Down but Not Out at Cal State

More than two-thirds of the students entering Cal State need remedial instruction in math or English, according to figures released by the university system. The campus-by-campus figures offer a disappointing look at the lack of preparation for college-level courses. Of the 23 campuses, the Los Angeles-area schools fared among the worst. At Cal State L.A., three out of four freshmen needed remedial classes in math and English. At Cal State Northridge, 62% needed remedial English and 67% needed remedial math.

MAURA E. MONTELLANO spoke with Cal State students about their general preparedness for college and what impact they felt the study would have on their post-college job search.

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MICHELE BUTTELMAN

43, senior, Cal State Northridge

I am a returning student taking a developmental math class that is considered a remedial class. I haven’t had the need for math in a long time, so I didn’t do well on my placement test.

These type of classes are a waste of time. This knowledge is not something I’m going to put to use every day. Who is going to ask me to measure the circumference of a circle? No one.

The resources that are being used at the college level should be diverted to the high schools. I’m astonished at the amount of resources the colleges pour into these remedial courses. There are a teacher and two tutors in my class of 40 students. In addition, there is a math lab that is fully staffed with tutors at all hours of the day.

High school teachers should be grooming students to pass the placement tests so that the remedial courses are not necessary.

A degree is devalued any time you have a report like this. I am somewhat concerned that prospective employers will look at my degree and think twice about hiring me because of where I went to school. I think the Cal State system never has had a high profile like USC or UCLA so employers think, “Hey, it’s worse than we thought.”

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DARREN BROWN

22, junior, Cal State L.A.

Although I did well on my SATs, I didn’t do well on the placement exams. I decided to take remedial math because I was a bit rusty. It wasn’t that hard. There were some new things that I hadn’t learned in high school but for the most part, it was a repeat of what I’d already studied.

In high school, I knew I wanted to go to college and that advanced placement courses or honors courses would help me, so I took them. I feel strongly that it’s up to the high schools to better prepare students for college-level courses. Actually, a good, solid education comes from a lot of things: challenging curriculum, parental involvement, your personal views about education.

I am concerned about prospective employers’ views of my school. I am planning on pursuing an advanced degree, to hopefully get a better job. Any degree will be viewed with a critical eye because of the school I am coming from. When I chose Cal State L.A. it was the best option for me. I still think it is. I am getting a very good education here, as good as I would have at any prestigious school.

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JUAN SANTOS

25, senior, Cal State L.A.

I took one English remedial class my freshman year. I needed it to strengthen my writing abilities. The class really helped solidify my skills.

I went to a parochial school. We had good teachers but maybe they should have implemented more advanced placement classes in math and English. That probably would have helped me adapt better to the university-level classes. There should have been more after-school help.

My education has absolutely prepared me for the job market. I know I’m at a disadvantage because I attended a school that is not renowned like USC or Ivy League schools but I perform well enough and could attend these schools. I think employers will consider my education and not the fact that students who attended my school did not fare well in these tests.

These exams do not measure a student’s real abilities to succeed in college. There are a lot of cultural differences to deal with. These tests are geared toward people who come from the upper or middle classes, not working-class, inner-city students or minority groups.