Bad News for those Students thinking Cal State System Schools were your Safeties - Page 2

bluebayou · 10-19-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Are any of the Cal States actually accepting students with 2.0 GPAs (besides maybe an athlete)?

Actually, yes, most of them. Indeed, with the exception of the really popular campuses, such as SDSU & SLO, Cal States are still open enrollment for their local catchment area.

Cal State East Bay (nee Hayward), for example, essentially guarantees admission to anyone who meets the minimum requirements and the Nov 30 deadline; CSEB then has rolling/open admission thru March, depending on major.

itsv · 10-19-2009, 04:45 PM

Blue Bayou, It is my understanding that what you posted was the old rule. CSU officials met with high school college counselors around the state last week. I posted the email us parents and students received from our high school counselor following the meeting. For the 11 impacted CSU's you need a 3.2 to get in so for the poster with a 3.0 son, he would have to apply to one of the smaller CSU like channel islands. Some of the impacted CSU's like SDSU you need an even high score like somewhere between 3.4 and 3.8. The rules for admissions to CSU schools are changing every week practically and what I posted was the latest we received. I have a DS in class of 2010. The CSU mentor has not been modified to reflect these recent changes.

As UCSC UCLA DAD also reported some are also requiring that you live on campus as part of the admission process. Our high school counselor has advised the students that if you have a 3.1 or lower and want to go to one of the 11 impacted CSU schools, you need to have another plan.

For the poster that asked about funding and k-12, I was surprised to learn in the paper that CC's are reimbursed for only full-time students, I guess similar to k-12. Since students are having difficulty getting a full-time course load, it's a cycle of less money and less classes.

itsv · 10-19-2009, 04:50 PM

Blue Bayou, our local CSU's , SDSU and San Marcos, have done away with the local catchment area program with just one small exception for an intercity school. There are reports that others CSUs, like San Jose State, Long Beach State, Fullerton are also doing way with the local guarantee program. There has been a ton protests on the campus of the CSU schools in San Diego. I am not trying to create panic in my posting but wanted to share to make sure there are backup plans for CSU applicants.

bluebayou · 10-19-2009, 04:58 PM

itsv:

Yes, I understand that San Diego county is a is a special case. But ya gotta read the fine print when it comes to political spin. From the Office of the President of the Cal State system

Quote:

At least 12 of the university's 23 campuses are impacted for 2010 - twice as many as last year – and that means these campuses will not accept freshmen applications after midnight on Nov. 30, 2009 and may require higher admissions criteria for out-of-area students. Impacted campuses for fall 2010 include Fullerton, Long Beach, Pomona, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, and Sonoma, San Francisco, Chico, Northridge, Fresno, San Marcos and San Josè.

Even if we assume that every one of those 12 campuses will have higher standards for in-area students (which is highly dubious), it still means that 13 (or more than half, i.e., "most") will accept 100% of all minimally-eligible students. (Just like the UC Merced and Riverside accept 100% of those minimally-eligible for UC.)

The point is that a college education is readily available for C students, but perhaps not first choice campus.

btw: my post about CSEB was a press release that they put out less than 10 days ago, so its current.

bovertine · 10-19-2009, 05:12 PM

You are eligible for Cal State at 2.0 GPA if you have a 1300 SAT.
CSUMentor - Plan for College - High School Students - Eligibility Index - California Residents

If you have a 3.0 you can have any SAT.

Being eligible is the minimum for impacted programs. So probably not all eligible students will get in Cal State this year.

Shrinkrap · 10-19-2009, 05:15 PM

"For the 11 impacted CSU's you need a 3.2 to get in so for the poster with a 3.0 son, he would have to apply to one of the smaller CSU like channel islands."

I know this isn't the place for "chances", but FWIW, my son has a bit of an upward trend ( his 4 C's...yeah I just double checked...sigh.. where all first semester, Sophmore year), which I hope reflects him "overcoming" his ADHD ( used to have MAJOR discipline problems, but nothing major since high school), hopes to be a recruited athlete (soccer), and we are "local" for Sonoma State. For example, he has no formal accommodations because it's a tiny school, and they have always worked with us. Documenting the informal accommodations shouldn't be a problem. Also, while most of my sons "electives" are religion classes, they are not A-G approved. He has done journalism every year. It looks like that can only be counted as an elective once.

Any thoughts about any of this?

bluebayou · 10-19-2009, 06:44 PM

^^Can't comment on Sonoma and how its impactedness will impact admissions. Obviously, if the coach wants him....

But you might inquire if your GC would be willing to write a letter to the Admin Dean at Sonoma to discuss your son's learning challenges. (Yes, I understand that Cal States and UCs don't take recs, but they sometimes do. Our public HS GC has done this on occasion to explain why a C+/B- student earns a couple of Ds and the kid got into the Cal State.)

And, yes, religion classes don't routinely count for a-g.

Good luck. Sonoma is one of those hidden gems, IMO.

Shrinkrap · 10-19-2009, 07:26 PM

Thank you. I'm hoping he can learn to love CSU Monterey Bay.

ucsd_ucla_dad · 10-19-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

I'm hoping he can learn to love CSU Monterey Bay.

So you can have an excuse to go to Monterey to visit him?

(I used to scuba dive there - it's a nice area)

elizabethh · 10-19-2009, 08:16 PM

Something to consider for the catchment areas is that most of these schools (except SDSU, Chico and SLO) are not really equipped to house large numbers of students on campus. While this may seem like a minor detail, I believe it is why the schools will not do away with the catchment 100% admit. Many of the students live at home and attend their local CSUs, and housing a large influx of students from out of the area would just add another level of stress to the already stretched to the limit CSU system.

campbellmom · 10-20-2009, 12:09 PM

Son has applied to Sonoma State and San Jose State (we are local to SJSU). He is also applying to a few privates in NorCal. Since he is highly interested in Sonoma State, I encouraged him to apply on Oct 1st, the day the applications opened for CSU's.

He did and the e-mail that was sent back to him said "we will review these applications in the order in which they were received."

I have advised him, based on what I've heard, that Sonoma County students will have a leg-up on him since he's out of the area. But by submitting his application on the first day, he has given himself the best chances.

He is also looking into playing soccer there, and in communication with the coaching staff, and going to soccer camps there. If the soccer doesn't work out, he is still interested in SSU because he really liked it when he visited during the summer. It also fits his criteria of small and in NorCal.

Our strategy was to get those CSU apps in right away, but many of his peers are thinking that applying by the deadline (Nov. 30th) is fine. If I hear they are doing this, I encourage them to apply right away given the craziness of this time.

Son also has other privates that will be good options if SSU doesn't work out.

My advice is to have your child apply NOW to CSU's if they haven't yet done so, and then realize that he/she must have other options as it is a new world in California.

bluebayou · 10-20-2009, 12:18 PM

^^Second c-mom's post. I was in a meeting with the Dean of Cal State Fullerton the other day and he tells everyone to apply as soon as the online apps open up. Since there are no essays, there is no reason not to (save $). His comment was that they "plan" to accept all local residents who apply by Nov 30, but "if the state makes mid-year cuts" and they have to reduce acceptances, they might use application date a tie-breaker.

EngProfMom · 10-20-2009, 12:55 PM

Apply to Arizona State. Terrific honors college. Huge selection of courses. Cost of living lower than in California.

itsv · 10-20-2009, 01:59 PM

Blue Bayou, interesting that you were meeting with the president of CSUF. My dad taught there for 30 years and I literally grew up next door to the campus. I could have gone there since at the time faculty and their families received free tuition but it was too close to home. My father is amazed at how fullerton is impacted because in the "old days' they were begging for students. Thanks for all the info.

A special State Assembly committee is down here today to meet with SDSU admissions people and the president to discuss the getting rid of the local guarantee. I guess they were flooded with complaints.

Like the last poster said, my DS is looking out of state, they are begging him to attend and are even sending plane tickets so why state in CA.

BfloGal · 10-20-2009, 02:35 PM

Can anyone suggest good safeties for a California kid whose GPA might not land him at a good CSU (given the new constraints)? The only true safety I can think of is CSU East Bay (formerly Hayward), but that is the one of the least respected CSUs and is also considered a commuter school (and not in the best neighborhood). I don't even want him to apply there. Would CSU Dominguez Hills be a safety? Which private schools might work? (Money is not an object.) Thank you.