The Four Systems of Higher
Education in California
Ginger Reyes, M.P.A.
&
Marcelo F. Vazquez, Ed.D.
How do/did you choose
YOUR college?
2011 U.S. News & World Report
Collegiate Rankings
Harvard
2. Princeton
3. Yale
4. Columbia
5. Stanford
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Cal Tech
8. MIT
9. Dartmouth
9. Duke
1.
California Master Plan
University of California (UC)
12.5%
California State University (CSU)
33%
Community College (CCC)
100%
Private Colleges & Universities
Recommended Route
High School
Another Recommended Route
“High School”
The CSU System
The CSU Mission Statement
 The mission of the California State University is:
– To advance and extend knowledge, learning, and culture, especially
throughout California.
– To provide opportunities for individuals to develop intellectually,
personally, and professionally.
– To prepare significant numbers of educated, responsible people to
contribute to California's schools, economy, culture, and future.
– To encourage and provide access to an excellent education to all who are
prepared for and wish to participate in collegiate study.
– To offer undergraduate and graduate instruction leading to bachelor's
and higher degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, the applied fields, and
the professions, including the doctoral degree when authorized.
– To prepare students for an international, multi-cultural society.
– To provide public services that enrich the university and its
communities.
CSU Campuses
 Different Sizes, SAME Mission
 Same Admissions Requirements Yet VERY
Different Standards.
 Somewhat Different Curricula
 Usually best to check with intended school
– Most websites include a link to email
admissions
Different “Flavors”
 Humboldt
 Channel Islands
 Cal Poly Pomona & SLO
 Long Beach, San Diego, Northridge
 Los Angeles
What can I study at a CSU?
 Radio/Television Film
San Francisco State
 Dance
San Diego State
 Engineering - Theme Park
CSU Long Beach
 Interior Design
San Jose State
 Dairy Science
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
 Hotel Restaurant Management
CSU Pomona
 Global Intelligence & National
Security
CSU Bakersfield
 Computer Gaming & Design
CSU Channel Islands
 Fire Protection Administration  Music Industry & Tech.
CSU Los Angeles
Chico State
Freshmen Admissions Requirements
The basic admissions requirements include:
 Specific high school courses
 Grades and test scores
 Graduation from high school
College Preparatory Pattern
a. U.S. History or U.S. History and
2 Years
Government, and Social Science
b. English
4 Years
c. Mathematics
(Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II)
3 Years
d. Science with Lab
2 Years
(CSU requires one Biological Science and
one Physical Science)
e. Language Other Than English
2 Years
(two years of same language)
f. Visual and Performing Arts
1 Year
(A single yearlong approved course)
g. Electives
1 Year
_______________________________________________________
Comprehensive a-g pattern of college preparatory study15 Units
Grade Point Average
 The high school GPA is based upon grades earned in
all approved college preparatory courses taken in the
10th, 11th and 12th grade
 CSU will award honors points in the GPA calculation
for up to 8 semester courses taken in 11th and 12th
grade. No honors points are awarded for grades of D
and F.
Tests & Scores
 The CSU accepts the SAT I and ACT.
 CSU only looks at Critical Thinking and Math portion
of SAT I
 If a student submits multiple score reports the highest
score earned in each single sub score of the
examination is used.
 Example:
– 1st time: 500 M + 600 CR= 1100
– 2nd time: 550 M + 550 CR= 1100
– CSU total = 550 M + 600 CR= 1150
Eligibility Index
GPA
ACT
SAT
GPA
ACT
SAT
2.95
11
540
2.45
21
940
2.90
12
580
2.40
22
980
2.85
13
620
2.35
23
1020
2.80
14
660
2.30
24
1060
2.75
15
700
2.25
25
1100
2.70
16
740
2.20
26
1140
2.65
17
780
2.15
27
1180
2.60
18
820
2.10
28
1220
2.55
19
860
2.05
29
1260
2.50
20
900
2.00
30
1300
2012/13
Impacted for Freshman Admissions
(16 campuses)








Chico
Fresno
Fullerton
Humboldt
Long Beach
Los Angeles
Northridge
Pomona
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sacramento
San Bernardino
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
San Luis Obispo
San Marcos
Sonoma
2012/13 Who is Not Impacted
(7 campuses)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bakersfield
Channel Islands
Dominguez Hills
East Bay
Maritime Academy
Monterey Bay
Stanislaus
2012/13 Impacted for
Transfer Admissions
Campus
•Chico
•East Bay
•Fresno
•Long Beach
•Los Angeles
•Pomona
•Sacramento
•San Bernardino
•San Francisco
•San Marcos
•Sonoma
Campus/Program (All
Majors)
 San Diego
 San Luis Obispo
 Fullerton
 San Jose
Most campuses have at least
one impacted major
(i.e. Nursing)
Average Per Year College Costs
Tuition
$4,721 - $6,780
Books
$1,800 per year
Housing
$7,114 - $15,936
Transportation
$1,300
Personal
$3,114
TOTAL $18,049 - $28,930
www.csumentor.edu
Important Dates for Admissions
 Application Priority Filing Period:
– Fall: October 1st - November 30th
 FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student Aid
for fall:
– January 1st – March 2nd
 EOP-Educational Opportunity Program:
– Varies
 Scholarships:
– Varies
The UC System
UC Mission Statement
 The University’s fundamental missions are
teaching, research and public service.
UC Campuses
 Different Sizes, SAME Mission
 Same Admissions Requirements Yet
Different Standards.
 Somewhat Different Curricula
 Usually best to check with intended school
– Most websites include a link to email
admissions
Different “Flavors”
UCSC
UCLA
UC Merced
The UC Bachalaureate Experience
 Research
– Social Sciences,
humanities &
Engineering, Business,
Nursing, etc.
– Faculty at forefront of
respective fields
– Teacher Assistants and
Grad students may lead
courses.
 General Education
– Social sciences,
humanities and Natural
Sciences, and more
– More interdisciplinary
studies
– Instruction usually in
larger classrooms.
How Do I Become Eligible
for UC Admissions ?
Paths to the
University of California
1. Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC)
2. Statewide Context
Eligibility in the Local Context
 School sends top 15% of 11th grade class
 ELC Office selects top 9%
-Complete 11 units that include
1 unit of history/social science
3 units of English
2 units of mathematics
1 unit of laboratory science
1 unit of language other than English
3 units chosen from among the remaining “a-g”
Students who do not complete at least 11 of the 15 “a-g”
requirements will not be considered for ELC
UC Eligibility Requirements
 A-G Subject
Requirements
 Scholarship (GPA)
Requirement
 Examination
Requirements
 Extracurricular Activities
Statewide Context
UC Eligibility Requirements
PATH TO UC
 A-G Subject
 Scholarship (GPA)
 Examinations
Subjects to meet and exceed
admission requirements for the
UC and CSU systems
A.
History/Social
Science Courses include
US History, World History,
Government, geography
B.
English/Composition and
Literature
Required Number
of Years
9th
1st
semest
er
10th
2nd
semester
2 Required
3
Recommended*
4 Required
11th
12th
1st
semester
2nd
semester
1st
semester
2nd
semester
1st
semester
2nd
semester
World
History
World
History
US
History
(AP)
US
History
(AP)
Govt*
(AP)
Economics
* (AP)
English
9
English 9
English 10
English 10
English 11
(H/AP)
11(H/AP)
12(H/AP)
English
English 12
(H)
(H)
(H)
(H)
English
(H/AP)
C.
3 Required
4
Recommended*
Algebr
aI
or
Geome
try
Algebra I
or
Geometry
Geometry
or
Algebra
II
Geometry
or
Algebra
II
Algebra
II
or
Math
Analysis
Algebra
II
or
Math
Analysis
Math
Analysis
or
Calculus
*
Math
Analysis
or
Calculus*
D.
2 Required
3-4
Recommended*
Biology
Biology
Chemistry
(H/AP)
Chemistry
(H/AP)
Physics*
(H/AP)
Physics*
(H/AP)
AP
Biology*
(H/AP)
AP
Biology*
(H/AP)
E.
2 Required
3-4
Recommended*
Languag
e Other
Than
English
I
Language
Other
Than
English
II
Language
Other
Than
English
II
Language
Other
Than
English
III*
Language
Other
Than
English
III*
Language
Other
Than
English
IV* (AP)
Language
Other
Than
English
IV*
(AP)
F.
1 Required
G. College Preparatory
1 Required
Mathematics includes
Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra
II. Advanced Courses like
Trigonometry and Calculus are
also recommended.
Laboratory Science
Includes biology, chemistry and
physics & integrated/inter-
coordinated science
Language Other Than
English Includes Spanish,
French, German, Japanese,
Chinese and Russian, etc.
Visual and Performing
Arts (drama, orchestra,
photography, etc)
Language
Other
Than
English
I
Drama A
Drama B
Electives
Exams
PSAT/ACT/
SAT Reasoning
SAT (Subject Tests)
Required
Exams
PSAT
(October)
PSAT
(October)
SAT (Feb)
SAT (Subject
tests) (June)
PSAT
(October)
SAT (Dec)
SAT
(Subject
Tests)
May/ June
SAT
(Oct/Nov/
or Dec.)
SAT
Subject
Tests
High School Courses
Advanced Placement
*College Level
Honors
Any identified H/AP/CL
courses taken between
10th - 12th Grade receive
an 1+ extra GPA point
when passed with a grade
of “C” or better.
Regular
* College Level courses are offered to High School students at local Community
Colleges through Concurrent Enrollment.
Exams
 PSAT
(Preliminary Exam- Shorter Version of SAT)
- Critical Reasoning
- Math
- Writing
 ACT
- Reading
Comprehension
- Math
- Social Science
- Science Reasoning
PLUS
- Writing
 SAT
- Critical Reading
- Math
- Writing
 SAT Subject Exams
 No longer required, but
highly recommended for
Engineering applicants.
2 Subjects from Math II,
Biology, Chemistry, and
Physics.
Page #3 from the UC Application
SEQUENTIAL COURSES
MATHEMATICS
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH
The Personal Statement: Freshman Applicants
Question # 1
1. 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.
The Personal Statement: Freshman Applicants
Question #2
Focus:
Open-ended
2. 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?
UC Cost for CA Residents
Living on campus
Living off campus
Tuition & Fees
$13,200
$13,200
Books & Supplies
$1,500
$1,500
Health Insurance fee
$1,160
$1,160
Room & Board
$13,200
$13,200
Personal Transportation
$2,140
$3,040
TOTAL
$31,200
$32,100
Which two UC campuses have
undergraduate business
administration programs?
UC Berkeley &
UC Riverside
California Community Colleges
California Community Colleges
 72 districts
– 112 colleges
– enrolls more than 2.9 million students.
 Provide:
– basic skills education
– workforce training
– and courses for transfer to four-year universities.
– personal enrichment and lifelong learning.
 Students must be 18years of age or H.S. Graduates
– Diploma necessary for financial aid
 Instructors must meet state set requirements
– Master’s degree &/or years of experience
California Community Colleges
 Basic Education
– ESL
– Courses for High School Diploma
 Work Force Training
– Technical training for a specific job/career
– Auto mechanics, Cosmetology, X-Ray Tech,
Nurse’s assistant, Nurse, Firefighting, etc.
– Classes are usually non-transferrable
– Culminate in Certificate
California Community Colleges
 Courses for transfer
– Intersegmental General Education Transfer
Curriculum (IGETC)
– College level courses
– Designed to take 2-3 years
– Private schools may take 1 year
 Courses for lifelong learning
– Art, counseling, personal financing, etc.
– Non-traditional & returning students
East Los Angeles College
 Part of the Los Angeles Community
College District
 Requires placement tests for math and
English
 Traditional college resources: Computer
lab, book store, student center, etc.
 Non-residential= No Dorms
 Student organizations, clubs, and support
programs
Two transfer students apply to UC
Berkeley. One of the applicants is
from Pierce College and the other
from UCLA. Which student is
considered first?
The Pierce College Student
The California Independents
“As a group, independent colleges and
universities provide diversity in size,
location, types of students served, and many
other ways. They emphasize teaching and
learning, and focus on the individual
student.”
AICCU
Private & Independent Colleges
 Different Sizes & Missions
 Different Admissions Requirements
 Different Deadlines
 Different Curricula
 DIFFERNT EVERYTHING!!!!
 Usually best to check with intended school
– Most websites include a link to email
admissions
Different Sizes: Small vs. Large
 Large
 Small
 Larger classes
 Can be more
 Greater competition
competitive to get in
 Less competition for
courses and clubs
 Get to know
professors & staff
 Can be isolating
 Everyone Knows your
business
for courses and
activities
 Greater resources and
more programs
 Can be anonymous
 Slip through cracks
Different Missions: Research vs.
Liberal Arts
 Research
– Social Sciences,
humanities &
Engineering, Business,
Nursing, etc.
– Graduate/Doctoral
Programs
– Faculty at forefront of
respective fields
– Teacher Assistants and
Grad students may lead
courses.
– Many NCAA I
 Liberal Arts
– Focus on social
sciences, humanities
and Natural Sciences
– Usually Undergrad
only
– Many general
education requirements
– More interdisciplinary
studies
– Focus on instruction
– Less of a sports
emphasis: NCAA III
Different Admissions Requirements
 High School GPA & Courses
 Tests: SAT Reasoning, SAT Subjects, ACT
– Bates vs. Georgetown
 Extra Curricular Activities
 Personal Statements-many have multiple
 Awards & Honor
 Letters of Rec.
 Other: Reading lists, church hours, Legacies, etc.
 Financial Need: Need Blind v. Need Aware
Different Deadlines
 Early Decision & Early Action
 The Common Application
 Mid Year Report
 CSS Profile
Different Curricula
 Rhode Island School Of Design-Area
Specific
 Antioch College-Work Co-Op
 Scripps College-All Women's College
 Colorado College-Block Schedule
 Columbia-Core requirements
Independent University/College Cost
Living on campus
Living off campus
Tuition & Fees
$20-40,000
$20-40,000
Books & Supplies
$1,500
$1,500
Room & Board
$12-16,000
$12-16,000
Personal Transportation
$2,000
$3,000
TOTAL
$35-59,000
$36-60,000
Which U.S. university has the highest
number of international students on
their campus in the United States?
Answer:
The University of Southern
California (USC)
8,615
Source: Institute of International Education, Open Doors Report (2011)
Admissions Deadlines/Timelines
 CSU application: Submit between October
1 - November 30. www.csumentor.edu
 UC Application: Submitted between
November 1 – 30.
www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/
 Independent Application: Range between
Fall and early Spring.
www.commonapp.org
Admission & Financial Aid Tips:
 Find a campus that best fits you and take a campus tour!
 Apply early
 Check your email (The email address that is on your
application is the one we email to)
 Go to a Financial Aid Workshop with your parents
 Remember that when you are admitted it is provisional (you
have to complete your last semester of high school and still
meet the admissions requirements)!
 Do not assume the admissions process is the same for all
colleges and universities. Pay attention to communication
that is sent to you via email and mail.
Q. How do I ease the anxiety for my
student & I during college admissions?
 College Preparation starts yesterday.
 Strive for good grades, leadership and community
service to be able to have options when applying, this
includes scholarships.
 Take campus tours. Help your student figure out what
he/she likes/dislike
 Organization. Start creating file folders of places you
have visited. Begin to narrow campuses down.
 Attended College Fairs
– NACAC Fair- May 1st Ventura County
– NACAC Fair- April 30/May 1st Pasadena Conv. Center
The Four Systems of Higher
Education in California
Ginger Reyes, M.P.A.
&
Marcelo F. Vazquez, Ed.D.