1. Freshman Admission 101: The Basics for New Counselors
UC Counselor Conference
September 2015

2. Apply broadly to increase your chances of admission
9 Campuses – 1 Application
Same UC Application for all nine undergraduate campuses
Select campuses on application: copy is submitted to each UC
Apply broadly to increase your chances of admission

3. Freshman Eligibility Requirements
Coursework
Grade Point Average
Examinations

4. Coursework Requirement
Complete any 11 UC- approved “a-g” courses prior to senior year
Complete all 15-course “a-g” subject pattern by the end of senior year
Must be completed with a grade of C or better

5. Grade Point Average Requirement
Based on “a-g” courses completed in 10th and 11th grades, including summer courses
Minimum 3.00 weighted GPA (for CA Residents)
Minimum 3.40 weighted GPA (for non-CA Residents)

6. Examination Requirement
ACT with Writing or SAT Reasoning Test by December of senior year
Redesigned SAT: First exam date is March 2016
UC will accept scores from SAT Reasoning for Fall 2017 applicants and beyond
Some campuses may recommend SAT Subject Tests for specific majors:

7. Admissions by Examination
To be considered students must…
Take either the ACT Plus Writing or the SAT, as well as two SAT Subject Test in two different disciplines.
Achieve a minimum UC score total of 410 (425 for nonresidents)
Must earn a minimum UC Score of 63 on each component of the ACT Plus writing or SAT and on each of the subject Test.
For instructions on calculating the UC Score, see
Students who qualify by examination are entitled to full review of their application
The Revised SAT will not be accepted for Admission by Exam consideration for Fall 16

8. Admissions by Exception
Sometimes even the most creative, focused and intellectually passionate students aren’t able to fulfill our admissions requirements
If such students have the ability and potential to succeed at UC, they may qualify for admissions by exception
Applicants should use their personal statement or additional comments section of the application to explain their unique story

9. California-Resident Students
State Wide Context:
Students that rank in the top 9 percent of the graduates statewide, are guaranteed admission to a UC
Refer to our admissions index calculator:

10. Local Context
Our eligibility in the local context (ELC) program recognizes students accomplishments in the light of opportunities offered by their particular high schools.
For California students to be considered for a guarantee in the local context, they must complete 11 specific yearlong courses by the end of junior year (including summer)

11. Campus Selection:
Using Comprehensive Review

12. Requirements vs. Selection
Meets A-G
Meets GPA
Exams
Individual campus selection
Comprehensive Review (multiple types)
No campus collaboration

13. Comprehensive Review & Apply UC
Comprehensive Review is based on the entire application, including the personal statement
Students need to take care to fill out the application thoroughly, including:
Personal information
Academic history
Activities & Awards, plus quantitative or qualitative explanations

14. 14 Comprehensive Review Factors
Academic:
Grade-point average
Test scores
Performance in and number of courses beyond minimum a-g requirements
UC-approved honors courses and advanced courses
Eligibility in the Local Context (CA residents only)
Quality of senior-year program of study
Academic opportunities in California high schools
Outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas
Non-Academic:
Achievements in special projects
Improvement in academic performance
Special talents, achievements and awards
Participation in educational preparation programs
Academic accomplishment in light of life experiences
Geographic location
*Note: No single factor determines admission

15. Personal Statement Applicants are asked to respond to two prompts:
Describe the world you come from—for example, your family, community or school—and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
Word Count: 1,000 words total

16. Advice for the Personal Statement
Do not be campus specific!
Don’t stretch the truth, just be honest
Be cautious of your timeline. Ask yourself, is this relevant to me now?
Tie it back to you. Always.
Use “I” or “my” statements
Use specific examples
It’s not an essay, structure is not graded

17. Additional Comments Section
Use Additional Comments box for clarification and expansion of important details
Describe anything else that you have not had the opportunity to include elsewhere in your application
Limit of 550 words
The Additional Comments section is not required

18. Guiding Students Through the College Preparation Process

19. The Road to College 12th Grade 11th Grade 10th Grade 9th Grade
7th/8th Grade
11th Grade 19

21. 7/8th Grade - Prepare
Seek out middle school counselor for course selection
Attend orientation every year
Begin volunteering in your community

22. 9TH Grade - Explore UC Admissions websites: Doorways A-G Course Lists
Online Classes
Community College Classes & Community College A-G list
Counselor Resources:
Options for Satisfying A-G Chart
CSU-UC Comparison Chart
A-G Guide Website

23. 10TH Grade - Sustain Free Test Prep Resources:
College Board SAT & ACT prep – text message of the day
KHAN academy
Tools to Explore Campuses:
UC Campus websites
Chegg:
Cappex:
The Princeton Review’s School Search:
CollegeWeekLive:

24. 11TH Grade - Challenge Test Taking Tips: Read!
Take practice tests early to know where you may need help
UC accepts both ACT with Writing and the SAT Reasoning Test and will take your highest test score from a single test date
Academic Challenges:
Rigor of course schedule
College Courses

25. 12TH Grade - Apply Deadlines Apply UC open August 1st
UC Application Fall filing period: November 1-30
File FAFSA at
Admissions notifications (posted online): March 1-30
Students must opt-in to waitlists
Submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR): May 1st
Official high school and college records due: July 1st

26. Frequently Asked Topics & Questions

27. Course Validation Validation:
To take a higher level course in a subject area that requires sequential knowledge (only Math & Language Other than English)
There are two types of validation:
Validation of Coursework:
“Subject Omission” - validation of a lower–level course even if the lower level course was not actually completed. 
Validation of Grades:
“Grade Deficiency” – validation grades of D or F in a lower level course after completion of a higher level course with a grade of C or better.

28. Repeats and Duplication
Repeating Coursework:
To take the exact same course over again to replace a D or F grade (AP does not repeat CP coursework)
Duplication:
Repeating the exact same course or one of similar content after a grade of C or better has been received.
UC will not accept duplication of coursework.

29. Online Course Policy
Effective for online courses completed during academic year and beyond.
UC does accept online college VPA courses.
The online course policy and requirements approved by the Board Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS) only extends to high school-level online courses.
UC accepts online college courses to satisfy all of the "a-g" subject requirements

30. Can students take online courses to satisfy “a-g”?
High school purchasing UC-approved online courses from a provider/publisher.
List of providers available on “a-g” Guide.
Providers’ “a-g” course lists available on Course List website.
Approved courses must be added to high school’s “a-g” course list.
Student enrolling independently in UC-approved online course
Principal certifying non-UC-approved online courses.
Exception: NOT applicable for online lab science & visual and performing arts courses.

31. Resources

32. A-G Guide:
Informational website for everything “a-g”
Update high school course lists
Career Technical Education (CTE)
Online Learning
New URL:

33. Join the conversation on social media

34. Virtual Opportunities to Connect
UC Day: October 8th
1:00-8:00 PM

35. Visit in Person or Online!
Fall Preview Days
Spring Open Houses
Virtual Tours
Virtual Advising Appointments

36. Stay in Touch! Ask Us Questions!
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is always an option!
Facebook
YouTube

37. Thank you!