ACADEMIC  READINESS  DR.  REBECCA  JOSEPH  

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1.  WHAT  COURSES  DO  I  NEED  TO  TAKE?        For  the  UC  and  CSU,  you  must  take  and  pass  the  A-­‐G  courses.        Do  not  assume  that  your  courses  count,  so  check  with  your  counselor  or  with                the  websites  we  recommend.      The  UCs  currently  require  a  minimum  3.0  GPA.    The  CSUS  require  without  any  testing,  a  minimum  3.0.  If  you  have  a  2.0-­‐2.9,  you  can  qualify  if  you  get  minimum  SAT  or  ACT  test  scores.      

             

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The  CSUs  have  a  great  site  that  help  all  students.  CSU  mentor  http://www.csumentor.edu/.  

This  site  helps  you  plan  for  all  kinds  of  colleges  and  has  a  great  planner.    http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/cal_residents.asp  

   

 

     For  private  colleges:  the  higher  the  course  level,  the  better.    For  all  colleges:  Do  not  drop  an  area  when  you  finish  minimum    That  means  in  simple  terms,  

 ⇒ History…Two   to   three   years   of   History   (US   History,   European   History,  

Government,   Economics,   and   electives—Psychology,   Sociology,   World  History)  

⇒ English-­‐Four  years  of  English    (ESL  4,  English  9,  10,  11,  12)  ⇒ Math.  Three  years  of  Math  (Algebra  1,  Geometry,  Algebra  2,  and  higher)  ⇒ Laboratory  Science.  Two  to   three  years  of  Science  (lab  courses-­‐Biology  and  

Chemistry.  Then  also  Physics,  Environmental  Science,  Anatomy,  Physiology)  Note  IPC  does  not  count  as  a  science  class  but  rather  as  an  elective.  

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⇒ Languages   Other   Than   English.   Two   to   three   years   of   Foreign   Language  (Those   who   are   fluent   and   can   get   an   800   on   the   SAT   2   in   their   foreign  language  can  waive  out).      

⇒ Visual  and  Performing  Arts  One  year  of  the  same  Art  (Music  A  and  B;  Drama  A  and  B;  Art  A  and  B,  etc.)  

⇒ One   year   of   college   electives   (Higher   classes   than   required   courses   count,  also   electives.   THEY   MUST   BE   APPROVED   COURSES,   SO   CHECK   BEFORE  TAKING  ONE).  

 If  you’re  not  sure  if  courses  count,  check  this  site  and  find  your  high  school…  

https://doorways.ucop.edu/list/servlet.jsf;jsessionid=C132FACD7A5E80E9B4EB39CD1E65541C?_flowExecutionKey=_cEF21E92E-­‐1D39-­‐71B4-­‐C8E2-­‐EBEA788D4E8A_k69E5020E-­‐5CC4-­‐17BE-­‐5620-­‐E9C49E6C8F5E  

 You  can  calculate  your  GPA  

 http://www.californiacolleges.edu/admissions/california-­‐state-­‐university-­‐

csu/gpa_calculator.asp      

2.  FOREIGN  LANGUAGE  NOTES-­    

American   Sign   Language   at   a   community   college   can   count   as   two   years   of  foreign  language  

 Passing   Spanish   2   Counts   as   two   years   of   Spanish.   Same   with   other   foreign        languages.  

                                 

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3.  OTHER  KEY  NOTES    

1. Start  taking  A-­‐G  course  as  early  as  you  can    2. Here  is  a  great  site  to  track  your  A-­‐G  courses  

 http://www.californiacolleges.edu/planning/Freshman_Planner/default.asp  

 

     

3. Ds  don’t  count.  You  can  graduate  from  high  school  with  a  D  but  colleges  don’t  count  them.  

4. If   you   have   an   area   you   hate,   then   okay,   stop   after  minimum,   but   pick   up  other  areas  

5. Take  AP  and  honors  classes!!!  6. Take   community   college   and   college   classes!!!   They   can   count   for   AP   and  

honors   credit.  High   school   students   can   take   community   college   classes   for  free.   Use   your   summers   to   take   classes   to   push   yourself   higher.   Get  catalogues  online  or  see  your  counselor  for  information.  

7. If   you  need   to  make  up   classes,   go   to   a   local   skills   center   or   take   the   class  online.  Brigham  Young  Online,  for  example,  is  a  great  way  to  make  up  classes.  

8. There  are  other  ways  to  waive  out  of  some  classes,  so  look  at  the  UC  website  for  more  information.  You  can  check  your  eligibility  on  this  site.  

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           http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_a

dm/freshman.html    a. A-­‐G  path  http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/pat

hs_to_adm/freshman/subject_reqs.html  b. Scholarship  path  http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/pat

hs_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html  c. Examination  path  http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/pat

hs_to_adm/freshman/examination_reqs.html    

9. If  you  are  in  the  top  4%  of  your  class  and  meet  A-­‐G  and  testing  requirements,  you  can  qualify  for  automatic  admissions  to  a  UC.  The  top  12.5%  of  a  class  can  also  qualify  for  certain  kinds  of  admissions.    Check  with  your  counselor.    Check  the  UC  site  to  see  if  you  qualify.  

http://www.ucop.edu/sas/elc/    

10. Private  colleges  look  for  different  kinds  of  courses  but  at  least  want  A-­‐G.  They  always  like  you  to  follow  a  passion  and  to  go  beyond  what  is  required.  If  you  want  a  scholarship,  the  more  initiative  you  follow  the  better.  

   

Nice  planning  chart-­let’s  make  a  cool  one!!!!!!    

http://www.lhslobos.org/guidanceinfo/A-­‐G%20Planning%20Chart.htm    

http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/eao/eao/Services/pdf/HighSchoolPlanningChart(A-­‐G).pdf  

 http://www.eaop.ucla.edu/publication/A-­‐

G%20Chart%20English%209%203%2008.doc                  

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4.  MATH  AND  ENGLISH  READINESS    

When  you  get   to   college,   you  will   need   to  meet  English   and  Math  entrance  requirements.      So  if  really  work  on  your  math  and  English.    

 Get  help  with  your  writing  when  you  can.      Consider  taking  English  101  over  the  summer.    Take  Honors  and  AP  classes  if  you  can.  

 Find  tutors  to  help  you.    Read,  write,  and  practice  math  problems.    

 

 5.  OVERCOMING  OBSTACLES:    ♦ Obstacle:  A  bad  9th  or  10th  grade  schedule  with  A-­‐G  classes.  

Possible   solutions:   Make   sure   you   are   taking   English,   Math,   Foreign  Language,  History,  and  Social  Studies  starting  in  9th  grade.    

a. Speak  to  your  counselor  and  ask  for  a  new  schedule.    b. Find  a  sympathetic  teacher.  c. Contact  us  

♦ Obstacle:  I  have  run  out  of  classes  at  my  high  school.    Possible  solutions  

a. Find  a  way  to  continue  at  a  local  community  college  b. Find  a  parallel  path.    

i. Start  a  new  language  ii. Take  electives-­‐such  as  Psychology  or  Anatomy  

♦ Obstacle:  I  do  not  like  my  teacher.  I  do  not  like  the  content.  I  am  getting  low  grades.    Possible  solutions  

a. Remember,   colleges  don’t   see  problems  with   teachers.  They   just   see  your  transcript,  so  get  a  tutor,  seek  help  from  the  teacher.  

b. Try  to  switch  to  another  section.  c. Do  not  give  up.  Push  yourself.  

♦ Obstacle:  I  am  not  in  a  college  prep  academy.    Possible  solutions  

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a. Go  talk  to  your  counselor  to  add  the  right  classes.    b. PE  doesn’t  count  for  college  admissions  c. Use  your  summers  to  take  the  additional  classes  d. Use  community  colleges  

♦ Obstacle:  I  did  not  take  school  seriously  in  9th  or  10th  grade.  ♦ Possible  Solutions:  

a. It’s  never  too  late.  b. Colleges  look  for  upward  progress  c. Retake  classes  you  got  Ds  in.  d. Use  the  summers  to  advance  e. If  it’s  too  late,  community  colleges  are  a  great  possibility.  

♦ Obstacle:  My   first   language   in  not  English,   and   I  have   trouble  with  English  classes  Possible  solutions:  Remember,  the  more  you  read  and  write  the  better.  Find  an  English  teacher  at  your  school  who  will  tutor  you.  Find  a  tutoring  center  in  your  neighborhood  Read,  read,  read  books  that  you  like  and  that  push  you.  Take  acting  or  debate  classes.  They  help  with  speaking  and  confidence.