Past graduates claim SHS prepares students well for future

Saratoga High is one of the most rigorous public schools in California. More than 98 percent of its graduates attend college, and in 2011, 90 percent of the AP tests taken earned a qualifying score. As a result, most graduates feel that the school has prepared them to face college and life in general.

Many students think that the school’s highly competitive atmosphere makes college life—and eventually getting a job in the real world—easier. According to recent graduates, this seems to be true.

William Perera, who graduated from the school in 2008 and is currently a student at Cornell University, said he felt almost over-prepared for most aspects of college academics.

"[High school] AP classes were far more difficult than entry level classes [in college]," Perera said.

In addition, Perera felt that time management lessons he learned in high school benefited him in college.

"To do well at SHS, you have to have very efficient study habits," Perera said. "A lot of students from [other] high schools did not develop these before college and struggle in their early years."

On the other hand, Perera believes that international students are better prepared in high level math skills.

"The international students are on a different level from even top level domestic students, and it is hard to compete in subjects that are math-related," he said.

Alumnus Mallika Padmanabhan, class of ‘07, is currently enrolled in a two-year master’s program at Georgetown University called Communication, Culture, and Technology. She shares many of Perera’s sentiments about the quality of her education from SHS.

“I'm quite pleased with what SHS focused on, both in the classroom and extracurricular-wise,” Padmanabhan said. “The approachable attitude of many SHS teachers also made a difference.

We were encouraged to ask questions, to actively think through ideas, to discuss our academic opinions with other students and the teachers.”

She said the academic workload in high school prepared her well for her undergraduate years at University of California at San Diego (UCSD).

“Thanks to the rigorous AP classes and the high-level reading and assignments, I didn't experience a sudden jump in the course work during my college freshman year; if anything, my first quarter at UCSD was a bit easier than 12th grade,” said Padmanabhan.

Easing the step from high school to college was one the best attributes of Saratoga High for Padmanabhan.

“Transitions, transitions, transitions—if you can handle academic transitions well, then the last place you went to school has done its job,” Padmanabhan said. “That was the great part about SHS for me.”

Katrin Cooper, class of ‘08, now attends Baylor University and said she too felt her high school education prepared her for college, and also taught her skills some of her fellow classmates were lacking.

"I knew I could be involved with organizations and sports, but still do well in the classroom by balancing my time," Cooper said. "I joined a club sport my first semester of college while most of my peers said they wanted to focus on school in lieu of activities and organizations."

Cooper said that college can be made easier or harder, depending on individual choices and preferences.

“College life is what you make of it. I took advanced classes in high school and chose to continue this track at Baylor, so college is still challenging. It was definitely harder, but I was ready for it,” Cooper said.

After Jessica Sequeira graduated in 2007, she continued on to Harvard University to major in Political Science and English Literature. She said certain classes that she took in high school played an important role in preparing her for this major in college.

"In my case, AP Lang with Mr. Friend and Econ with Mr. Dwyer were particularly helpful, and I remember those classes fondly," Sequeira said.

Yet Sequeira cautions that success in college and the real world extends beyond grades and tests.

"I remember clearly the stress students felt at Saratoga High about getting an A on a calculus exam, but diligence and hard work only get you so far. Slow down, and think about what really interests you. Keep a sense of humor. Be not just accomplished but interesting.”

Not only does Saratoga High prepare students for college, but graduates say it is also plays an important role in helping them to get a job. Tamara Schroeder, ‘07, attended UCSD with Padmanabhan and now has a job with Solazyme, Inc. in San Francisco.

Schroeder said that there is a direct correlation between her high school education and the job she has now.

“SHS provided me with the academic background and study habits to be successful … at UCSD. UCSD … prepared me to be a productive research associate,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder agrees that important life skills are learned in a high school education.

“The work ethic I learned [at SHS] has been a wonderful foundation. The competitive atmosphere toughened me up for university and the working world. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,” Schroeder said.