Early Entrance Program (CSU)
Encyclopedia
The Early Entrance Program (EEP) is an early college entrance program
for gifted individuals of middle-school and high school ages at California State University, Los Angeles
(CSULA) and also at the University of Washington, Seattle campus. The program allows participants to skip normal schooling and become full-time, degree-seeking college students. Although there are a number of early college entry programs, EEP is the only one of its kind in the United States in promoting a direct transitional scheme from middle and high school to college without intermediary remedial education. Recently, EEP has attracted national media attention. Applicants to EEP now come from all over the United States as well as international locales.
(USC) in Educational Psychology. Maddox is responsible for the current EEP design, and has been the director of the Program since the 1995-1996 academic year. He has also encouraged EEP publicity, projecting it to nationally recognized status.
-like ACT (American College Test)and undergoing a rigorous assessment period called a "Provisional Quarter." The screening test used to be the WPCT (the Washington Pre-College Test)
program also take this test. To qualify for the EEP, an applicant must score 23 or higher on the Math section and 24 or higher on the English section.
, the maximum score of each portion of the test is 36. To quality for application to EEP, the student must have a minimum composite score of 24 and a minimum of 23 points in Mathematics and 14 points in the English section.
After these requirements are met, ACT scores have no influence over the application process. In other words, an applicant to EEP with a score of 33 will have no advantage over another student who scored 25.
There are three Provisional Freshmen Orientations that take place during the summer quarter. Unlike the Pre-Summer Orientation, these orientations are for provisional students without their parents. At the beginning of the summer during these meetings, every provisional selects a Mentor Group. Mentors are regular students in the program that volunteer to help Provies with the summer application process.
Early college entrance program
Early college entrance programs, sometimes called early admission or early enrollment programs are educational programs that allow high school students to be accelerated into college, together with other such students, one or more years before the traditional age of college entrance, and without...
for gifted individuals of middle-school and high school ages at California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
(CSULA) and also at the University of Washington, Seattle campus. The program allows participants to skip normal schooling and become full-time, degree-seeking college students. Although there are a number of early college entry programs, EEP is the only one of its kind in the United States in promoting a direct transitional scheme from middle and high school to college without intermediary remedial education. Recently, EEP has attracted national media attention. Applicants to EEP now come from all over the United States as well as international locales.
Director
The Director of the Early Entrance Program is in charge of all EEP's operations. This position can be compared to a combination of an American high school principal and an academic advisor/counselor. The current Director is Richard Maddox, EdD, who has his doctorate from the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC) in Educational Psychology. Maddox is responsible for the current EEP design, and has been the director of the Program since the 1995-1996 academic year. He has also encouraged EEP publicity, projecting it to nationally recognized status.
Application Process
Every year, approximately 100 gifted students from all over the United States apply to EEP. However, each fall, only 25-40 applicants are admitted, after being screened by the SATSAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
-like ACT (American College Test)and undergoing a rigorous assessment period called a "Provisional Quarter." The screening test used to be the WPCT (the Washington Pre-College Test)
About the ACT
An EEP applicant's first step is taking the American College Test(ACT). The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc.[1] It was first administered in fall 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test.[2] Some students who perform poorly on the SAT find that they perform better on the ACT and vice versa.[3] The ACT test has historically consisted of four tests: English, Math, Reading, and Science reasoning. In February 2005, an optional writing test was added to the ACT, mirroring changes to the SAT that took place later in March of the same year. All four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. accept the ACT,[4] but different institutions place different emphases on standardized tests such as the ACT, compared to other factors of evaluation such as class rank, G.P.A., and extracurricular activities. If the ACT is taken at one of two annual testings administered at CSULA, the applicant does not complete the writing portion. The applicants to CSULA's PACEPACE
-Associations:* Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union* National PACE Association* Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence-Educational programs:...
program also take this test. To qualify for the EEP, an applicant must score 23 or higher on the Math section and 24 or higher on the English section.
Taking the ACT
Each school year, the ACT is held in December and April. EEP is in charge of organizing and proctoring these two testings. In fact, EEPsters volunteer to assist in the administration of the exam. On average, approximately three hundred fifty students take the WPCT in December and four hundred students in April. The location for both testings is Martin Luther King Hall at CSULA. Some years, when there are less applicants(i.e. 2009), there is only one testing.ACT Scores
Scores for the ACT are mailed to the home of students usually one to two weeks after the date of the test. similar to the SATSAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
, the maximum score of each portion of the test is 36. To quality for application to EEP, the student must have a minimum composite score of 24 and a minimum of 23 points in Mathematics and 14 points in the English section.
After these requirements are met, ACT scores have no influence over the application process. In other words, an applicant to EEP with a score of 33 will have no advantage over another student who scored 25.
First Provisional Interview
The first step of applying to the Early Entrance Program (after passing the Washington Pre-College Test) is scheduling an interview with the Early Entrance Program Director. At this interview, prospective candidates are informed briefly about the application process and the Pre-Summer Orientation.Provisional Family Orientation
Every prospective student (usually referred to as "Provisionals" or "Provies") is required to attend an orientation with every other candidate for the program, as well as parents. This orientation usually occurs in late May and is coordinated by the EEP Director. Students at this orientation receive information about the various aspects of the summer application process.Provisional Summer Quarter
The Provisional Summer Quarter is both an evaluation process and a taste of what EEP life is like for all Provisional students. Provies must select 2 academic classes at CSULA and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for the summer quarter (which spans approximately 11 weeks). Provisionals also are encouraged to spend time in the EEP Lounge (Fine Arts 218-219) interacting with other provisionals and regular students.There are three Provisional Freshmen Orientations that take place during the summer quarter. Unlike the Pre-Summer Orientation, these orientations are for provisional students without their parents. At the beginning of the summer during these meetings, every provisional selects a Mentor Group. Mentors are regular students in the program that volunteer to help Provies with the summer application process.