December 16, 2005

HIGH SCHOOL SCENE

College panelists offer advice to Evergreen residents

By Mai Hong
Times Intern

Strength for the Day club members hosted a college seminar for the Evergreen community Dec. 3 at the Tully Branch Library. Students and parents alike listened and asked questions as panelists from various colleges offered advice on college and standardized testing.

Strength for the Day Club members gather at Tully Library on Dec. 3, to set up a college seminar for the Evergreen community.

The panel included Linda Tran, a former Evergreen resident and graduate from East Side Union High School District’s ACCEL middle college on the EVC campus.

Tran is currently a senior at Stanford majoring in Asian Studies, an academic focus inspired by the Japanese courses she took at Silver Creek High School. Tran divulged her experience abroad in Japan and discussed the differences between the public and private institutions in the United States.

“Public schools are cheaper, but you don’t get as much face time with professors and it’s less personal,” said Tran, reflecting on her own experiences.

Linda Flournoy, another featured panelist, is a teacher at the ACCEL middle college and a UC Berkeley and Stanford graduate. She discussed her experiences at UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley and Stanford.

“I was upset that the school (Stanford) didn’t reflect the diversity of the Bay Area,” said Flournoy, remembering her experience at her graduate school and recommends students look at the location and demographics at the school they will be attending.

EVHS junior Karen Huang attends the college seminar to ask questions and prepare for her college applications next year

Ingrid Rottman, a representative of Evergreen Valley College, was also there to discuss options for students who wanted to transfer from a community college to a four-year college.

“It’s easier for students to attend a community college financially, and there are transfer agreement programs offered to students,” says Rottman, who works for EVC’s transfer program.

Other panelists included Julienne Yueh, who discussed her academic record during high school and her experience at UC Davis and present schooling at Santa Clara University, and Peggy Chung, a Northwestern graduate.

“Even though I got into Berkeley, I decided to go to Northwestern in Chicago,” said Chung, who lived in California at the time and encourages residents to try new environments.

Evergreen residents were also advised to take their time choosing a major and to carefully scope out financial aid options and grants and loans. Flournoy, who started her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Cruz, later transferred to UC Berkeley because of the financial burden. The move enabled her to live with her family to save the room and board costs.

“You can always go for another minor or major, but financial aid may be cut off if you don’t finish your schooling within a four-year period,” said Tran, who had opted not to stay an additional fifth year at Stanford to complete an extra major.

Panelists Ingrid Rottman, Linda Flournoy, Linda Tran, Julienne Yueh and Peggy Chung talk about their college experiences and answer questions from Evergreen residents.

Club co-founder, Theodora Tran, recommends students learn what options are available for them and what options will best fit each individual.

“There are so many ways that you can accomplish your goal. By knowing your options, you’re better prepared for what you have to face later on,” said Theodora, summing up the seminar.

For more information on future events hosted by Strength for the Day, e-mail co-founders, Theo-dora Tran and Mabel Zhaung at strengthfortheday@yahoo.com.

For more information on EVC’s Transfer Admission Agreement program, please call (408) 274-7900 ext. 6620 or go to the Transfer/Career Center in Room P-106 on EVC’s campus.