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RIALTO, CA—- While most of her middle school contemporaries are headed to high school, Allanah Mouton, is now attending Cal State L.A. to pursue a degree in chemical engineering. Accepted through the University’s Early Entrance Program (EEP), Allanah Mouton was admitted to Cal State L.A. at the age of 12. She is now on track to graduate summa cum laude in less than 4 years.
Cal State L.A.’s EEP admits extraordinarily gifted youngsters—some as young as 11—directly into college, providing the early entrants with monitored evaluation, regular counseling sessions, and the opportunity to study with like-minded peers. For Allanah the process for applying to EEP CSULA included a year-long competitive interview which began with portfolio submissions, essay responses, individual and family interviews, several mandatory orientations and information sessions, and ended with a five-week summer session in which Allanah completed three college level workshops across various disciplines (calculus, social science, and natural science). While the program began on a zoom call with over 100 applicants only 21 applicants, including Allanah were granted admission to EEP through the Honor College.
Allanah said, “I’m excited about the opportunity, and of course, I have concerns about making the transition from middle school directly to a university, but the support from my family, especially, my mom has made me confident in my decision.”
Allanah has always been exceptional, she tested out of 4th grade, placing well into high school but at the time, her mother decided to only allow her to skip one grade level. She had concerns about opportunities for social and emotional growth. Having earned a 4.0 grade point average throughout elementary and middle school, and after her grandmother saw a news story on CBS about CSULA’s early entrance program. Allanah developed an interest in pursuing early college enrollment
As a part of the EEP program select students are waived the high school A-G requirements which allows them to enroll in the University under a special exemption. The program chooses students whom they feel have the skills necessary to be successful in the program. Allanah’s reading, writing, mathematical skills, and capacity for logical thinking were heavily criticized and tested as a part of the 5-week workshops she completed during the interview process.
Allanah Mouton is a resident of Rialto. She loves to draw, plays several instruments including the drums and saxophone. She enjoys practicing her skateboard and baking in her spare time. She also volunteers at the family’s nonprofit organization which provides residential care facilities to mentally ill adults. She has dreams of working with NASA and contributing solutions to the global climate change crisis. For now, plans after college graduation include applying to graduate school with Stanford as her number one choice and getting her driver’s license!
