College Entrance Requirements
Career & College Readiness
It is the mission of the SMHS Counseling Department to ensure that each student is given an equal opportunity to graduate having the greatest number of post-secondary choices from the widest array of options. Whether a student chooses to attend a trade/technical program, a community college, or start at a four-year university out of high school, it is our goal to expose them to a variety of post-secondary options and ensure that they are taking the courses in high school to best prepare them.
Here are some excellent tools to help guide students and parents in high school, career, college, and financial aid planning. Please take some time to set up an account and explore each resource as well as our SMHS College and Career Center website.
californiacolleges.edu (California-based site for exploring colleges nationwide.)
sanmarcoshigh.smusd.org/resources/college_and_career_center
College Entrance Requirements
Students planning on going directly to a four-year college or university must meet that school’s entrance requirements. Those interested in private colleges or universities should research the admissions websites of the appropriate schools early in their high school career to ensure they are taking the necessary courses.
College and university information is available to our students on campus through the College and Career Center. A wealth of information related to college selection, financial aid, scholarships, SAT / ACT tests and preparation can be found at the College and Career Center as well as on its website.
Entrance requirements for the UC / CSU four-year public university systems in California are outlined below. Please note that students must pass any courses taken in fulfillment of the entrance requirements with a grade of C or better. Although D grades are considered passing for purposes of graduation, they are NOT considered passing by the university systems.
A list of SMHS courses which meet UC and CSU admissions requirements may be found on the UC website http://ucop.edu/doorways
Click on the box titled “A - G Course Lists”. Enter: San Marcos, California
A-G Requirements for UC/CSU
University of California
At least 7 of the required 15 units of high school coursework (a unit is equal to an academic year, or two semesters of study) must be taken in grades 11 and 12. All required subjects must be completed with at least a grade of “C" including those in grade 9.
Admission is based on the GPA in the required subject areas completed in grades 10 and 11. UC will not consider SAT or ACT test scores when making admissions decisions or awarding scholarships. If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.
Click here for the up-to-date testing requirements for the UC system. All of the UC campuses are competitive and they encourage a student to take the most rigorous program available. Click here to learn more about how the UC system reviews applications.
California State University
Admission is based on the student’s GPA in grades 10 and 11. The California State University (CSU) no longer uses ACT/SAT examinations in determining admission eligibility for all CSU campuses effective March 2022. Click here for up-to-date admissions requirements including testing. All subjects must be completed with at least a grade of "C". Because some programs are impacted, students with the highest grades and best preparation are given preference.
Community College
There are no required subjects for admission to community college. SMHS Counselors work with Palomar College and Mira Costa College to help seniors transition in their senior year.
Private Colleges/Universities and Out of State Schools
Many follow the University of California pattern for required subjects, but there is a great deal of variation; therefore, it is necessary to check each school individually. Check the admissions department websites for each college you are interested in.
College Admission Testing
Check the websites of individual colleges for information about how testing requirements may have changed due to COVID-19. Many colleges are test optional.
PSAT - (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) is administered nationwide every October to juniors who desire to take this test, which is a practice test for the SAT I. The test consists of two parts - English and Mathematics. The questions are very similar to those on the SAT I, but this test is shorter and less difficult. This test is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholar- ship Program. National Merit Scholars score in the top 1% in the PSAT.
SAT - (Scholastic Aptitude Tests) are college admissions tests, which are usually taken at the end of the junior year and/or the beginning of the senior year. It is offered 7 times each school year. The test consists of three parts – English, Mathematics, and Writing.
ACT - (American College Test) is another college admissions test (most 4-year colleges and universities require students to take ACT or SAT I). It is offered 5 times each school year. This test consists of 4 parts - English (usage, grammar, structure, and punctuation), mathematics (mostly algebra and geometry),reading comprehension, and science reasoning and takes about 3 hours to complete. All questions are multiple-choice type.