The Accelerated College Entrance Program grants qualified high school students the opportunity to attend Cal State Sacramento while concurrently attending high school.

ACE is set up so that students who excel in their high school courses or who have surpassed the courses that they can take while in high school have the occasion to continue with higher education.

The information is first sent to the participating high schools specifically the counselors, who will then alert students to the program,” saidScarlet Maurin, associate director of Academic Talent Search and ACE.

The program15-year-old program is unique to the Sacramento area and offers on-campus or off-campus instruction. It also allows students to take courses in subject matters that may not otherwise be available to them.

“We currently have 40 to 50 students who are on campus attendees, and at least 400 students who are off campus attendees.

The teachers will go to participating high schools to co-teach with the high school teachers. Through ACE, the students are able to take classes for the semester for five dollars,” said Lynda Nakamura, program technician for Academic Talent Search.

Program requirements include a combined SAT score of 1100 and a minimum 3.0.

“They have to fill out the whole application, the same as an entering undergraduate and they are required to have met the prerequisites for any classes they wish to take.

“Also, we require that the students have the permission of parents and high school principal prior to the commencement of university work. Then comes the interview with Dr. Terry Thomas,” Nakamura said.

Prospective students will meet with Dr. Terry Thomas, Director of ACE and Academic Talent Search. Once students are admitted, he holds seminars that deal with life issues, such as buying books and knowing what to expect in parking, issues that could seriously stress an unfamiliar undergrad, Maurin said.

“Basically, the meetings that I hold have to do with real life issues and what to expect in college. It?s a ?know how to do college things? meeting that allows the students to get to know each other and the campus,” Thomas said.

Thomas speculates that at least one-third of those students participating in the on campus program attend CSUS once they graduate from high school, though the number changes from semester to semester.

“Usually the students that we have in this program are in the top portion of their high school class, so they are being recruited by some of the prestigious schools, such as Harvard and Yale. But some choose CSUS as their school of choice,” Thomas said.

“These high school kids must attend the first class and have their add slips signed, allowing them to join the class. They do not receive special registration, as they will not bump out any current undergraduates,” Thomas said.

Thomas, along with Maurin and Nakamura believe that this program is a benefit the whole community, allowing students an early opportunity to continue their education.

“I believe that this program is a fine service to the community because we are working with the Sacramento area to help with higher education. It?s a win-win situation in that we give students a leg up into the college atmosphere,” Thomas said.