The 2003 Entrada Scholars class

Calvin’s pre-admission program, the Entrada Scholars Program, had a record year, with the most participants since its founding in 1987.

Entrada enrolled 52 participants in a summer program designed to introduce North American ethnic minorities to the rigors of college work. “It is a very intense program,” said Entrada director Rhae-Ann Booker. “A day of Entrada is like a week during a fall or spring semester.”

During their four weeks at Calvin, students take a college-level course for credit while receiving guidance in their studies from a certified teacher who acts as a model student and personal coach. Students spend three to four hours in the classroom with their coach, studying the subject on which they will be graded.

The class time is supplemented by two hours with a coach. This coaching time allows the students to ask questions and discuss the class lectures in more detail. But most importantly, it gives students the resources to develop scholarly behavior and disciplines that will benefit them well beyond the duration of the program. Students are taught how to use library resources, how to participate in class, and how to manage their time.

The student development then continues with either a speaker or workshop four evenings a week. During this time, central questions are addressed: Why should I attend college? How do I pay for college? What will shape my experience?

Entrada Scholars receive college credit for the class they take.

“The program is unique in that it allows students to experience college living and learning while earning college credit,” said admissions recruiter Tasha Paul. In the early days, Entrada did not offer college credit as part of the program, nor did students remain on campus in the residence halls. Since 1991, the additional components have proved invaluable. They give students a heightened awareness of what to expect from a community and academic setting, and as a result, they enter college more prepared than most students.

On average, Entrada alumni score higher than non-alumni on tests during the academic year and often participate more in class. Such successes have since encouraged the administration to look at how the Entrada model can be used to aid the whole student body.

But the program’s success is perhaps best measured by its alumni, for whom the program is the most meaningful. Hemense Orkar, a graduate of Entrada, is a freshman this year and the fourth of his siblings to attend Calvin. “The relationships I developed and the skills I learned have given me the confidence to make a successful transition to college,” he said.