Perfect score

By Emily Nash, On-Line Forty-Niner,

Monday, August 31, 1998

Freshman Jason Karcher, who is attending Cal State Long Beach on the President's Scholars program and scored a perfect 1600 on his SAT exam last year, said he is dumbfounded by his scores.

"I took the test and hoped I did well," Karcher said. "I got a paper in the mail that looked like any other SAT results, only it had two 800s."

"Aim for the best, but don't have your eyes set on being perfect."

- Jason Karcher

President Robert Maxson, whose recruiting efforts persuaded Karcher to attend CSULB, was proud that Karcher chose CSULB over a scholarship he was offered at UC Berkeley.

"We sent Jason sweatshirts and t-shirts," Maxson said. "Before Jason had even decided to go here, I sent his mom a sweatshirt that said, 'I am a CSULB mom.'"

Upon successfully completing his first week at CSULB, Karcher said he has only gotten lost once and so far, his only extracurricular plans are to possibly attend the festivities during Welcome Week, which will take place on Upper Campus.

"I am not a big fan of high stress," said Karcher, who is hoping none of his professors know about his remarkable test score. "None of my instructors have said anything to me and I hope they don't."

As a graduate from an all-boy's Catholic school in Belmont, Calif., Karcher attributes his success to what he calls "high goals with low expectations."

"Aim for the best, but don't have your eyes set on being perfect," Karcher said. "That way when something bad happens you can deal with it."