Hi CHAMPS Family and Friends,

Welcome, welcome, welcome! This first entry’s going to be long, so for that I do apologize. I promise they’ll be shorter in the future.

I just want to start off by sharing with you some thoughts about our 23-campus (truly!) California State University system. However, following are some housekeeping items I want to pass along to you before I get started:
First, for those sophomores and juniors who are signed up for the PSAT – don’t forget! Arrive at the CHAMPS gym on next Saturday morning, Oct. 24, a few minutes before 9:00 am. You should be finished by 11:45. Pick up PSAT practice booklets in the Student Services office (ask for me or Ms. Howard). Bring along #2 pencils as well as calculators.

Second, we have admissions reps from three great colleges visiting CHAMPS this week – Sara Berkshire from Emerson College (Mr. Campi’s room at 10:00/4th period on Wednesday the 14th; Jeanie Porcelli from Pace University at 9:00/3rd period on Friday the 16th up in the College Counseling Center; and Michelle Howard from Oklahoma City University, also on Friday the 16th, 11:00/5th period in the Counseling Center. CHAMPS students, if you’re free during any of those periods, you are invited and encouraged to attend – parents as well. However, it would be great if you’d let us know so that we can plan adequate space for you. Email www.college.champs1@gmail.com. Briefly – Emerson’s tops as a communication and arts college, located in Boston’s great theatre district. (By the way, CHAMPS parents Maria and Howard Lapides -- sophomore Olivia L.’s mom and dad -- are Emerson alums and as well as current Emerson Board members, so they’re great Emerson boosters and information resources for us!) Pace has two New York City-area campuses, one that is located in downtown Manhattan. It’s a great alternative to NYU and hosts the popular Bravo TV series “Inside The Actors Studio.” Oklahoma City University is a best-kept secret in the world of college admissions, particularly strong in dance and musical theatre. You’ll find its grads working all over Broadway and in touring companies. All three of these colleges have superb financial aid/scholarship programs, so don’t write them off because of their higher-end sticker prices. They are potentially (and most likely) so much more affordable than you think.

And third – Delina Pleasants (Kiara Artry’s mom) was on the ball, and urged me to remind you of the fact that on this very CHAMPS website is our very own growing list of links to useful college information-oriented websites. After you jump onto this CHAMPS site, go to “Students” at the top and then hit “College Preparation.”

Ok finally – here’s what I want to say this week:

Shortly after returning home from a crazy week at the yearly NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counseling) conference in Baltimore as one of 5,400 busy attendees, I turned around and reluctantly attended the day-long Cal State Fall Counselors’ Workshop in Ontario, CA, sponsored by CSU-San Bernardino . I have to say, I’m now so very glad I did, because I walked away with a whole different attitude about these various campuses than the one I brought to the table at the start of the day.

Friends, this CSU system we collectively possess is really nothing short of miraculous. I can’t believe I’m writing these words for public viewing here, because…ok, I’ll admit it. I’ve been a 5-star college snob. Like so many of us, I’ve been guilty for years of discounting our own Cal State-Northridge and its many-campus-strong brethren with a wave of my hand while rolling my eyes. And why? Well, I suspect it’s because it’s right here in the middle (or very close to the middle) of our everyday stomping grounds; it is constantly referenced in our daily lives; it’s big, beige and flat – and we’re so sadly accustomed to seeing its sun-dappled palm trees; and it’s largely known as a commuter school (even though it does have on-campus housing available to those who want it). But let’s be perfectly clear. CSUN has such noteworthy programs…business, teacher education and music, just to name a few of so many.

And what about the other 22 campuses? Well, I have to tell you – they’re something grand to behold, now that I stop to think about it. The beauty of Humboldt State U is nothing short of magical, being situated within the redwood trees, near the ocean in a pleasant and artsy town not so far from the Oregon border, featuring world-class programs in oceanography and theatre, among others. When I was in San Francisco in August, I walked the grounds of San Francisco State U and was blown away by its beauty, full-on collegiate atmosphere (which I didn’t expect), top-notch student services, housing facilities, performing and visual arts programs, great cityscape location with fog rolling in from the nearby Pacific, new architecture…did I mention its vast selection of arts programs? And California Maritime Academy in nearby Vallejo placed right on some docks of the Bay – nothing like any other Cal State campus in any way. It has its own glorious ship (compliments of the Feds) and its students actually do ship out of there for months at a time sailing to parts unknown, and learning all aspects of the various international maritime industries. More wonderful arts programs of every sort can be found at Cal State-Fullerton and Cal State-Long Beach. And some of the Cal States are known as being splendid residential campuses, such as Sonoma State, Cal State-Chico and San Jose State U. Who can beat the locations of Cal State-Monterey Bay and San Diego State U? Everything associated with winemaking and the wine industry (including beautiful rolling vineyards) can be found at CSU-Fresno. And Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo is so well regarded that it attracts a national student population, easily considered to be a prestige hit by high schools throughout the rest of the U.S. – roughly on par with UC-Davis (I’m estimating) in terms of its selectivity.

So I’ll finally stop in just a moment. But think it over…the CSU group of schools is much more affordable than the University of California system, and more importantly, is often wryly referred to within its undergrad admissions personnel ranks as “the compassionate school,” meaning that CSU admissions parameters are more relaxed than those of the UC. The CSU online applications are easy to file with no essays or teacher recs required. I’m unashamed to admit I heartily recommend that every senior include at least one or two CSU campuses on his/her final college application plan. If you (your student) are applying to college this year, the CSU online filing period opened on October 1st and will abruptly close on the evening of November 30th, so get busy now – time is of the essence. To learn more and/or to apply, go to www.csumentor.edu. Let’s not take the CSU system for granted. Unfortunately for all of us, California’s terrible financial state has caused the CSU system to now be mandated to cut 54,000 students by 2011. We will certainly no longer be able to take these schools for granted as they will become more competitive than ever. Accordingly, I hope you’ll join me in helping to eliminate the generally snarky attitude about the CSUs. It deserves so much better from us!

I hope some of you guys are starting to check in on this blog and want to ask questions or respond. Thanks for reading and I’ll talk (write) to you later!

Anne