In response to Tuesday’s article, “Programs give students second chance at college,” on second-chance summer programs, I would like to offer another perspective.

Associate Director of Admissions Phil Caffrey described the Summer Trial Program as “another way students can prove it to us.” I challenge Caffrey to define just what these students in the summer program are proving. If they are proving their worthiness of acceptance into such an esteemed university, I must say that I am extremely disappointed.

Two years ago I received a letter from Iowa State University saying that I was not worthy of their education, but I could prove my worth by participating in a summer program. Just like that, I was out. My low ACT scores and competitive high school environment had been the determining factors of my “worthiness.” Eventually I did raise those ACT scores through tutoring, but now that I am here, I find myself asking, “What did I prove?” That I can do well on a standardized test? As much as I hate to admit it, that skill has taken me nowhere in life, aside from my admission to ISU.

Upon further consideration of Tuesday’s article, I would like to invite Phil Caffrey and the Office of Admissions to hop off their high horse. Get a clue from the world around you and realize that success in life is not determined by your class rank or ACT score. It goes beyond that. At a university that “challenges students to become their best,” I think you should know this.

Katie Wheeler

Sophomore

English