BY LETISIA MÁRQUEZ
UCLA Today

A recent study found that many Latino parents do not know what it takes for their children to get into college.

Researchers with the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute found that while most Latino parents wanted their children to go to college, about 65% of those surveyed failed a college-knowledge mini-test.

Undaunted, the organizers of a daylong conference at the James West Alumni Center tried to change that disturbing trend for more than 180 parents with children in some 40 different elementary and high schools in the San Fernando Valley.

The Latino parents attended a campus conference June 25 organized by UCLA Government and Community Relations, the Early Academic Outreach Program and Assembly-man Tony Cardenas’ office. Cardenas (D-Mission Hills) represents the 39th Assembly District in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

After being welcomed by UCLA government relations officials, participants learned the ins and outs of college admission from experts in the field.
UCLA staff members talked about such topics as admissions, financial aid and early outreach programs. Then UCLA MEChA students took parents on a tour of the campus.

“Parent College Day was a huge success,” Cardenas said. “Parents from all over the Northeast Valley attended the workshops at UCLA and were inspired to become more involved in their child’s education and ensure their academic success.”

The calls to Cardenas’ office are already coming in from parents asking when the next parents’ conference will take place.

Participant Alicia Estrada, a North Hollywood mother of three children, said she learned that she should communicate regularly with her children’s school counselors and make sure they are taking the necessary classes to get into college.

“We should meet with the counselors and ask them what universities our children can go to and what careers are out there for them,” Estrada said.