A perfect score
It’s a real honor to be able to start this blog with news that an Excel alum has earned a perfect score on the SAT. Andrew Kau, of Monte Vista High School, took the exam last October and received news of his 1600 score in November. Needless to say, we at Excel are thrilled for Andrew. And Andrew seemed pretty thrilled to receive a $1,000 scholarship check from Excel for his effort. (Yes, current students, earn a 1600 and you’ll earn $1,000, too!) Look for more posts here in the coming weeks about Excel alumni… Continue Reading
The Journey- How I got to Cal (Part 1)
It is always difficult to pick which colleges to apply to because of the numerous factors involved. There are quantitative aspects such as grades and SATs and qualitative aspects such as major programs and location. Just like any other high school student, I was confused when it came time to choose which colleges to apply to. I decided to use the summer between junior and senior year to create a list of colleges that were appropriate for me. Before I get to that summer though, I must give a little background. I was a student… Continue Reading
A Major Decision (Part 2)
Last time, I gave you some insight into the world of Greek and how the students in that show chose their major. One thing you may have noticed from the show (and through real life) is that experience is the best way to decide a major. As I mentioned previously, I had a biotech internship and I was always interested in biology since middle school, so it was clear that I wanted to do something in the biological sciences. However, as you can tell, the interest in a major starts with an interest in a… Continue Reading
Movies go nerd!
As a high school student, I assume you must be tired of studying all the time. I bet you’re always waiting for Friday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0 Jokes aside, check out some new movies which will get you thinking: Source Code derives its name from text written in computer programming language. While the movie doesn’t explore computer programming language in-depth, hopefully it will be a good influence on your watching experience. The movie allows the viewer to explore ideas of time travel and technology. The Adjustment Bureau explores concepts of fate, free will, religion, and politics…. Continue Reading
The Journey- How I got to Cal (Part 2)
Here is the long-awaited Part 2 to my story. Well, I promise it’s going to get a little more exciting. No more musing in my living room about which colleges to apply to because I now have some tough choices to make. Was it worth it to apply to a California State University or Stanford? Last time, I delved into my influential experience of visiting my father’s alma mater. Now it is time for me to talk about my mother’s alma mater: CSU East Bay. My mother had received her Bachelors in Civil Engineering from… Continue Reading