This column is the latest in the series “Empty the Nest” about raising children in their final years of high school. Read our previous article about mourning the last first day of school here.
My children owe their existence in part to the University of California system.
A father-in-law convinced his wife that they should move from their small hometown in Indiana because of Gov. Pat Brown’s higher education initiative, which aims to guarantee every high school graduate in the state the opportunity to attend college. It was a basic plan. Lakewood Planned Community.
Of course, there were many factors that led to me meeting my husband of 26 years. But one thing is for sure: If he had stayed in Indiana, none of this would have happened.
So there are many reasons why I am grateful to the UC system. That’s why I try to remember as our family faces the stomach-churning experience of trying to be accepted for the third and final time.
As millions of parents and students know, the college admissions process is becoming increasingly dire. Long gone are the days of my youth when I could apply to a small number of schools in and out of state after a reasonable assessment of my budget and ability as a student, including the mandated “reach” and “safety” criteria. . Expected to be accepted in some places.
Research is now a years-long process, requiring spreadsheets of tuition and potential aid, acceptance rates (in general and the student’s desired area of study), and housing availability and costs.
According to U.S. News & World Report, over the past 20 years, tuition and fees at state universities have generally increased by more than 100%, not adjusting for inflation, and in-state tuition and fees at public universities have increased by about 133%. %.
And forget about applying to some universities. Most counselors now advise students to apply to at least 10 jobs, including some safeguards. As for those “reachable” universities, they now include most of the University of California, even if you are a graduate of the University of California.
I have my child attend some of the most popular colleges in the system, including UCLA (acceptance rate: 9%), UC Berkeley (11.6%), UC San Diego (26.8%), UC Irvine (28.8%), and UC Santa. I know many people who go there. Barbara (32.9%).
But for years, the captain of the volleyball team, student body president, and founder of a thriving non-profit organization, a child over the age of 4, was not even on the waiting list. I know many more who remain confused over time.
Reddit is a cacophony of anguish when it comes to the question of how, if at all, you can participate in most UCs. The most experienced high school guidance and private college counselors say that the highest-achieving California students are less likely to attend the University of California of their choice unless it includes Riverside College (76%) or Merced University (91%). My advice is not to rely on admission.
Both are great schools if they have strong programs in your child’s area of interest. But that’s not the case with my third child.
After watching his older, high-achieving siblings get accepted to out-of-state universities with scholarships, only to receive rejection letters from UC Davis over and over again, my son went to UC Davis. Although he was accepted to the school, he chose the University of Missouri. My youngest son initially swore he wouldn’t pass. The whole painful experience. But then she realized that most of the best schools for her chosen major were the University of California. So she applied to five of those schools, plus two in California, one of which only accepted 34 percent of applicants.
The hours she spends putting together pitches for each candidate, including writing essays, creating portfolios, and sourcing letters of recommendation, have essentially become a part-time job. She already has it, along with all the extracurriculars she needs to prove she’s an asset to colleges that plan to accept tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, housing, and fees. Masu.
She has also applied to numerous out-of-state and private universities, but is unable to get into any of them without significant aid. Since when did annual income of 7 million yen become commonplace?
But her top choices are all UC, so there are expectations here. She has a high GPA, excellent AP scores, and a true passion for her desired field of study. More importantly, growing anger over the high failure rate of California applicants has forced the University of California to limit out-of-state student admissions to 18% on most campuses, forcing the University of California to expand its student population. The problem is that we no longer get the benefits.
As The Times’ Teresa Watanabe reported, this year the University of California enrolled its largest and most diverse freshman class ever, including a 4.3% increase in California first-year students. University of California officials hope to add 3,600 more students next year, but budget shortfalls may make that impossible, even with proposed tuition increases.
Still, the fact remains that the beacon of an institution that drew thousands of families like my husband’s to California within a generation remains little more than a dream for most.
UC was originally intended to be a research center providing advanced education to the top 12.5% of the state’s graduates. CSU was to offer extensive studies to the top 33.3%. The state’s population has more than doubled since 1960, and the disparity in high school education continues to widen, making this type of simple calculation impossible.
But for families who have invested tax dollars in the state, sending a child who meets the historic standards of the University of California to the campus that best fits their educational priorities can take years of planning, or even years of planning to get into MIT. There should be no need to worry about this. Or you can jump into the Ivy League.
Increasing enrollment should be a top priority for a state experiencing its first significant population decline in decades. The University of California should develop more three-year programs like those in the UK, offer more off-campus semesters abroad or at home, and strive to graduate in four years.
And if building new campuses or expanding old ones remains too expensive, perhaps the state should focus on building Cal State’s programs and reputation. Under the master plan, only the University of California could award doctoral degrees, a symbol of research focus and prestige. But in 2005, CSU began offering them in certain programs. Two years ago, that number was expanded.
Cal State, San Diego State, and Long Beach State already appear on many “best” lists, but with 20 other campuses in the system, Cal State is less tiered and has fewer campuses. It may be time to reconsider the master plan with a focus on ensuring that Ambitious and qualified high school graduates are being forced to leave the state to find the universities of their choice that will accept them.
Importantly, we need to change the way we collectively view university. I keep looking through those lists, and all these “best” lists are doing as much harm as good, petrifying the notion that lower acceptance rates and higher fees are better schools. Masu. This is not always the case.
After their father-in-law took advantage of California’s college system and steered their family to the Golden State, all three children made the most of it, attending schools over the years at Long Beach State, San Francisco State, UC Irvine, and U.C. I attended the Los Angeles school. My husband was accepted to Berkeley, but ultimately chose San Francisco State University because of its writing program. Back then, the system was less hierarchical and movement between campuses was more frequent.
The final application documents have arrived at our house. And once again, I told my child that if a particular college doesn’t want her, it’s their loss, not hers. But she is the first of my children who really wants to stay in California, so I hope California will allow her.
