Young students from Somis and Santa Paula attend the first "I'm Going to College" day at Cal State Channel Islands on March 21.
Camarillo, Calif. March 21, 2003 - More than 220 fourth-graders from Somis and Santa Paula experienced college life first-hand as part of California State University Channel Island's first "I'm Going to College" day on Friday, March 21.
The program simulates the first day of college for young students who typically might not think college is an option for them. Studies show that the average child begins to develop a commitment to education and an interest in what they want to be when they grow up when they are around 11 or 12 years old.
"Some children are from families whose parents did not go to college, so this is a new experience for the whole family. For some kids, the program is probably a turning-point experience because this makes them decide, 'I am going to college,' " said Sharon McClain, the superintendent of the Mesa Union School District who spearheaded the program that also includes students in Briggs, Santa Clara, and Somis elementary schools.
The event began when the children - clad in light-blue T-shirts adorned with flames and the phrase 'Get fired up, I'm going to college' - arrived in the morning at the University. After an official welcome by University President Richard R. Rush, students toured the campus and took their first two college "classes," taught by CSU Channel Islands professors, in disciplines ranging from biology to history and art. Most of the students ate a picnic lunch before leaving campus in the early afternoon.
The young students had been preparing to go off to college since November, when University representatives visited their classrooms to talk about "What Will I be When I Grow Up?" and "How to Prepare for Goals and Drea ms." They have explored such basic information as the benefits of college, how to get financial aid, and how to prepare for college and careers. Students also have been busy honing their computer skills by using the Internet to research colleges they are interested in and investigating financial aid opportunities, McClain said.
The "I'm Going to College" project was piloted at Edenvale Elementary School in San Jose, Calif., in fall 1990. Since then, similar early-college awareness programs have been implemented across the country.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.