These classes demonstrate to college admissions and scholarship staff that students who successfully complete them can do college-level work.

New programs, like Texas Grant, which gives aid to students who are in need and have completed college preparatory work in high school, are being designed to help alleviate financial burdens of college students.

There ought to be questions about whether state standards are preparing students for the challenges of college, work and the real world.

Tablets are more adaptable to daily student life. We want to assure our students continue to produce college caliber work, and are ready for the rigors of a top university.

I always tell them that the colleges do read transcripts, so they should take as tough a load as possible, especially their senior year.

One thing that helps a little bit here is that it's kind of 'in' to be academic. We love our sports too, but here you're not looked down on if you're striving academically. I think that eases the strain, but they (the students) still put it on themselves.