A-G College Requirements
Considering going to college after high school? Curious what it takes to attend a four year college or university? You must meet a set of requirements in order to even submit a college application. We call this set of requirements “A-G requirements.” Please become familiar with these requirements, as they are slightly different from the graduation requirements. As counselors, our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to be college ready stays on track with meeting “A-G” requirements.”
*Please note that students must earn a C or higher in all A-G college preparatory courses, or must repeat the course, to be on track for college readiness. Please contact your counselor, using the Counselor Request form, if you have questions or to discuss your plan for being “A-G.”
Subject Requirements
Freshman applicants are required to complete a minimum of 15 yearlong A-G courses with a letter grade of C or better in grades 9-12. Seven of these courses must be taken in the last two years of high school. Students must complete:
A. History (world and U.S.) - 2 Courses
B. English (composition/literature in the language of instruction) - 4 courses
C. Mathematics (including elementary algebra, geometry and intermediate algebra; or a series of integrated math courses - including sufficient geometry content) - 3 courses
D. Science (from two disciplines: biology, chemistry and/or physics; or one biology, chemistry or physics, and one interdisciplinary or integrated or earth and space sciences course) - 2 courses
E. Language other than English (foreign language) - 2 courses
F. Visual and performing arts (one yearlong course from the following disciplines: dance, music, theater, visual arts or interdisciplinary arts; or two one-semester courses from the same discipline) - 1 course
G. College preparatory elective (to be chosen from the fields above or another course approved by UC) - 1 course
Applying to a UC?
The UCs make it clear what they are looking for in their UC points of comprehensive review. The following criteria provide a comprehensive list of factors campuses may use to select their admitted class. Based on campus-specific institutional goals and needs, admissions decisions will be based on a broad variety of factors:
Academic grade point average in all completed A-G courses, including additional points for completed UC-certified honors courses.
Number of, content of and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum A-G requirements.
Number of and performance in UC-approved honors and Advanced Placement courses.
Identification by UC as being ranked in the top 9 percent of their high school class ("eligible in the local context," or ELC).
Quality of a student's senior-year program, as measured by the type and number of academic courses in progress or planned.
Quality of their academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in their high school.
Outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas.
Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study.
Recent, marked improvement in academic performance, as demonstrated by academic GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress.
Special talents, achievements and awards in a particular field, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficiency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that demonstrate unusual promise for leadership, such as significant community service or significant participation in student government; or other significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student's promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus.
Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of a student's high school curriculum or in conjunction with special school events, projects or programs.
Academic accomplishments in light of a student's life experiences and special circumstances.
Location of a student's secondary school and residence.
No single factor determines admissions. You application will undergo the holistic evaluation. Remember what the factors are when answering the Personal Insight Questions.
Helpful Resources
Personal Insight Guide for Freshman Applicants
Presenting Yourself On the UC Application (slide deck)