Universities Raise Bar That Students Continue to Pass
It amazes those of us in the trenches that the gloom and doom stories surrounding public education continually fail to acknowledge the stunning achievements of our university-bound students. In fact, today’s top high school students are so much smarter and better prepared than previous graduates that no comparison is really possible. Frankly, few adults could get into some of the top colleges based on their original grades and test scores. Compared with the university-bound students I teach, most of us were real slackers.
Out of curiosity, I tracked down my high school transcript and checked the classes I took my senior year: U.S. government, French II, senior English, chemistry, art I and orchestra. Even though I was a “top student” at a large school and went on to a good university, I took no Advanced Placement or honors classes (none were even offered), only two years of a foreign language and no math beyond trigonometry.
If I showed this schedule to the seniors in my AP English class, they would shake their heads in disbelief, quickly concluding that here was someone who had given up all hope of getting into a prestigious school.
In contrast, to be competitive, today’s university-bound senior is taking AP English, AP calculus, AP government, AP physics and, to fill the “elective” slot, perhaps AP art history or AP Spanish literature.
With A’s and Bs in classes like this, you might think getting into UCLA would be a slam-dunk. But amazingly, that’s no longer the case. Students who maintained a 3.8 grade-point average, and even higher, in the above classes were routinely turned away from several UC campuses last year. In fact, UC San Diego recently announced that the average grade of this year’s freshman class was slightly over 4.0.
A high average is no longer enough if you can’t combine it with an impressive SAT score--and what qualifies as “impressive” continues to rise. I can remember when a score of 1,000 was considered quite decent. Now students need a 1,300 or higher to feel truly confident. Again, it took a 4.0 and at least a 1,350 SAT score to get into UC Berkeley this fall. A few students get in by only meeting the UC minimum requirements, but the vast majority have to attain grades and scores far beyond those levels.
Top universities also are looking for students who are well-rounded. With five AP classes, who realistically has time for cross-country or the school paper? But students continue to push themselves, often doing these activities before school starts (one yearbook staff meets at 6:30 a.m.) and well into the evening (a Mock Trial team practices till 9 p.m.).
This crop of students does not take extracurricular activities lightly, either. They collect food for the homeless, write letters for Amnesty International and organize blood drives.
Insane as the pressure to get into a top school has become, it’s only going to get worse. Whether in the area of required classes, test scores or extracurricular demands, universities continue to raise the bar and students continue to jump over it. This year’s high school freshman will now face a fine arts requirement for UC admittance. Just where already overbooked students will fit this into their schedules is anybody’s guess. But never fear. If the admissions office demands it, the students will deliver. But at what cost?
I recently asked my AP senior English students what they’ve missed during their years on the fast track. The answers poured out: “I couldn’t take art or music because they weren’t weighted classes.” “I never took a class that was pure fun.” “I only lived for the future, with no enjoyment of the present.” “I spread myself too thin--never really focusing on something.” “I dropped good friends who weren’t on the same track.” “I gave up time with my family that will never return.” “I didn’t get to enjoy high school. . . It was simply a means to an end.” And perhaps one of the most poignant: “I don’t think I was ever really young.”
These students seldom allow themselves the luxury of such reflection. What would be the point? They signed on to this voyage long ago, and they’re not about to jump ship now.
There’s really not much that parents or teachers can do about this situation either. The top colleges and universities set the agenda and we have no choice but to fall in line. However, we do need to stop now and then and simply acknowledge what these kids have done year after year. With very little complaining and very little say, they have continued to reach for the golden ring. They are a credit to themselves, their families and our school system.
In some ways our kids have had it easier than we did, but not when it comes to getting into a good university. It is a formidable challenge. Students who continue to work toward this goal need our support, our love and our admiration. They have undertaken this trip in good faith, and we can only hope the destination will be worth the journey.
Christine Baron is a high school English teacher in Orange County. You can reach her at educ@latimes.com or (714) 966-4550.
