Admission Requirements for California Public Colleges & Universities

California has a three-tiered system of public higher education: The University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges.

University of California

http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergraduate.html
www.ucop.edu/pathways

The University of California (UC) has the following 3 pathways to admission:

  1. Eligibility in the Statewide Context. The most common path to admission; a student can be admitted if he or she has met the following requirements:
    1. High School Diploma or equivalency
    2. Subject Requirement - 15 year-long academic courses which are labeled "a to g" courses with a grade of C or better. These are:
      1. History - 2 years
      2. English - 4 years
      3. Math - 3 years required, 4 years recommended
      4. Lab Science - 2 years required, 3 years recommended
      5. Foreign Language - 2 years of the same language other than English required, 3 years recommended
      6. Visual/Performing Arts - 1 yearlong course required
      7. College Prep Elective - 1 year required
    3. Examination Requirement - either the ACT Plus Writing or the SAT (scores used from the same sitting) and 2 SAT Subject Tests in different subject areas (math level 1 not accepted). Beginning with students applying for the Fall 2012 term, SAT Subject Tests will no longer be required.
    4. Scholarship Requirement - defines the GPA and test scores you must achieve to be eligible based on the Eligibility Index below (taken from the UC website):
      1. Minimum GPA of 3.0 (in a–g subjects), or 3.4 for non-residents. Freshman year is not included in the evaluation.
      2. Use either the SAT plus 2 SAT Subject Tests or the ACT with Writing and 2 SAT Subject Tests resulting in a "UC Score." Calculation of the UC Score is described below.
  2. ELC - Eligibility in the Local Context. The top 4% of high school students (designated by UC evaluators) are UC eligible if their GPA in UC approved courses in 10th and 11th grades is greater than or equal to 3.0 and the student completes 11 UC approved courses by the end of junior year. For the Fall 2012 term and beyond, ELC will be the top 9% of the graduating class.
  3. Eligibility by Examination Alone- a UC Score total (based on either SAT or ACT Plus Writing) of 410, or 425 for non-residents, and a minimum score of 63 on each component of the ACT or SAT and SAT Subject Tests. More information about eligibility by examination alone.
UC Eligibility Index
Below are the combinations of GPA and UC Score Totals that meet the UC's minimum requirements
California Residents
"A–G" GPA Minimum UC Score Total
3.00 - 3.04 223
3.05 - 3.09 210
3.10 - 3.14 198
3.15 - 3.19 187
3.20 - 3.24 175
3.25 - 3.29 165
3.30 - 3.34 157
3.35 - 3.39 152
3.40 - 3.44 147
3.45 & above 143
Non California Residents
3.40 - 3.44 147
3.45 & above 143

The University calculates your UC Score Total as follows:

If you took the SAT Reasoning Test: The University converts your highest scores in critical reading, math and writing from a single sitting and two SAT Subject Tests from different subject areas to equivalent UC Scores (see translation table below). Then all five UC Scores are added together to produce your UC Score Total (critical reading + math + writing + subject test 1 + subject test 2).

If you took the ACT plus its Writing exam: The University takes your highest math, reading, science and combined English/writing score from a single sitting and converts them to equivalent UC scores (see the translation table at right). To give the ACT writing component equal weight to the SAT writing exam, the University multiplies the sum of your converted math, reading and science scores by two-thirds, then adds the converted English/writing score. This subtotal is then added to your two highest SAT Subject Test scores from two different subject areas, which are also converted to equivalent UC Scores, to reach your UC Score Total ([math + reading + science] x 0.667 + English/writing + subject test 1 + subject test 2).

SAT Test Score Translation
SAT Score UC Score SAT Score UC Score
800
 100 490 48
790
 98 480 47
780
 97 470 45
770 95 460 43
760 93 450 42
750 92 440 40
740 90 430 38
730 88 420 37
720 87 410 35
710 85 400 33
700 83 390 32
690 82 380 30
680 80 370 28
670 78 360 27
660 77 350 25
650 75 340 23
640 73 330 22
630 72 320 20
620 70 310 18
610 68 300 17
600 67 290 15
590 65 280 13
580 63 270 12
570 62 260 10
560 60 250 8
550 58 240 7
540 57 230 5
530 55 220 3
520 53 210 2
510 52 200 0
500 50  
ACT Test Score Translation
CT Score UC Score ACT Score UC Score
36
 100 20 47
35
 97 19 43
34
 93 18 40
33 90 17 37
32 87 16 33
31 83 15 30
30 80 14 27
29 77 13 23
28 73 12 20
27 70 11 17
26 67 10 13
25 63 9 10
24 60 8 7
23 57 7 3
22 53 1-6 0
21 50  

This type of admission is called the eligibility, then selection approach. Student eligibility is based on high school performance and tests, which guarantees a place at one of the UC campuses to all eligible California residents who apply on time, but that doesn't guarantee admission to a particular campus. Each campus goes through its own competitive selection process. The UC recommends taking additional coursework beyond the a–g requirements and a rigorous senior year curriculum.

At the individual campuses, the schools weigh in academically oriented factors, such as outstanding performance in specific areas, record of improvement in the last two years, and academic performance relative to available academic opportunities, and less academic factors, such as special talents, achievements, and life experiences. Teacher recommendations are not required. UC does require a personal statement, which includes a student's academic preparation and potential to contribute to the campus.

To help students decide if they might be admitted to a particular campus, freshman admissions profiles are listed for each campus. There is also a phone number for UC application support: (800) 914-8820. Information about UC campus tours.

Visit the UC Doorways website for a complete list of MCHS UC approved courses. Click on "a–g Course Lists" and type in "Mira Costa High School."

California State University

http://www.csumentor.edu/

The California State University (CSU) system is the nation's largest university system with 23 campuses. The requirements for a CSU are more lenient than for a UC. Students must take a minimum 15-unit pattern of courses for admission as a first-time freshman. Each unit is equal to a year of study in a subject area. A grade of C or higher is required for each course you use to meet any subject requirement. For admission to a CSU, 3 factors are considered:

  1. Specific high school courses:
    1. History and social science - 1 year of US History or 1 semester of US History and 1 semester of civics or American Government and 1 year of social science
    2. English - 4 years
    3. Math - 3 years required, 4 years recommended
    4. Lab Science - 1 biological science and 1 physical science
    5. Foreign Language - 2 years
    6. Visual/Performing Arts - 1 year
    7. College Prep Elective (chosen from UC a–g list) - 1 year
  2. Grades and Test Scores. Your high school grades are the most important factor in CSU admissions decisions. CSU looks at your college prep a–g classes after your freshman year. If you live in California and have better than a 3.0 GPA, no test scores are required. For all others, an eligibility index below (copied from the CSU website) is used and takes into consideration GPA and either an SAT or ACT (writing not required) score. However, CSU recommends taking a standardized test because it may indicate you don't have to take math and English placement exams after you are admitted but before you enroll.
  3. High school diploma or equivalent.
Eligibility Index Table for Residents of California or
Graduates of California High Schools
GPA ACT
Score		 SAT
Score		 GPA ACT
Score		 SAT
Score		 GPA ACT
Score		 SAT
Score
3.0 and above qualifies for any score
2.99 10 510 2.66 17 780 2.33 23 1040
2.98 10 520 2.65 17 780 2.32 23 1050
2.97 10 530 2.64 17 790 2.31 24 1060
2.96 11 540 2.63 17 800 2.30 24 1060
2.95 11 540 2.62 17 810 2.29 24 1070
2.94 11 550 2.61 18 820 2.28 24 1080
2.93 11 560 2.60 18 820 2.27 24 1090
2.92 11 570 2.59 18 830 2.26 25 1100
2.91 12 580 2.58 18 840 2.25 25 1100
2.90 12 580 2.57 18 850 2.24 25 1110
2.89 12 590 2.56 18 860 2.23 25 1120
2.88 12 600 2.55 19 860 2.22 25 1130
2.87 12 610 2.54 19 870 2.21 26 1140
2.86 13 620 2.53 19 880 2.20 26 1140
2.85 13 620 2.52 19 890 2.19 26 1150
2.84 13 630 2.51 20 900 2.18 26 1160
2.83 13 640 2.50 20 900 2.17 26 1170
2.82 13 650 2.49 20 910 2.16 27 1180
2.81 14 660 2.48 20 920 2.15 27 1180
2.80 14 660 2.47 20 930 2.14 27 1190
2.79 14 670 2.46 21 940 2.13 27 1200
2.78 14 680 2.45 21 940 2.12 27 1210
2.77 14 690 2.44 21 950 2.11 28 1220
2.76 15 700 2.43 21 960 2.10 28 1220
2.75 15 700 2.42 21 970 2.09 28 1230
2.74 15 710 2.41 22 980 2.08 28 1240
2.73 15 720 2.40 22 980 2.07 28 1250
2.72 15 730 2.39 22 990 2.06 29 1260
2.71 16 740 2.38 22 1000 2.05 29 1260
2.70 16 740 2.37 22 1010 2.04 29 1270
2.69 16 750 2.36 23 1020 2.03 29 1280
2.68 16 760 2.35 23 1020 2.02 29 1290
2.67 16 770 2.34 23 1030 2.01 30 1300
  2.00 30 1300

Some campuses have higher standards of admission. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, and San Diego State require either the SAT or ACT regardless of GPA.

Some majors are also in high demand ("impacted majors"). Students applying for one of these majors will have additional admissions criteria (which change frequently) and must apply to the CSU offering this major during the initial filing period.

CSU has a helpful video tutorial on its website that walks you through the application.

Like the UCs, there are no recommendations required. Unlike the UCs, there is no personal essay required

California Community Colleges

http://www.cccco.edu/

Requirements for admission to a California Community College (CCC) can be met by any one of the following:

  1. High school graduate.
  2. A person 18 years or older who can benefit from instruction.
  3. High school students (concurrent enrollment).
  4. Special admission - high school equivalency via the California High School Proficiency Exam or the GED test.

It is highly recommended that all students take the English and math placement tests prior to enrolling.

El Camino College and many other California Community College have an Honors Transfer Program designed to provide priority admission to UC and CSU campuses. To be eligible at El Camino, students must have a 3.0 GPA, be eligible for or complete English 1A, and complete an Honors Transfer Program application. El Camino has transfer agreements with the following schools (copied from El Camino College website):

  • UCLA: guaranteed priority admission consideration to the College of Letters and Science.
  • University of California at Irvine: priority admission consideration to the university.
  • Pomona College: admission consideration to the college (requires a 3.5 GPA).
  • Occidental College: Preferred consideration for admission to the college (requires a 3.25 GPA).
  • University of California at Santa Cruz: priority admission consideration to the university.
  • University of California at Riverside: guaranteed admission to the university.
  • Chapman University: priority admission consideration to the university (excluding Communication Studies and Film).
  • Pitzer College: priority admission consideration to the college (requires a 3.5 GPA).
  • California State University, Dominguez Hills: guaranteed admission to the university.
  • California State University, Long Beach: guaranteed admission to the University Honors Program.
  • California State University, San Diego: acceptance into the SDSU Honors Program.
  • Pacific University: scholarship offers.
  • Whitman College: scholarship offers

See each California Community College for its own requirements and transfer program agreements. Counselors at the community college can help you plan your community college program to make sure that the courses you select are transferable. More information about applying to a California Community College.

California Community Colleges are a good choice if you want to:

  • Get an excellent value in education. Community college offer quality education at a low cost.
  • Transfer to a college or university junior year.
  • Get the training needed to qualify for employment. Career and technical programs provide students with entry-level and upgraded job skills. Programs range in length from one semester to two years.
  • Earn college credit while in high school.
  • Pursue and explore various subject areas while you're deciding on a major or career field.
  • Only devote two years to higher education and get an AA degree, which is proven to increase your salary as compared to a high school education alone.
  • Have flexible class schedules, such as night and weekend classes.