Her special concentration adviser, Cherie Wendelken, says Maya's initiative and largely self-researched and self-directed plan of study make her a standout. Maya's homemade academic mixture of cross-registered courses--as well as offerings from the history of art and architecture, visual and environmental studies, environmental science and public policy, mathematics and physics departments--was ambitious. "It's rare that somebody comes in with that kind of drive," says Wendelken, an assistant professor of the history of art and architecture.

And Maya shows no signs of stopping. These days, she is revamping her portfolio, keeping tabs on the Lakers and searching for an apartment in Cambridge. Yes, Harvard picked her, and she picked Harvard--again. After accepting her magna cum laude diploma today, she's off to the Graduate School of Design for a three-and-a-half year master's program in architecture. Maya has dreams of starting her own design firm.

Among the New York Times' Class of 2000, visions of Cambridge are apparently still in abundance. Parham applied to Harvard Medical School, but didn't get an interview, and Anna would like to go to business school. Harvard? "Possibly," she teases.

But four years have taught that Harvard's rejection letter speaks truth, and the four classmates from Van Nuys High know what none of us want to acknowledge--especially today. Development and success doesn't rely on this college. For Anna, Parham, Mira and Maya, life goes on after a Harvard decision.