Welcome to all PEEPs - Parents of Early Entrance Program students at CSULA

EEP News and Information

Agreement. Freshman parents are reminded to read the EEP Policies, Procedures and Rules document and sign and return the Student Academic Agreement at the end of the document prior to the first day of the fall quarter.

Schedule prior to Fall Quarter. It has been a decades-long tradition for all EEPsters to take a camping trip to Catalina Island -- all the Freshmen and most of the upper classmen too. It is a time to welcome the EEP freshmen and for all to bond and have fun. The camping trip is Thursday-Sunday after Labor Day in early September. After camping there are mandatory two-week Pre-Fall Learning Seminars in English and Mathematics for the incoming freshmen, prior to the start of the fall quarter -- see overview of the math concepts here. There is no cost for these two weeks of special classes.

EEP Newsletters. EEP Director Rich Maddox writes a timely newsletter each quarter, and emails it to all current PEEPs (Parents of Early Entrance Program students). This newsletter contains information on current EEP happenings, including special things EEPsters are doing, alumni contacts, plans for EEP, new procedures, quarterly schedule, etc. This is why current email information is essential -- the majority of EEP communication is electronic. Parents should feel free to sign up multiple email addresses with the EEP office (both parents, work and home, etc).

PEEP Newsletters. There was a quarterly newsletter for PEEPs March 2005-October 2009. These newsletters are still available online for interested PEEPs, and may be useful especially for information on regularly scheduled events -- for instance, the Summer ones to see EEPsters' graduate school choices, the Fall ones for pictures of the annual Catalina Island camping trip. Past newsletters:
Fall '09
Summer '09, Spring '09, Winter '09, Fall '08
Summer '08, Spring '08, Winter '08, Fall '07
Summer '07, Spring '07, Winter '07, Fall '06
Summer '06, Spring '06, Winter '06, Fall '05
Summer '05, Spring '05
And for a summary of the future plans of the fantastic EEP grads, click here.
For the Life In EEP PEEP presentation, click here for PowerPoint or pdf versions.

EEP staff. Besides Dr. Maddox, there is only one full-time EEP employee -- Isabelle. There are several part-time office staff (including a student counselor) and parent/student volunteers who answer the phone, schedule meetings with Dr. Maddox, and handle a myriad of details for him. The office phone number is 323-343-2287, and the emails are:
EEP staff: eepstaff@cslanet.calstatela.edu
Rich Maddox: rmaddox@cslanet.calstatela.edu

Undergraduate Academic Advisor and curriculum. Dr. Maddox is the undergraduate G. E. advisor; upperclass EEPsters use the Academic Advisors available through the University for their declared major. There is a set 2010-2011 curriculum for incoming freshmen.

2008 EEPC officers goofing around!

Mentors. EEP alums, in addition to the upperclass EEPsters, are available to mentor current EEPsters -- on campus as Mock Trial advisors, and by phone or email on issues like graduate schools. Dr. Maddox keeps current information on EEP alum contact; especially senior EEPsters should see if there is advice they would like from an EEP alum about a specific graduate school.

Goofing off at Catalina

Academic Support. Especially Freshman parents should note that EEP has many academic resources valuable for all EEPsters. Mentoring is not just a summer job for our EEPsters -- all upperclass EEPsters are always willing to help underclass EEPsters with any question or problem. It would be great for the EEP if each and every EEPster is successful -- EEP is distinctively notable for its camaraderie and support, and not competitiveness. With 4,000 regular CSULA graduates each year, there is room for every one of the 20-25 EEPsters to graduate cum laude. That said, there are two adjustments to college that prove to be a difficult transition for many EEPsters -- speed (that 10-week quarter goes by so fast!) and math (most EEPsters have some gaps having skipped high school). Parents can help their children by monitoring their performance in the first month or two, and should there be any uncertainty, the EEPster should consult the EEPC Academic Chair to arrange FREE tutoring in the problem subject. EEPsters are tutored by upperclass EEPsters who have displayed a mastery of the subject material. Note that the majority of successful EEPsters have both been tutored and performed tutoring in their years at EEP. EEP has purchased the entire series of mathematics dvds from the Teaching Company -- these are available on loan for viewing at home, as well as in the EEP lounge (have your EEPster ask the EEP office staff). The special pre-Freshman two-week review classes for english and math were also designed to help your child transition to college-level courses.

2009 CSULA Mock Trial Team -- all EEPsters! -- won a Spirit of AMTA award at Regionals! and a witness award!

Clubs. EEPsters are encouraged to join clubs of interest, although, as a caveat, it is suggested that freshmen join no more than one club (besides EEPC) their freshman year, until they are certain of the change in the workload. EEPsters abound in: ASI (CSULA student government), GE Honors, Debate, Humanitarians on Campus, Mock Trial, Finance, Pre-Law, Pre-Med, and many more. Note that EEPsters have started many clubs too (Mock Trial, Humanitarians on Campus), so EEPsters are encouraged to get involved and to lead. (See CSULA Student Organization website for a complete listing of the academic, cultural, fraternal, honorary, professional, religious, service choices.)

Study Abroad. Experience a Different Coast…Study Abroad! Past EEPsters have studied abroad for 1-3 quarters at places like Oxford University and the University of Dublin. For our older EEPsters, international programs through CSULA's International Programs and Services or the National Student Exchange can be a very nice option. If your EEPster might be interested, they can also just visit International Programs and Services on campus (SA-115), or call at 323-343-3170. There is often a Fair on campus in the fall, with many study abroad providers detailing the opportunties in the 17 countries with CSULA-sponsored IPS programs. Application deadlines are usually early February. Studying abroad is often available only to the older EEPsters, ages 16+; age requirements differ by program.

Campus Safety. New parents are understandably concerned about safety on a large urban campus. However, any concerns are really unfounded -- college is MUCH safer than public high school and, moreover, safer than public middle school! The crime rate is 0% for violent crimes, and 1% for non-violent crimes (theft) -- for statistics, click here. Parents should advise their children not to leave their belongings unattended in classrooms, the library or the food court; and parents should review basic safety guidelines. However, CSULA is probably safer, and perhaps much safer, than the school your child just left, so there is no reason to be alarmed.

EEP Lounge in Fine Arts

EEP Lounge Hours. The EEP Lounge is generally open 8am-5pm, Monday-Thursday. Note that the doors will be locked at all other times; these are timed locks, and the rooms are accessible to no one after hours. Check Dr. Maddox's newsletters for up-to-date information on changes to this schedule as well as Friday accessibility. Other campus facilities have different hours (e.g., the library is generally open 8-8 M-Th, 8-5 Fr, 11-5 Sa). Classes are generally held on Mon-Wed and Tue-Thu; EEPsters are not expected on campus Friday-Saturday-Sunday.

Media. There is a general Visual/Audio Image Release Form that requires parental signature for under-age (17 and under) children, for audio and/or visual recordings on campus. Generally speaking, photographs are the property of the photographer, and not of the subject. However, parents and students will be informed of any special professional filming of EEPsters, such as the 2001 NBC newsclip, and special release forms for large projects such as these will be required from EEP and from the studios. Parents may want to consider the ramifications of publicity prior to signing these special-project releases; an excellent article on this subject is available at http://www.hollingworth.org/press.html.

PEEP Website and Yahoo Group. The PEEP website has many useful links and information -- emergency procedures, summer internships, scholarships, news articles, television newsclips and more. PEEPs are encouraged to suggest additional content that would be useful. And our private Yahoo PEEP group contains a private PEEP roster with city and emails so PEEPs can set up carpools, or just get in touch with the parents of your EEPster's friends. PEEP volunteer Pauline Vela handles the roster.

Health Services on Campus. PEEPs may be interested in knowing about the services available on campus at CSULA's Health Center -- available free or at reasonable prices -- and these are in addition to the Medical Clinic with Medical Doctor and nurses on call: Immunization Requirements and Clinic, Dental Clinic, Chiropractic Clinic, Optometry Clinic, Massage Therapy, and Counseling Services. (These forms were for 2008, and may not reflect current price updates or services.) Some of these services may require written or in-person parental permission for underaged (under 18) students.

Campus Emergency Procedures. PEEPs may also be interested in the Emergency Procedures in place at CSULA. Note that this link is permanently on the PEEP website, and also contains a wealth of information on home preparedness as well. CSULA offers an emergency procedure that will text-message in case of an emergency. Your EEPster must sign up for this service, but multiple phone numbers and email addresses are allowed, so your EEPster can sign up both his/her own cell number and yours -- visit the website for more information. Also, all parents are advised to put an "ICE" entry in their EEPster's and their own cell phones -- this is "In Case of Emergency", and it is what paramedics look for! So it's a good idea for everyone.

PEEP advice

PEEP advice. Parents are encouraged to call or email Dr. Maddox or alum parents with questions or concerns. Parents can call alum PEEPs Ned and Susan Fenton at 323-906-0300 or email csulapeep@gmail.com. Some general advice tips:

• Independence. Your child is in college now. They were accepted into EEP because they displayed the maturity to succeed independently on a college campus. While parents should certainly be involved in the supervision of their children's decisions, they should remember that this is a time for the child to assume total responsibility -- the next step on their path is graduate school, perhaps even in a foreign country.

• EEPsters bonding at Catalina

  When Not to Worry. If your child is making friends and earning good grades, it is probably a good rule-of-thumb to lay off the nagging and worrying. It is not easy to be good parents of middle-school-aged-children who are in college, and to gauge when to treat them as middle-schoolers and when as college-students. But remember, this is a time that you want to prepare them for successful independence. Question your over-involvement, and whether or not you are being too much of a "helicopter parent" (2009 TIME article: "The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting").
• When to Worry. If your child is not studying, it may be due to overconfidence. It is a huge change from a year-long middle-or-high-school class to a college class. College classes are longer, in more depth, and much much faster -- that 10 week quarter flies by. It seems the quarter only just started before midterms occur at week five. Procrastination will lead to problems. Many EEPsters are also embarrassed if they need help for the first time in their academic career. Remind them (Dr. Maddox does too) that virtually ALL successful EEPsters have been tutored by other EEPsters. Tutoring is free. Encourage your child to talk to his/her provie summer mentors or the EEPC Academic Chair, and to reread that valuable mentor advice each provided with the bio. Some advice from two successful EEP seniors can be found in Dr. Maddox's Spring 2009 newsletter.

• Richard Maddox, Ed.D.

  Graduate School Myths dispelled by Dr. Maddox. "EEPsters do not need a 4.0 GPA for grad school acceptance. Perfectionism is a problem for most gifted students and while a noble concept, to be perfect is not realistic. We have a B average standard (3.0) in EEP, not a 4.0 requirement. It is OK and acceptable to earn a B. Students should assume a Mastery orientation not a Performance orientation in terms of school work." Dr. Maddox's suggested EEPster goals for grad school:

  • Strong GPA (3.5 and above is great), this is a B+ average.
  • Strong test scores on (graduate) entrance exams.
  • Strong letters of recommendation developed over time through building faculty relationships.
  • History of Involvement, leadership and extra curricular activities.
  • Excellent communication and social skills often developed over time by involvement in activities and with peers.
  • Focus and passion for a career or academic discipline.

• Mind the Gap. It is not a race. There is no prize for the EEPster who finishes college the fastest. The rule of thumb is that EEP is a 5-year program. EEPsters are encouraged to take five years, and extra GE (General Education) courses to be well-rounded and fill in the gaps they missed by skipping high school. And, EEPsters may enjoy graduate school more if they are more in-line age-wise with their peers. Parents should help their child strive for balance -- balancing good grades with good fun. EEPsters are encouraged to take summers off. Studying abroad for part or all of one of the five years is an excellent option for older EEPsters.
• Volunteer. PEEPs are encouraged to volunteer to chaperone the off-campus events or even help out in the EEP office. EEP runs on a tight budget, and can use the help and it will help you to stay involved -- you want to be marginally involved and not marginalized!     PEEPs may also want to encourage their EEPsters to volunteer or seek work in internships over the summer in fields of interest or causes they are passionate about; we have collected some ideas and resources here.
• Life Skills. You may also want to make sure your EEPster has acquired other necessary life skills, for life-after-EEP: financial (balancing a checkbook, using credit cards responsibly, budgeting), independent living (how to do laundry and cook), stress management, goal-setting, what constitutes an adequate diet, how to interview effectively, etc.

• happy 2005 graduates

  Senior year. Your EEPster needs to sign up for graduation in early October! Graduation will be in early June on a Friday night or Saturday morning, depending on the college. Families get five tickets, and must make their own arrangements for additional tickets to commencement. While your child will be advised on graduate schools through their faculty advisors, parents should note that even senior EEPsters may need help organizing and scheduling all the grad school applications, as they are inexperienced, and they may not plan as far in advance as is optimal. Dr. Maddox is an invaluable resource in the application process, and can refer applicants to EEP alums at the schools of their choice. Also note that Dr. Maddox is not notified, and neither is the EEPster, as to graduation honors -- if your EEPster has a high GPA, he/she may want to ask their department prior to graduation if he/she will graduate cum laude. CSULA Alumni Association sponsors workshops to help students strengthen their resumes and grad applications, and improve interview skills (e.g., May 5, 2010, 6:30-8:30) -- suggest your child explore the help on campus through the CSULA Alumni Association and the CSULA Career Center.

• Click on book image to peek inside

  Gap Year. Many EEPsters take a gap year (or two!) after college and before graduate school. The activities planned may include applications to graduate school, backpacking in a foreign country, pursuing a hobby or skill, studying a non-academic passion (EEPsters have studied cooking at the Cordon Bleu in France and Japanese in Japan). Parents and EEPsters may find "The Gap-Year Advantage; helping your child benefit from time off before or during college" (at Amazon.com) to be a useful resource -- "A gap year offers students the opportunity to gain focus and discipline, learn to set realistic goals, get real-world experience, and ultimately get the most out of a college [for EEPsters, post-graduate] education." The 2008 Wall Street Journal article may also be of interest, or a gap year website.

Remember, your child will enter EEP as a teen, and graduate as an adult.

Financial Information

Annual Giving. Donations to EEP, for everything you see in the EEP rooms (from furniture to ink cartridges, games to educational dvds), are made to the charitable (501c3) corporation Early Entrance Foundation. 100% of the donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of the money is donated to EEP. The Early Entrance Foundation can do matching grants too. Please refer to the Foundation website for more details, or email earlyentrance@sbcglobal.net. Note that donations can be made online too.

EEP L-O-V-E

eScrip is Easy! It's simple, it raises lots of money for EEP, it's free and it needs all PEEPs! And even your friends and relatives! Just sign up your grocery cards once a year (in September) and EEP automatically gets a percentage back on all the grocery purchases all year long! If you have no charitable organization specified on your cards, the stores just keep all the money. Sign yourself up online (click here), or have your in-house tech expert (your EEPster) do it! We can raise over $1000 a year for EEP through escrip, and it's free and easy! PEEP volunteer Jennifer Edge handled the escrip program through 2011; we're looking for a new volunteer.

College tax breaks. Over 25% of Americans fail to take advantage of the myriad of college-related tax breaks! When planning taxes, PEEPs should remember to look into the Hope Credit (a per-student annual credit for the first two years of higher education) and others, credits that may apply even with alternative minimum taxes. There are also tax-advantaged college savings plans, known as 529 plans, which can boost your savings. SmartMoney has a 2010 updated article on tax credits and deductions, including the $4,000 "above the line" college expenses deduction.

Scholarships. PEEPs should be aware that EEPsters qualify for any and all regular student scholarship awards and student loans. Some historical scholarships that may be of interest are listed online. EEPsters can visit the CSULA Financial Aid Office in person (SA-124) or online for personalized help. Parents and EEPsters should also visit the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website. Dr. Maddox will advise parents and students in his newsletter or by email of any special scholarships available to EEPsters.

Calendar and EEP Events

Quarterly Schedule. Dr. Maddox's quarterly newsletter includes specific dates of interest to PEEPs and EEPsters. PEEPs can also examine the complete CSULA calendar at http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/calendar/.

the non-prom

Annual Calendar. This list includes dates of interest during the entire school year. Note that Dr. Maddox will send out emails to PEEPs and EEPsters with specifics about these events, as well as the EEP Club social events.
• Late May: Provie Orientation, usually held on a weeknight on campus, for all provisional students and their parents -- also attended by EEP summer Mentors.
• June-September: 11-week provisional summer quarter for provisional students to take two courses -- a mandatory component of the EEP application process.
• Early August: Advancement to Candidacy -- provies are notified of provisional acceptance into the Fall freshman EEP class.
• Late August: Freshman Parent and Student Welcome ("Life in EEP"), usually held at lunchtime on a weekday on campus, for the incoming Freshman students and parents.
• Early September: Catalina Island Camping, usually Thur-Sun after Labor Day, for all EEPsters.
• Mid September: two weeks of mandatory (but free) classes (english and math) to "fill in the gaps" for the incoming EEP Freshmen.
• Early December: ACT test (SEAA Talent Search) for EEP applicants, and PEEP meeting and EEP Open House. EEPster volunteers needed.
• Mid April: ACT test (SEAA Talent Search) for EEP applicants, and PEEP meeting and EEP Open House. EEPster volunteers needed.
• Quarter breaks: One week in Spring (Mar) and Summer (June), three weeks in Fall (Sep) and Winter (Dec). Each quarter is 10 weeks of classes and one week of exams.
• Tuition and Registration: For the first three years, EEPsters must submit advisement slips to EEP for approval prior to registration for the following quarter. All Honor students (and all EEPsters are Honor students) qualify for priority registration (they sign up for classes first, a week before non-priority students); tuition must have been paid (in person, or by phone) prior to this, usually in week 5 (of the preceeding quarter). Exact dates are provided in Dr. Maddox's quarterly newsletters. Elders (4th and 5th year students) need not fill in advisement slips. Information on tuition costs, methods of payment and deadlines is available at the CSULA Student Financial Services website.

2008 Fun at Big Bear!

EEPC events. There are a myriad of EEPC fun events each quarter, designed and administered by the EEPC (EEP Club) with help from parents -- like laser tag, bowling, museum trips, beach, Big Bear, dance (think prom), Halloween Fright Night, Talent Show, and the annual 4-day Catalina Island camping trip. Note that the off-campus events, like Fright Night, require (brave) parent volunteers. So PEEPs, get involved! Meet your EEPster's friends! Enrich their college experience; without chaperones, many of these events can not be held! All of the events held off-campus are PEEP-sanctioned EEPC events that are NOT affiliated with CSULA. And of course participation in these events is entirely optional.

EEP Referrals. A majority of our EEP applicants discover EEP through their friends or on the internet. Our PEEPs and EEP alumnae are EEP's most important asset and their greatest promoters! Please refer interested parents and students to the EEP website, and keep in mind the testing dates which are also detailed on the EEP website.

EEΠX Store

Yearbooks, Sweatshirts, T-shirts and More! The EEPC has it all! Just have your EEPster order one, and Dr. Maddox will send home the item and a bill! With questions, email the EEP Club or call 323-343-5488 and leave a message. Check out the EEPC website for current items and prices.

The "Greek" EEPC sweatshirts

• T-shirts and Sweatshirts, etc. EEPsters love to show off their EEP pride, and these make great stocking-stuffer gifts too! All these items are unique to EEP: Lemonhead long-sleeved T-shirt, Lemonhead Sweatshirt, EEPC short-sleeved t-shirt, the ever-popular EEΠX Sweatshirts (with its Greek-EEΠX-logo!), License Plate Frame, EEP smiley face mug. Check out the EEPC website for current items and prices.
• Rings - EEP class rings, available for 4th year students and graduates, have an EEP logo (pdf drawing) designed by EEPster (alum) April Eriksson and the insignia of the student's major and year of CSULA graduation. You can get an idea of what the rings will look like at the Jostens website. The rings cost over $400.
  

• EEP totebag - larger view of logo

  Totebags. All EEPsters can get a free totebag, courtesy of a grant from LSI. These are distributed to new freshmen at the August Life in EEP meeting. Upperclass EEPsters who did not get their "support intelligent life on earth... EEP" (logo designed by EEPster Constance Jiang) totebag can see the EEP office for one.
• Yearbook. EEPC authors its own, unique of course, yearbook plus dvd. No EEPster will want to miss this chance to memorialize their college years. The EEPC will advise your EEPster when to order this each spring.

Upcoming CSULA Events of Interest

There are a variety of interesting performances, exhibits, lectures, etc on campus that are open to families as well as students. Luckman performances have included The Nutcracker by the world-renown Russian ballet company, the only performance in LA by famed violinist Itzak Perlman, and much more. There are also two art galleries on campus, and four theaters for live performances. Every year there are a series of science lectures in the evening open to students and visitors. Visit the complete CSULA calendar at http://www.calstatela.edu/univ/calendar/. For more complete information on the Luckman Season, including last-minute additions, call the Box Office (323-343-6600) or visit the website.

Articles of Interest

We have on file dozens of articles that Dr. Maddox clipped from mostly the LA Times and TIME Magazine that he thought would be of interest to parents. Check out the article index to find:

• safety -- identity theft, credit card traps, how to stop junk mail, how to protect against burglary, how safe is MySpace
• education -- how to fix "No Child Left Behind", the ranking revolt, the myth about homework, looking beyond famous schools
• teens -- how a teen's brain works, multitasking generation, "tweens", "twixters", "crispies"
• health -- medical myths, food combinations that fight cancer, arthritis pain relief, earthquake information
• finance -- making your money last through retirement, paying for college
• and many, many more -- click here!

Click on book image to peek inside

Click on book image to peek inside

EEP in Print! EEP is also discussed in print in two books to which Dr. Maddox and some PEEPs submitted information:
• "Early Entrance to College" by Michelle C. Muratori, Ph.D. It is not only available at Amazon.com, but it is also available online through google books (205-page book), and summarizes the choices and alternatives, including a summary of which students thrive and which do not. (Review by the Davidson Institute)
• "High IQ Kids: Collected Insights, Information, and Personal Stories from the Experts" has received the 2008 Legacy Book Award, a U.S. nationally recognized award for outstanding literature related to gifted children and their education. (Amazon link). The EEP section, which Dr. Maddox contributed, is on pages 197-212.

Articles about EEP. EEP has received press locally and nationally! The national MENSA Bulletin had an 2007 article by PEEP Donna Hay: "My Son Is A High-School Dropout -- and Proud Of It." The "Gifted Education Communicator" (a Journal published by CAG - California Association of the Gifted) had an 2003 article by Dr. Maddox: "Early Start." And there have been 13 articles about EEP in the LA Times: 5/9/1984, 6/9/1990, 1/10/1991, 12/26/1991, 6/11/1992, 10/21/1992, 8/23/1995, 9/4/1997, 11/3/1997, 12/18/1998, 2/26/2000, 3/26/2000, 6/15/2003.

Newscasts about EEP. In the past 20 years, EEP has been featured in 10 newscasts, both local and national!

Old Favorites! PEEPs may also be interested in these two sources on radical acceleration: "A Nation Deceived" (a study summarizing 50 years of research on acceleration and its effectiveness) and TIME's "Saving The Smart Kids" (2001 study found that 70% of kids who skipped ahead had no regrets).

Other article sources. PEEPs may also be interested in articles collected by The Davidson Institute (press room).

Links of Interest