<p>For those of you who are going to UCLA in the fall,</p>
<p>Did anyone recieve an email about the AAP Transfer Scholars' Day?</p>
<p>I did. I wasn’t aware of what AAP was until I looked it up, and I don’t know how I feel about this. I hate the assumption that because I’ll be an underrepresented minority on campus I somehow need a “place” to feel at home or to meet other people who fit a similar quota. It’s such an assumption on their behalf that just because I’m Hispanic, I need that extra motivation/influence/or at home feeling.</p>
<p>I did too. I’m also hispanic. hmm…</p>
<p>i was invited as well, i dunno it seems alright i suppose here is their mission statement…and i do want to get into grad school.</p>
<p>AAP Mission Statement</p>
<p>UCLA’s Academic Advancement Program has a threefold mission: first, to ensure the academic success, retention, and graduation of all AAP students; second, to increase the numbers of AAP students entering graduate and professional schools; and, third, to develop the academic, scientific, political, economic, and community leadership necessary to lead and transform our society in the twenty-first century. To achieve this mission, AAP encourages students to explore their talents and abilities, to believe in themselves, to set the highest standards for themselves, to aspire to academic and personal excellence, to utilize the full range of campus resources, and to develop a sense of community and social responsibility.</p>
<p>I agree with Jane. I plan on going to law school. but at the same time i completely agree with liek. i am half black. i’m proud of that. i feel like this is putting us into a ‘category’ and yeah it is supposed to help us get into law school, grad school, etc. but i want to be accepted more so because of my grades and ec’s and performance at ucla and not have this factor into getting accepted. </p>
<p>i think i’ll join other organizations on campus. they make it sound really good though haha</p>
<p>“first, to ensure the academic success, retention, and graduation of all AAP students”
that’s what bothers me.</p>
<p>“to increase the numbers of AAP students entering graduate and professional schools”
if there are strong Connections for entrance into top grad/professional schools just because we’re considered AAP I’m down, otherwise I feel like I could do it on my own.</p>
<p>they have a graduate mentor program in which a graduate student takes you under his/her wing.</p>
<p>i know i feel like they expect us to need this sort of help, it really is demeaning. however they offer:</p>
<pre><code>* One-on-mentoring with a currently enrolled UCLA graduate student
- Workshops and information sessions
- Review of statements of purpose and other professional school admissions essays
- Resource library
</code></pre>
<p>[AAP</a> Mentoring Programs](<a href=“http://www.ugeducation.ucla.edu/aap/mentoring/index.html]AAP”>http://www.ugeducation.ucla.edu/aap/mentoring/index.html)</p>
<p>when programs like AAP aren’t offered to us, we want 'em & sometimes complain 'cause we don’t have 'em.
when programs ARE offered to us, we feel categorized and thought of as needing help.</p>
<p>i don’t get it.</p>
<p>yeah, we can do it on our own (most of the time), but it’s always nice to have somewhere to go…</p>
<p>i rsvp’d for the event =]</p>
<p>last year there was a professor who i think was speaking out on ucla’s new practices in accepting more underrepresented minorities than previous years, how they would purposely add more points to someone of color…to a certain extent i appreciate it and to a certain extent I don’t. Stats/information such as sat scores gpa etc are very one dimensional. I have a friend who I attended high school with, who had poor stats out of high school(sat scores primarily) but her gpa was high(whose isn’t in LAUSD?) and was very involved. Through the Posse Scholarship program, she ended up at a liberal arts college out in pennsylvania, and if her sat’s were an indication of success(which were below 1100 at the time) then they would be a complete contradiction of potential. She’s graduating with honors this year, and is in the running to become a fullbright scholar. So much for stats.</p>
<p>please attend this event.
it will be really helpful in terms of you getting to know what goes on at ucla. simply get information. it will not hurt. AAP is a program with multiple opportunities. It offers everything from peer mentoring to graduate mentoring, tutoring, research opportunities and plenty of help. There will be many students who will help you answer many questions. Whether it is from housing, to meal plans, perhaps about westwood and the city itself. It is for you to make your decision.
we are more than glad to help you guys and just want to give u a head start and make you aware of the things you will be offered if you do make ucla your school of choice :)</p>
<p>i will be there to help you =]</p>
<p>Ok, so I went to the event, but I am still not convinced and have mix feelings about this program. Does anyone feel the same way? </p>
<p>Did anyone join AAP?? </p>
<p>I feel like in order to succeed, I have to join AAP…</p>
<p>AAP is there to help if you need it. It is not a mandatory program, and being in it does not mean that you are inferior to other people.</p>
<p>Its focus is to help those students who are struggling in the University environment, and to help those who are not find financial and academic resources that will help them later in life.</p>
<p>What you all will realize once you start college is that the social and academic climate is vastly different from your high school and the type of schooling you are used to.</p>
<p>The course work is harder, the overall thought process of faculty and staff is completely different from any other environment you could possibly experience.</p>
<p>The AAP program is a federally funded program that has to follow federal regulations as well as the campus’s own regulations. There is a “target population” that is decided by the registrar and while you feel angered at being categorized, there is rarely a place for you to discuss your frustrations and concerns regarding the way people are viewed on campus or anywhere else. </p>
<p>AAP offers an environment of open discussions and a place where you can really feel apart of the campus. </p>
<p>I think you will understand its value once you start school here and realize just how important programs such as these are.</p>