Early Entrance Program (CSU)

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), United States, based on a similar program of the same name at the University of Washington, Seattle campus (the Transition School and Early Entrance Program). 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 generally come from the Greater Los Angeles Area, but some come from all over the United States as well as international locales.

Assistant Director (formerly Director)

The Director of the Early Entrance Program is in charge of all of EEP's operations. This position can be compared to a combination of an American high school principal and an academic advisor/counselor. The former Director (until Spring 2018) was Richard Maddox, EdD, who has his doctorate from the University of Southern California (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. Presently, EEP is under the jurisdiction of the Director of the Honors College, with an EEP Assistant Director overseeing daily operations. The current Assistant Director is Dr. Andrea Arias, EdD who has her doctorate from Pepperdine University.

Application Process

Every year, approximately 100-500 gifted students from all over the United States apply to EEP. However, each fall, only 20-35 applicants are admitted, after being screened by the ACT (American College Test) or the SAT and undergoing a rigorous assessment period taking college-level courses during the "Honors Academy". The screening test was formerly the WPCT (the Washington Pre-College Test).

American College Test

About the ACT

An EEP applicant's first step is taking the American College Test OR the SAT. The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. 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. Some students who perform poorly on the SAT find that they perform better on the ACT and vice versa. 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, 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 PACE 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. To qualify with the SAT the applicant must score above a 510 on both the Critical Reading and Math sections.

Taking the ACT

Each school year, the ACT is held in December and April at California State University. EEP is in charge of organizing and proctoring these two testings. EEPsters volunteer to assist in the administration of the exam. On average, approximately three hundred fifty students take the ACT 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 fewer 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 SAT, the maximum score of each portion of the test is 36. To quality for application to EEP, the student must have a minimum of 23 points in Mathematics and 22 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. Most students pass the interview.

Provisional Family Orientation

Every prospective student (formerly 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 Semester

The Provisional Summer Semester is both an evaluation process and a taste of what EEP life is like for all Provisional students. Provies must take 2 academic classes at CSULA and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for the summer quarter (which spans approximately 6 weeks). Provisionals also are encouraged to spend time in the EEP Lounge (King Hall D140-142) 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 by assisting and assessing them.

Advancement to Candidacy

Around the sixth to seventh week of the provisional semester, anywhere from 25 to 40 students who are strong candidates for the program are advanced to EEP candidacy status, contingent on University entrance. These students are then admitted to the EEP and begin classes at CSULA in the following Fall semester.

The Students of EEP

There are approximately 120 students in the Early Entrance Program, known as "EEPsters". As in American high schools, EEPsters in their first year at EEP are referred to as "Freshmen", or more commonly, continue to be referred to as Provies, second year as "Sophomores", third year as "Juniors", and fourth year and above as "Seniors" or "Elders". Although EEP is designed to be a five-year program, some students stay in EEP more than or less than five years to earn their degree. After three years students are promoted to the status of Elders which may be equated to the upperclassman of high school environments. EEPsters are an eclectic (and eccentric) group of adolescents, and are derived from a variety of social, ethnic, and economical backgrounds. These varied personalities all contribute to a unique environment often considered a social asylum for most applicants from the typical education environment.

Adjusting to University Life

Although initial concerns regarding adjustment run rampant, several intermediary steps are taken to ensure a smooth transition from a secondary school setting to university life. EEPsters on campus share a common abode in the affectionately dubbed Lounge, or 'EEP room', which, for the initial years, serves as a social hive in which EEPsters can work, socialize, or merely relax. This, in addition to the relatively small and exclusive nature of the program, results in a close-knit consequence of 'everybody-knowing-everybody' and certainly never a paucity of human interaction—or dull moments. Additional preparatory steps have been taken in recent years, including the addition of a Study Hall to freshmen curricula. All EEP students are supported by a full-time staff, which consist of a Student Counselor and a Student Assistant. Ultimately, with the aid of a familial environment and the omnipresence of guidance from EEP Elders, most freshmen adjust quickly to collegiate life. Elder EEPsters usually work to expand their social schemata, and become active participants in university life, assimilating inconspicuously into roles of community service, organizations, and student governments.

EEPsters and CSULA

The EEPsters have great opportunities and are encouraged to socialize with each other and other university students. In fact, they have participated greatly in many of CSULA's on-campus clubs and organizations including General Education Honors Club, Associated Students Incorporated (ASI Student Governance) and multiple research laboratories.

EEP Club

Founded several years ago by EEP students, the Early Entrance Program Club (EEP Club) serves as a student government for the EEP population. EEP Club sponsors free tutoring for all EEPsters and coordinates various social events as well.

Previous Administrations

EEP Club has flourished over the past 11 years under the leadership of Harry B., Jackson V., Herbert L., Andrew P., Pam L., Cory O., Margaret L., Millie G., John S., Jaquelyn Y., Adrian B., Grant J., Samuel H., Andre L., Paolo A., Lily N., John L., and Patty G.

Current Administration

The current Administration consists of:

President: Amanda T.

Vice President: George P.

Treasurer: TBD

Notable Alumni

• Leana Wen, physician, public health advocate, author and Director of Planned Parenthood.
• G.J. Echternkamp, director of Frank and Cindy.
• Nika Nour, Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association Foundation