Get Involved: College Days I & II

CRF interns spend two days learning about different colleges, college life, financial aid and the admissions process. They participate in a SAT Preparation Workshop with Ivy West, examine course requirements for college admission, receive personal statement tips from College Circuit, and fill out questionnaires to help match their interests and needs to specific colleges. The final day culminates with a tour of the University of Southern California. Reflection Questions: 1. Do tests like the SAT and ACT measure intelligence? What is their purpose? 2. While it is important to do well on college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT, what other factors do colleges consider besides test scores and grades?

College Entrance Exams

An editorial posted October 18, 2006.

By Daisy Matteo
School: Venice Senior High School

Tests like the SAT and ACT don’t measure a student’s intelligence. They test the student’s ability to take the test, but not how smart they are in comparison to their peers. These tests are simply a challenge and they are designed to test how students react to this challenge. 

Other factors colleges consider in addition to test scores and grades are extracurricular activities, and how a student uses his or her free time. The student’s interests and passions help colleges understand who the student is as an individual. 

 
Every year, over 100 students from throughout the Los Angeles Metro area participate in CRF’s Youth Internship Program (YIP). The program places local high school students as paid interns in law firms, businesses, government offices, and non-profit organizations. Throughout the seven-week program, interns participate in a series of educational seminars. They explore Los Angeles and discuss issues that affect them as youth and community members. During these seminars, we use questions to help YIP participants reflect on their experiences as interns and share their opinions.