CHOOSING A COLLEGE

One of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the college you will attend. There are many things to consider in deciding which schools to apply to and in making your final selection.

Students considering a choice of college should ask these questions:

· What colleges offer the kind of training in which I am interested?

· Do I meet the admission requirements for the school that I am considering?

· How academically challenging is the school?

· How much can I afford for an education?

· Do I want a public or private school?

· Do I want to go to a large university or a small college?

· Do I want to go away to school?

· Are housing accommodations readily available on or near the campus?

· What are the extracurricular activities and social life potentials?

· Will it be possible to personally visit the college before making the decision?

Some questions may be more important to you than others, but take time to consider as many aspects about college as you can.

· Talk to your parents, your counselor, your teachers, and your friends. People now in college are also a good source of information.

· Take interest tests such as the Strong-Campbell Interest Survey and/or GetInsights.com to help you determine your interests.

· Study the college catalogs and college handbooks in the Career Center. Check the requirements for college admissions, i.e. GPA, courses, college entrance tests. Most colleges have web sites with this information.

· Send for your own copies of catalogs by writing to or emailing the Office of Admissions. The catalog will give you general high school requirements for the major desired. Due to changing entrance and major requirements in various colleges and universities, students should secure information as early in their high school career as possible. Much of this information is available in the Career Center or you can go to the college’s website.

· Investigate the course requirements for the college major of your choice.

· Investigate the cost of attending the colleges.

· Attend the college and military representative meetings that are held in the Career Center. Watch for dates in the Daily Bulletin.

· Attend College Night in October and talk with representatives from colleges to which you are interested in applying.

· Find out about financial aid, part-time work, loans, scholarships, etc. if you will need this assistance.

· VERY IMPORTANT: Visit as many campuses as possible. Colleges are happy to make arrangements for such visits. Most campuses offer tours and/or information sessions. See if you can set up an interview with an admissions representative.

ADMISSION TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY &

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEMS

The University of California campuses are located in Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and San Diego. The University of California in San Francisco is primarily a graduate program for the health professions.

There are twenty-three campuses in the California State University System. The California State Universities are located in Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Chico, Dominquez Hills, Fresno, Fullerton, Hayward, Humboldt, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Pomona, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, Sonoma, Stanislaus and the Maritime Academy in Vallejo.

To be eligible for admissions to the University of California and the California State University systems as a freshman, you must meet the following subject, scholarship, and examination requirements:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSIONS

Subject Requirement: A set pattern of courses, commonly referred to as the "a-g subject”, is required. The minimum requirements include:

a. HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE: Two years to include one year of World History, and one year of U.S. History (or one semester U.S. History and one semester American Government).

b. ENGLISH: Four years of college preparatory courses which can include not more than one Advanced ELD class.

c. MATHEMATICS: Three years of college preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra 2 (Four years recommended)

d. LABORATORY SCIENCE: Two years required, three recommended. Two years of laboratory science, including 2 of the 3 fundamental disciplines of Biology or Marine Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Integrated Physical Science will meet this requirement for the California State Universities only.

e. LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH: Two years required, three or more recommended of the same language other than English.

f. VISUAL/ PERFORMING ARTS: One year required. Two semesters must be in the same subject (i.e. Art 1 & 2), but do no have to be taken in the same year.

g. ELECTIVE: One year (two semesters), in addition to those required in “a-f” above. Electives to be chosen from one of the following areas: Advanced Math, World Languages, Integrated Physical science, Journalism, Newspaper, Art 3, AP Art, 3-D Art 3, Theatre Arts 2,3, Play Production, Dance 2, Dance 3, Dance Production, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Madrigal Singers, Economics, AP Economics, Java Programming, AP Computer, Robotics ROP, Government, AP Government, World History, Psychology, AP Psychology, Speech and Debate, World War II, Sports Medicine, Principles of Engineering (cannot include Ceramics 1,2, Photography 1, 2, Theater Arts 1, 3D Art 1,2, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Advanced Algebra 2, Geometry.)

* 14 Semesters of the “a-g” requirements must be taken in the junior and senior year.

* It is recommended that students complete more than the above-required academic work because of the competition for admission and for schools/majors that are impacted.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MINIMUM SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENT

Students whose GPA is 3.0 or greater in the courses listed above will be eligible if they achieve specified scores on the SAT Reasoning, and SAT Subject tests or ACT tests (including the Writing test). Up to 4 courses (or 8 semesters) of honors courses in the last 2 years of high school will be given an extra grade point. Two years of an honors course can be counted in the 10^th grade year. Students are required to take the SAT and two SAT Subject Tests from the following disciplines: Math IIC, English Literature, world language, science, and social science. The two subject tests cannot be from the same discipline. For those taking the ACT, they must also take the writing subtest and the two SAT subject tests.

Due to the great number of applicants, the scholarship requirements are generally higher, especially at the popular or impacted campuses

STATE UNIVERSITY MINIMUM SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENT

Admission is based on the student's state college grade point average and his/her score on the American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The state college GPA is based on work completed in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades excluding physical education, aiding, and non college preparatory courses. To be eligible for admission, students with a given grade point average must present the corresponding ACT composite or SAT total score. In general, the lower the GPA the higher the test score required and conversely, the higher the GPA the lower the test scores required. Students with a 3.0 or higher GPA are eligible with any score on the entrance examination with the exception of those campuses or majors that are extremely popular or impacted. Due to the great number of applicants, the scholarship requirements are generally higher, especially at the popular or impacted campuses.

Early Assessment Program (EAP) for California State University

The EAP testing program is a collaborative effort between the CSU, the California Department of Education, and the State Board of Education. The goal of this partnership is to ensure 11^th graders are “on track” to meet college entry standards in English and mathematics. Those students who do well on the EAP testing offered in the spring, along with the STAR testing, may earn exemption from the English and mathematics placement tests required of entering CSU freshmen.

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS

The following tests are required of all freshman applicants to either the State University (CSU) or University of California Systems (UC); one aptitude test - either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT):

· The American College Test measures knowledge and skills in four areas required in college work. These are English usage, mathematics, reading, and sciences reasoning. The UC system and most private schools will require the writing subtest, which is normally optional. The CSU system does not require the writing subtest.

· The SAT Reasoning test measures critical reading, grammar/writing and math. The Critical Reading test questions measure your ability to understand what you read and the extent of your vocabulary. The Math test measures your ability to solve problems involving arithmetic reasoning, Algebra 1, some Algebra 2, and Geometry. The SAT Writing section will contain multiple-choice grammar questions as well as a written essay.

The following tests are required of all freshman applicants to the University of California System; SAT Subject Tests

· Two SAT Subject Tests are required and can be chosen from Mathematics llC, English literature, world language, science or social science. The two tests cannot be in the same discipline. Check with the private schools you are interested in to see if they have special requests for certain Subject Tests.

ADMISSION TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Requirements for admission: high school graduate or 18 years of age or older.

Community College may be a good choice for you:

· If you plan on four years of college, but for financial or other reasons, you prefer to stay home the first two years.

· If you wish to attend a college which will train you for a vocation.

· If you want to attend a four-year college but your grades and/or subject requirements completed do not qualify you for admission without further preparation.

TESTS USED FOR INFORMATION/ADMISSION

PSAT/NMQT

The PSAT/NMQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test and National Merit Qualifying Test) is a two-hour version of the SAT Reasoning test. It is given at California High School each year in October.

Why Take It?

· Juniors and sophomores who have finished Geometry, are encouraged to take the PSAT/NMQT to:

§ Practice taking a college entrance test before the test really counts. Also the cost of the test is low.

§ Help forecast your scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT Reasoning), which you will probably take at the end of the junior year or beginning of the senior year.

§ Begin the screening process for the National Merit scholarships for students getting top scores.

What Does It Measure?

· The PSAT/NMQT provides an approximate measure of your verbal, mathematical, and written language abilities, which are important in college work. It helps compare your abilities with those students all over the country.

· The critical reading test measures your reading comprehension. The mathematics section of the test measures your ability to understand and solve problems about numbers and Geometry. The writing section will contain multiple choice grammar questions similar to the SAT Reasoning test. Both the PSAT/NMQT and the SAT stress the ability to reason with facts rather than ability to remember them; both are presented in standard written English.

How Should You Prepare For the Test?

· The best preparation is a solid background in high school English and math courses plus a good night's sleep before the test.

What About The Scores?

· Results are released to the high school. With your scores you will receive a booklet, which will help you interpret them. Scores range from 20-80. You will receive a verbal score, a mathematical score, a writing score, and a selection index that is used to help select semi-finalists and commended students in the Merit program and the National Achievement Program for Black students.

SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST (SAT) –REASONING TEST

· The SAT Reasoning test is a multiple-choice test made up of separately timed critical reading and math questions and an essay. Critical Reading questions measure your ability to understand what you read and the extent of your vocabulary. The test content includes sentence completion, and reading comprehension in social, political, scientific, artistic, philosophical, and literary areas. Mathematical questions measure your ability to solve problems involving arithmetic reasoning, Algebra 1 and some Algebra 2, and Geometry. The writing test will contain multiple-choice grammar questions as well as a written essay.

· These abilities are related to successful academic performance in college. The SAT does not measure other kinds of abilities, which may be associated with success in college, such as special talents or motivation.

· Many colleges require or recommend one or more SAT Subject Tests for admission or placement. Subject Tests are one-hour, primarily multiple-choice tests that measure your knowledge and skills in particular subjects and your ability to apply that knowledge. They fall into five general areas: English, social science, mathematics, science, and world language. Because the tests are independent of specific textbooks, grading procedures, and methods of instruction, they help colleges to compare academic achievement of students from different schools where course preparation and academic backgrounds may vary widely. You will want to take the Subject Tests that closely align with your intended major

(i.e. Engineering majors should take the Math IIC and a science test)

· Your high school record is probably the best evidence of your preparation for college. Because applicants have taken different courses and come from high schools with different grading practices, college admissions officers need a common measure of ability, such as the SAT. However, scores on the SAT are just part of the information used in making an admission decision. Go to http://www.collegeboard.com to register for the SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests.

AMERCIAN COLLEGE TEST ASSESSMENT (ACT)

The ACT Assessment contains four curriculum-based tests that measure academic achievement in the areas of English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. A new writing test has been added as an optional test.

· English Test

The English test is a 75-item, 45-minute test that measures understanding of the conventions of standard written English in punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style. Spelling, vocabulary, and recall of rules of grammar are not tested. The test consists of five prose passages, each of which is accompanied by a sequence of multiple-choice test items. To provide a variety of rhetorical situations, a range of passage types is employed.

· Mathematics Test

The mathematics test is a 60-item, 60-minute test that is designed to measure mathematical reasoning skills. It emphasizes the solution of practical quantitative problems that are encountered in many post-secondary curriculums and includes a sampling of mathematical techniques covered in high school courses. The test emphasizes quantitative reasoning, rather than memorization of formulas or computational skill.

· Reading Test

The Reading test is a 40-item, 35-minute test that measures reading comprehension as a product of skill in referring and reasoning. That is, the test items require students to derive meaning from several texts by (1) referring to what is explicitly stated and (2) reasoning to determine comparisons, and generalizations. The test comprises four prose passages that are representative of the level and kinds of writing commonly encountered in college freshman curriculum; passages on topics in fiction, the humanities, the social studies and the natural sciences are included. These passages are selected from published sources. Each passage is accompanied by a set of multiple-choice test items. These items do not test the recall of facts from outside the passage, isolated vocabulary items, or rules of formal logic. Rather, the test focuses upon the complex of complementary and mutually supportive skills that readers must bring to bear in studying written materials across a range of subject areas.

· Science Reasoning Test

The Science Reasoning test is a 40-item, 35-minute test that measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural science. The test is made up of units consisting of some scientific information (the stimulus) and a set of multiple-choice test items. The scientific information is conveyed in one of three different formats: data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints.

· Writing Test (Optional)

The Writing test complements the English test. The combined information from both tests tells postsecondary institutions about students’ understanding of the conventions of standard written English and their ability to produce a direct sample of writing.

For students applying to the UC system and most private schools, this will be a required test. For the CSU system it will not be required.

NCAA DIVISION I FRESHMAN ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

All students must register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse

· Students must register at the END of their junior year and submit 2 transcripts: one transcript at time of registration and one after graduation

· Go to http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net to obtain forms and/or register online

· Go to http://www.ncaa.org to obtain guidelines

IMPORTANT CHANGES

NCAA Division I initial-eligibility rules will be changing for those

graduating in the year 2008 and after. The core course

requirement will increase from 14 to 16. Please note changes

in the following boxes.

DIVISION I

2008 AND AFTER

16 CORE COURSE RULE

4 years of English

3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher)

2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science)

1 extra year of English, math or natural or physical science

2 years of social science

4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or world language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy)

DIVISION I

2005-2007

14 CORE COURSE RULE

4 years of English

2 years of Math (Algebra 1 or higher)

2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science)

1 year of additional English, mathematics, or natural/physical science

2 years of social science

3 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or world language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy)

DIVISION II

14 CORE COURSE RULE

3 years of English

2 years of mathematics (Algebra 1 or higher)

2 years of natural/physical science (including one year of lab science)

2 extra years of English, math or natural/physical science

2 years of social science

3 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or world language, nondoctrinal religion or philosophy)

DIVISION III

Division III does not use the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. Contact your Division III college regarding its policies on financial aid, practice and competition.