> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Samohi students get a taste of college life - URL: https://www.smdp.com/samohi-students-get-a-taste-of-college-life/ - Published: 2008-08-09T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T00:34:50.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import *Program allows local high school students to accrue college credits* There were no caps and gowns, walks to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance,” or parents wiping away their proud tears. The ceremony marking the conclusion of the Young Collegians’ first summer on Thursday was more about a celebration of beginnings, not endings. Two dozen Santa Monica High School sophomores were honored for completing their first set of college courses, all participants of a program that gives teenagers the opportunity to simultaneously work toward their diploma while collecting credits to cash in later in their higher education careers. The Young Collegians is part of a collaboration between the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and Santa Monica College, joined together in spring of 2007 to better connect students to the resources offered by both institutions. The result is one less year of work at a post-secondary school, one less year of pricey tuition, and one early year to jump on their master’s and doctorate’s degrees. “We are going to save you some money,” Sally Chou, the district’s chief academic officer, joked during her address to students and parents. The program targets student populations which have traditionally been underrepresented in higher education. The students spent roughly six weeks taking two courses — interpersonal communication and counseling — at SMC, accounting for a total of four units. The three units from the communication class is transferable to the University of California and California State University. “We hope you learned, grew and commit yourselves to higher education,” Oscar de la Torre, the Board of Education president, said. De la Torre reminded the students that in earning a bachelor’s degree or higher, they are not just doing it for themselves, but for their families. “You have the opportunity to do something good for your community,” he said. Tiana Randall-Quant recalled the nervous feeling she had the day before classes commenced in June, curious about what awaited in her first college experience. To her surprise, the course subject wasn’t difficult, though it did require a little bit more time and commitment to succeed. “Now I have a taste of college,” Randall-Quant said. “I feel I’ll be better prepared when I get into college.” Students said the course not only gave them a preview of college, but also taught them skills they could apply to high school, including proper studying habits. Karishma Lopez’ perception of higher ed was different from her experience, having always heard stories from older friends of how they were often stressed out preparing for mid-term and final exams. The Samohi student, who wants to attend Loyola Marymount University to study for a career in medicine, said she found the course work to be rather approachable. The program included campus visits to area universities, including UCLA and USC, which Randall-Quant said she wants to attend for its theater arts program. She described the experience in college as different from high school, some positive, some negative. One positive change is the scheduling flexibility, Randall-Quaint said, leaving her with more time between classes. “This is a summer I definitely am not going to forget,” she said. Jump hedline: Program allows high school students to accrue college credits Suggested pullquote: “Now I have a taste of college.” Tiana Randall-Quant 0Å 5B 1 E0F 0 E85 1 ECE 1 *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 9, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080908.pdf?ref=smdp.com)