EAOP Alumni Profiles
EAOP targets low-income students attending some of the state's most challenged schools and puts them on track to a college education. EAOP empowers students to envision themselves succeeding in college and guides families with no history of college-going in navigating college options and the complex application process.
EAOP graduates attend all the UC campuses, including UCLA and UC Berkeley. Two of the top private school destinations are USC and Stanford.
EAOP alumni succeed in fields including engineering, politics, law, science, education, medicine, architecture, and business.
To read more about a student's EAOP experience, select a photo below.
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| Are you an EAOP alumnus interested in being profiled here? If so, please send an email message with your name and contact information to eaop@ucop.edu. | ||||||
Jose Corado
Graduating Class
UCLA, Class of 2005
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology,
with minors in Chicana/o Studies and Education
High School
John C. Fremont High School (Los Angeles)
Class of 2001
Current Position
Counselor UCLA EAOP
Jose Corado never envisioned himself attending a four-year University. His parents did not receive more than a fourth-grade education in their native country of El Salvador. His friends wanted to graduate from high school, but did not plan to attend college. If the students at his Los Angeles-area high school went to college at all, they attended community college, and Jose assumed he would attend Santa Monica City College as well. Jose recalls, "I did not have a support system for getting to college."
Then one day, an EAOP counselor called him out of class and suggested he apply to the University of California, that he had nothing to lose by trying. "By taking me out individually from class, the EAOP counselor helped me out a lot. I was able to think about what I wanted and not just about what was going on around me. I listened to her and gave it a shot. She was right and I was accepted to UCLA. I am glad that I listened because it has been the greatest learning experience of my life."
EAOP helped Jose get to college in other ways as well. His family attended a Financial Aid workshop, where they learned how to fill out the daunting paperwork. "That workshop helped me out because I was confused on how to fill out the FAFSA form. However, EAOP broke down the sheet and made it easy for my parents and me to understand."
Without EAOP, Jose believes he would never have attained a bachelor's degree. "Without EAOP I think I would have attended Santa Monica Community College and would have gotten confused in the mayhem of trying to transfer out. Because of EAOP, I was given the chance to apply to the UC System and was accepted to UCLA. I am glad that they gave me the knowledge and assistance I needed in order to apply."
Now, Jose has decided to use the experience he gained as an EAOP participant to help other students as an EAOP counselor. "All the information and help that EAOP counselors gave me while I was in high school I am now using to help my own students. So, I am returning the favor that UCLA EAOP provided to me." Jose serves hundreds of students in four high schools and six middle schools throughout Los Angeles. He meets once a month with the same middle school students, giving presentations on topics including financial aid, the four systems of higher education in California, test-taking skills and study skills. He also meets with high school students individually, helping them with their college applications, financial aid forms and scholarships.
Among other counsel, Jose advises students not to leave their college applications to the last minute; do it early so the EAOP counselors and others can assist. "If students take their time and have multiple eyes read their college applications, they will have a better chance of getting accepted into the college of their choice."
Jose has been working at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles for four years now. The ninth graders he started working with four years ago graduated at the end of July. "I went to their Senior Awards Ceremony and I truly felt proud of our students receiving their diplomas and trophies for their hard work. That was my most memorable experience. I was able to watch them grow up and see their characters develop and help them apply to college. That to me was the best feeling-to see them stick to the program and persevere for four years to pursue an education."