free and easy to use. Your high school may provide you with an email as well. YOU MUST CHECK YOUR EMAIL OFTEN. The UC campuses will only communicate with you via email. Please save your user name and password.

2. Investigate how the UCs evaluate applications. The UCs look at several factors when evaluating applications: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/how-applications-reviewed/index.html  Also see how each campus admits students: The UC campuses use different methods of reading and evaluating applications. Check the right side of this site to see how the UC campuses you are applying to evaluate applications. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/california-residents/index.html

3. Collect high school and college transcripts: Get a copy of your high school and/or college transcripts. Make sure all your transcripts are correct as you need these transcripts to complete the UC application. Remember, the UCs use your self-reported grades to make admissions decisions.

4. Determine your UC eligibility- a.       California (CA) residents-

Those applying as freshmen qualify for UC admissions if you will have completed your A-G courses with at least a 3.0 GPA (3.4 for non-residents) and no grade lower than a C- by the end of 12^th grade. You must also take the required tests (see below in number 5). Here is a way to check your eligibility:

There are state-wide (top 12.5%), local (top 4% of a school), examination, and admissions by exception ways to qualify. Check to see if you qualify… http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/california-residents/index.html

Transfers need to check the academic requirements for transferring by checking whether you have 60 semester or 90 quarter transferrable units. You need to have completed the majority of the IGETC and major requirements for your campus.

               b.       Non CA residents

Out of state, international and home-schooled students must provide other materials.  http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/other-applicants/index.htmlhttp://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/other-applicants/index.html

     5. Make sure to have taken the required tests: The UCs require current 12^th graders to take the SAT or ACT w/writing AND two SAT Subject Tests. The UCS will accept December test scores.   They count your highest overall test date score.

6.  Send your test scores to UC campuses. Send your SAT, SAT Subject Test, and ACT scores to only one UC campus. Then the UCs will send your scores to the other UC campuses to which you apply for free. Remember, the UCs only use your highest overall one-day test score.

7.  Send other test scores: If you have taken AP tests, you must send your test scores to the UC campuses to which you apply. Contact the College Board to do this.  http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html. You must also sent IB, TOEFL, or IELTS scores.

8.  Collect required and optional identification numbers. If you were designated eligible in the local context after 11^th grade, include the 12-digit identification number that was included in your notification letter from UC. This is called your ELC ID number. Optional: Each K-12 student in California public schools is assigned an ID number. If it’s not printed on your transcript, ask your counselor or registrar.

9. Gather family personal and financial information: You will need your family’s educational backgrounds and income for the past two years if you want a fee waiver for the UC applications and want to be considered for each campus’ great support programs for low-income students.

10.  Determine residency status: You need to know your residency status. Ask your parents or family members. You do not need a SSN number but you need to know how long you have been in the California as the UC system calculates your tuition based on how long you have lived and attended school in California. Remember, AB 540 student can get admitted to the UC system but you cannot qualify for formal financial aid.

11. Prepare to check interest in scholarships. The UC application allows you to select 16 scholarships to be considered for without completing any additional paperwork. Go through each category and apply for as many as 16 scholarships that fit your qualifications and background.

12. Collect information on all of your activities, jobs, honors, specialized programs, and non-A-G courses. The UCs look for special talents, achievements, and awards in particular fields-in and out school and academic and non-academic. The application provides room for 5 examples within each of the following six categories:

• Coursework Other Than A-G
• Educational Preparation Programs
• Volunteer & Community Service
• Work Experience
• Awards & Honors
• Extracurricular Activities

You need to provide the hours per week and weeks per year and provide short descriptions of each activity. Focus on your leadership and initiative. Prepare to enter 160 character or less descriptions for each item you list. Remember that working for your family, including childcare counts.

13. Draft the two mandated UC essays: The UCs require you to write two essays (totaling no more than exactly 1000 words) that you paste into the application. It only gives you 30 minutes on the actual pages so prepare your essays in advance. You can write the essays now and make sure you reveal unique information and qualities about you that are not evident elsewhere in your application. Be brave and describe who are really are as this is the only way the UCs can learn about your life and the powerful ways you will enrich their campuses. Some tips:  http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/personal-statement/index.html

• Here are the UC prompts: “Respond to both prompts, using a maximum of 1,000 words total. You may allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your shorter answer be no less than 250 words.”
• You can no longer go over the 1000 word limit.
• Prompt #1 (freshman applicants): Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
• Prompt #1 (transfer applicants): What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field — such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities — and what you have gained from your involvement.
• Prompt #2 (all applicants): Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are
• Additional information. If you wish, you may use this space to tell us anything else you want us to know about you that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in the application (no more than 550 words)

14. Pay for applications via fee waivers, credit cards, or check and apply for specialized program for low-income students. Provide household size and income for 2009 and 2010: To qualify for application fee waivers and to be considered to special programs for low-income students, you need to provide your family’s household size and income for the past two years. You can get fee waivers for four UC campuses if you qualify. Additional campuses are $60 a piece.

15. Research Blue and Gold Plan: Most low-income students than ever are attending a UC campus because the UCs have the Blue and Gold Plan.. If your family makes less than $70,000 per year, you may qualify for the UC’s Blue and Gold Opportunity, which covers the majority of your tuitions, fees, and living expenses. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/paying-for-uc/financial-aid/grants/blue-gold/index.html