Teens Test Their College Readiness

Cramming doesn’t work. Go see your professors. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

These were some of the tips about 60 incoming seniors from Simi Valley, Ventura and Santa Paula received Tuesday during the first day of a weeklong program at the Cal State University Channel Islands campus.

During the “college readiness institute,” the students take writing and math tests to determine where they need help before receiving tutoring from local college students in those areas.

“The purpose of this whole week is to prepare you for college,” program coordinator Pauline Mercado told the students Tuesday morning.

“We all think you are capable of going to college, and that’s why you’re here.”

The summer program, funded by a $15,000 grant from Pacific Bell and a $10,000 grant from Leavens Ranch, is part of a statewide campaign to reduce the number of freshmen arriving on Cal State campuses ill-prepared for college-level math and English.

Although they were among the top one-third of California’s high school graduates, 54% of the freshmen at Cal State campuses last fall needed remedial help in math, and 47% needed assistance in English.

On Monday, teachers from throughout the county came to the campus to share ideas and talk about what students need to know for college entrance exams. And the students arrived Tuesday for their tour and to begin testing and tutoring. Later this week, the students will participate in a college fair, where representatives from nearby colleges and universities will answer questions on admissions, applications and financial aid.

Simi Valley High School senior Katy Kirkner, 16, was anxious to get some extra help. “I wanted to see where I am, how far behind I am in math and English, and if I’m ready for college,” Katy said.

Santa Paula High senior Amrit Gill wanted some advice on how to get accepted by a university. “With all this competition, anything that can help me get into a college is good,” the 17-year-old said.

The Channel Islands campus in Camarillo also offered a tutorial program at Santa Paula High School last school year, which officials plan to expand to Oxnard high schools this fall. Laura Menchaca, an outreach consultant at Santa Paula High School, said the program--which lasted several months--had a tremendous effect on her students.

“Tutoring is a safety net that is very important,” she said. “It can really make a difference in their self-esteem and their grades.”

Tuesday’s program began with a walking tour of the campus, formerly Camarillo State Hospital. Students wandered through dusty hallways, peeked into the former morgue and walked by piles of wood and dirt. One student said she felt like she was on a movie set. The students also looked at the centrifuges, microscopes and incubators of Moorpark College’s biotechnology lab, now housed at the campus.

After the tour, Larry Inchausti, a professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, gave students some writing tips and suggestions. Then students brainstormed ideas for their diagnostic essay on fads, listing such trends as Teletubbies, tongue piercing and tube tops. When they were instructed to begin, they picked up their pencils, put their heads down and started writing.

Cal State Channel Islands officials hope some of the students who participate this week will consider eventually transferring to the new campus, which is scheduled to open in 2002.

Carlos Morales, 17, said he felt lucky to be able to participate in the summer program because he needed some help with his schoolwork and had never visited a college campus. “It’s different,” the Santa Paula senior said. “It’s like coming into a new world.”

Times staff writer Fred Alvarez contributed to this story.