College Entrance Requirements
SKIP TO UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OR CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

GENERAL PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE. Students need to be aware of both general college preparatory courses and individual school requirements as they plan their high school program. Students who are uncertain which college or university they would like to attend should give priority to completing the “A-G” subject requirements of the University of California. They should keep in mind, however, that these are minimum entrance standards; completion of the required high school courses does not automatically prepare students for freshman work in every subject or in a selected major. Students are encouraged to take high school courses that will prepare them to exceed the minimum levels of competency in reading, writing, and mathematics. It is important to keep in mind that private schools may have minimal requirements or they may be highly selective. It is generally recommended that students work to their potential and keep options open.

Students who are well prepared for college or university work will have completed as a minimum
  • four years of English
  • three or more years of college preparatory mathematics, including a course taken during the senior year
  • two or more years of a foreign language
  • two or more years of laboratory science
  • three or more years of history and social science.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES (For additional information see The Community College)
Community college enrollment is open to:
  • high school graduates
  • individuals over 18 years of age who can profit by college instruction
  • students who have passed the California High School Proficiency Examination
  • students who have completed their sophomore year of high school and who are recommended by their counselor to enroll in a maximum of six units.
 Transfer Students Students planning to transfer from a community college to a four year college or university are encouraged to consult a community college counselor regarding specific lower division courses which should be taken in order to transfer to the upper division school with a minimum loss of credit. Community college honors programs provide students with many benefits, including easy access to UC campuses. Students are also encouraged to refer to the official catalog of the college or university for comprehensive information about the school’s admission of transfer students.

INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES There are numerous colleges and universities in the United States, each with its own admissions requirements. Students interested in specific colleges should consult the school's catalog for entrance and test requirements or visit the college website. For a listing of popular colleges see College Websites, Email Addresses, Telephone Numbers, etc.
The "A-G" subject requirements of the University of California can serve as a general guide for admissions requirements. Students should keep in mind, however, that these are minimum requirements and many colleges, particularly highly selective ones, will expect students to have taken a more difficult course of study. The high school counselor is available to assist students in understanding the admissions requirements and to provide advice about the high school program in which they should enroll.

MILITARY ACADEMIES
Students interested in attending a military academy should contact the appropriate academy liaison officer for specific admission requirements. Because admission to an academy is highly competitive, the ninth grade year is not too early to begin preparing to meet academy requirements and time lines for admission. All students who attend a military academy are awarded a full United States Government scholarship that covers full tuition and room and board. In addition, each student receives a stipend to meet costs of books, supplies, clothing, and personal expenses.
Location of military academies:

  1. United States Air Force Academy: United States Air Force Academy Website, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80840
  2. United States Coast Guard Academy: US Coast Guard Academy Website , 31 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT 06320-8103, FAX 860-701-6700
  3. United States Merchant Marine Academy: United States Merchant Marine Academy Website, Kings Point, New York 11024
  4. United States Military Academy: United States Military Academy Web Site , 600 Thayer Rd., West Point, New York 10996, 914-938-4041
  5. United States Naval Academy: US Naval Academy Web Site , 117 Decatur Rd., Annapolis, Maryland 21402, 410-293-4361
For more information contact the local liaison officer for the appropriate academy. Their names and phone numbers may be obtained from the Career Center.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA All campuses of the University of California have the same undergraduate admission requirements based on the premise that the best predictor of success in the University is a record of good grades in academic courses that prepare a student for university work in a chosen field of study. Applications are accepted November 1-30. (See Getting Applications, The Common Application, etc.)
UC does not require letters of recommendation.
You may access the UC website by clicking UC

To be eligible for admission to the University as a freshman, students must meet the requirements listed below.

  • Subject Requirement
  • Scholarship Requirement
  • Examination Requirement
Most campuses of THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA rarely admit students based on minimum system requirement. Most UC schools use a formula, whereby the top 50% are admitted by an index score, based upon GPA and test scores only. The remainder are admitted on the basis of quality of courses, essays, activities, and special circumstances. Preliminary GPA is 10th and 11th grade, UC approved courses only.
SUBJECT REQUIREMENT
  • A minimum of 15 units of high school work must be completed during grades 9-12. (A one-year course is equal to one unit; a one-semester course is equal to one-half unit.)
  • Fifteen of the required courses must be earned on the “A-G” subjects listed below.
  • At least seven (7) of the fifteen (15) units must have been earned in courses taken during the last two (2) years of high school.
  • To meet the subject requirements, the courses must appear on the certified "A-G" course list for the high school. Students may access the current list by visiting the Approved Course List for the University of California .
  • Grades in ninth grade courses will not be counted in computing a grade point average.
  • Ninth grade courses and certain eighth grade courses may be used to satisfy the subject requirements, provided they are completed with grades of “C” or better.


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"A-G” Subject Requirement
  • a. HISTORY: Two years required -- one year of United States history and one year of World History, Culture, and Geography; one semester of American Government or Civics may be substituted.
  • b. ENGLISH: Four years of college-preparatory English - composition and literature. Not more than two semesters of ninth-grade English will be accepted for this requirement. Only two semesters of English Language Development (ELD) will be accepted.
  • c. MATHEMATICS: Three years of mathematics - elementary algebra (Algebra 1 or Algebra 1A and Algebra 1B), geometry, and intermediate algebra (Algebra 2). Four years are recommended.
  • d. LABORATORY SCIENCE: Two years, including fundamental knowledge in at least two of these three areas: biology, chemistry, and physics (three years recommended)
  • e. FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Two years of one foreign language; three years are recommended
  • f. VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: Includes one year of any of the approved courses in dance, drama, music, and visual arts.
  • g. COLLEGE PREPARATORY ELECTIVES: One years in addition to those courses required in "A through F" above, to be chosen from at least one of the following subject areas: history, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, foreign language, social science, and fine arts. (NOTE: Students are urged to consult their school counselor in the selection of course work to fulfill this requirement).


SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENT

The Scholarship Requirement defines the grade point average (GPA) that students must attain in the required "a-g" subjects to be eligible for admission to the University.

  1. If the student's GPA is 3.3 or higher, he or she has met the minimum requirement for admission to the University.
  2. If the GPA is below 3.3 but above 2.81, the student has met the minimum requirement if he or she achieves the college entrance test score indicated on the UC Eligibility Index.
  3. The University calculates the GPA in the "a-g" subjects by assigning point values to the grades a student earns, totaling the points, and dividing the total by the number of "a-g" course units. Points are assigned as follows:
    • "A"= 4 points
    • "B" = 3 points
    • "C" = 2 points
    • "D/F" = 0 points
  4. The University assigns extra points for certified honors level and advanced placement courses taken in grades 10-12, as follows.
    • "A" = 5 points
    • "B" = 4 points
    • "C" = 3 points.
    • Grades of "D/F" are not assigned extra honors points.
    (Extra points will be awarded to tenth graders only when they take honors and advanced placement courses normally taken by students in the 11th and 12th grades.)
  5. Only grades the student earns in "a-g" subjects in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades are used to calculate the GPA to determine minimum eligibility for admission.
  6. Courses taken in the 9th grade can be used to meet the Subject Requirement if the student earns a grade of "C" or better, but they will not be used to calculate the GPA.
  7. Approved Honors Level Courses
    • College courses in the "a-g" college preparatory subjects that are transferable to the University of California;
    • Advanced placement courses in the "a-g" college preparatory subjects that are designed to prepare students for an Advanced Placement Examination of the College Board;
    • High school courses in history, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, and foreign language that are not advanced placement.
    Repeating Courses

    Courses used to satisfy the "a-g" requirements taken for the first time in grades 10-12 in which "D" or "F" grades are earned are treated as subject omissions and scholarship deficiencies. If the courses are not repeated, the "D" or "F" grades are used in calculating the Scholarship Requirement GPA. Courses used to satisfy the "a-g" requirements taken in the 9th grade or earlier in which "D" or "F" grades are earned are also treated as subject omissions. As with all 9th grade courses, the grades are not included in calculating the Scholarship Requirement GPA.

    1. Students must earn a grade of "C" or higher to satisfy subject requirements. Grades below a "C" must be repeated.
    2. Repeated grades of "C" or better are used in calculating the Scholarship Requirement GPA. Each course in which a grade of "D" or "F" has been received may be repeated only once.
    3. If a student repeats a course used to satisfy the "a-g" requirements in which he or she originally earned a grade of "C" or higher, the repeated grade will not be used in calculating the Scholarship Requirement GPA.
    Repeating Courses Cont'd

    4. In calculating a student's Scholarship Requirement GPA, the University follows the rules listed below regarding use of grades of "D," "F," "Pass," "Credit," and "Incomplete." Special rules regarding use of "D" and "F" grades earned in chemistry, languages other than English, and mathematics are described in the following subsection.

    • "D" or "F" grades earned in courses that are more advanced than those used to satisfy the "a-g" requirements are not used in calculating the basic Scholarship Requirement GPA.
    • Courses used to satisfy the "a-g" requirements may not be taken Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit.
    • Courses used to satisfy the "a-g" requirements in which the student earns an "Incomplete" are treated as subject omissions. "D's" and "F's" in Chemistry, Languages Other than English, and Mathematics--Special Rules
    • Chemistry: If chemistry is the laboratory science used to satisfy the "d" requirement and the student earns a grade of "D" or "F" in the first semester, it is treated as a subject omission and a scholarship deficiency. The student may clear the first-semester subject omission if he or she earns a grade of "C" or higher in the second semester of the course. Both semester grades are used in calculating the Scholarship Requirement GPA.
    • Languages Other than English: "D" or "F" grades earned in a course in language other than English are treated as "e" requirement subject omissions and scholarship deficiencies. The student may clear the subject omission and scholarship deficiency by earning a grade of "C" or higher in a more advanced course in the same language. Both grades are used in calculating the Scholarship Requirement GPA.
    • Mathematics: "D" or "F" grades earned in algebra or geometry are treated as "c" requirement subject omissions and scholarship deficiencies. The student may clear subject omissions and scholarship deficiencies by earning grades of "C" or higher in appropriate, more advanced courses in college preparatory mathematics. For example, "D" or "F" grades earned in elementary algebra (Algebra 1) are cleared if the student earns a grade of "C" or higher in advanced algebra (Algebra 2). "D" or "F" grades earned in geometry are cleared if the student earns a grade of "C" or higher in trigonometry. Both grades are used in calculating the Scholarship Requirement GPA.


EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT

All freshmen applicants must submit the following test scores.

  1. SAT 1 or ACT (See College Testing)
    Verbal and mathematics scores on this tests must be from the same sitting The composite score will be reported.
  2. Three College Board Subject Tests (SAT II).
    These must include:
    • Writing
    • Mathematics, Level 1 or 2
    • One test chosen from social studies, foreign languages, sciences, or English literature

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UC BASIC ELIGIBILITY INDEX
  • The eligibility index is a combination of the grade point average and scores on the college entrance examination.
  • Students earning less than a 3.5 grade point average in the required courses in high school must achieve the test scores specified below.
  • Because of impacted enrollment, most UC campuses have stipulated additional criteria for acceptance that exceed the basic eligibility index and which may vary from year to year. Students should consult with their counselor for the most up-to-date information.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY Also see CSU.
The subject requirements for CSU are similar to those of the University of California. Impacted campuses or specific majors often equal or surpass UC basic requirements. CSU applications are accepted beginning October 1 and for the impacted campuses they must be completed prior to November 30. The impacted campuses are San Diego, Chico, San Luis Obispo, and Long Beach. (See Getting Applications, The Common Application, etc.)

CSU does not require an essay or letters of recommendation. To access CSU directly, click here. CSU

To be eligible for CSU admission, a student must:

  1. Have or will have graduated from high school
  2. Meet the eligibility index for GPA and test scores
  3. Have or will have completed with a grade of "C" or better, the fifteen (15) required course units. (A unit is one year of study in high school.)
Please note a student may be required to meet higher admission requirements for impacted programs.

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT

All freshmen applicants must submit the following test scores. SAT 1 or ACT (See College Testing)
 Verbal and mathematics scores on this tests must be from the same sitting The composite score will be reported. Students may take the test as often as time constraints allow, however most students do not exceed three times.

SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENT

The scholarship requirement is part of the eligibility index which includes SAT 1/ACT and an overall GPA for grades 10-12, all grades except physical education and its equivalents.. The index allows students with low test scores to compensate with higher grades. Students with high test scores are accepted with lower GPA's.

 SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENT Cont'd

The CSU Eligibility Index

  • GPA =Total Grade points=All grades 10-12, excluding physical education and its equivalents+ one point for each honors course completed in grades 11 and 12.
  • Using SAT I scores: GPA X 800 + SAT I total score = student index
  • Using ACT scores: GPA X 200 + (10 X ACT comp) = student index
California residents must have a minimum index of 2900 using SAT I or 694 using ACT score.

SUBJECT REQUIREMENT

The basic 15 unit subject requirement for admission to Cal State University is listed below.

  • HISTORY: One year required -- one year of United States history or one semester of U.S. History and one semester of American Government or Civics may be substituted.
  • ENGLISH: Four years of college-preparatory English - composition and literature.
  • MATHEMATICS: Three years of mathematics - elementary algebra (Algebra 1 or Algebra 1A and Algebra 1B), geometry, and intermediate algebra (Algebra 2).
  • LABORATORY SCIENCE: One year, including fundamental knowledge in at least one of these three areas: biology, chemistry, and physics
  • FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Two years of one foreign language
  • COLLEGE PREPARATORY ELECTIVES: Two years in addition to those courses required above, to be chosen from history, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, foreign language, social science, and fine arts.
  • VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: Includes one year of any of the approved courses in dance, drama, music, and visual arts


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