Claudia Morales
University of California, Berkeley
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The headlines are stark.
Anxiety levels are sky-high.
Parents, students and educators whisper
about the straight-A student who never
received an acceptance letter.
As a result, the college admissions game is
starting earlier and earlier.
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It may come as a shock, but the data shows
that it is no more difficult for most students
to get into college today than it was a decade
ago.
Beneath the headlines and the urban legends
lies the real story:
If students are well prepared in high school
by earning the right credentials, they will get
into a good college.
Taking harder and higher-level
courses, especially in math and
science, would do more to increase
student chances of being accepted
than would a higher GPA.
 A higher score on college entrance
exams (such as the SAT or ACT) also
beats out a higher GPA.
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If an average applicant was able to pass
pre-calculus instead of stopping at
trigonometry, his or her chances would
have increased from 75 to 79 percent.
Lower-achieving applicants could increase
their chances from 52 to 57 percent if they
simply completed trigonometry instead of
stopping math at algebra II -- a greater
increase than if the student earned a 3.0
GPA.
Did you know that when you fulfill your high school graduation requirements
you are also making yourself eligible for college?
Requirements
A. History
B. English,
C. Math
D. Lab Science
E. Foreign Language
F. Visual/Performing Art
G. College Prep Electives
Physical Education
Community Service
San Jose
Unified School
District
The State of
California
UC & CSU
Indicates UC/CSU course requirement has been met
3.5 Years
3 Years
2 Years
4 years
3 years
4 years
3 years (beginning
with Algebra 1)
2 years (including
Algebra 1)
3 years (2 years of
lab science)
2 years (does not
have to be a lab
science)
3 years (beginning
with Algebra 1)
4 YEARS
RECOMMENDED
2 years (Biology,
Chemistry and/or
Physics)
2 years
2 years
45 Credits
1 year (either FL OR
VPA)
1 year (either FL OR
VPA)
2 years (of the same
foreign language)
3 YEARS
RECOMMENDED
1 year
n/a
1 year
2 years
2 years
2 years
40 hours
Recommended
n/a
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Advance Placement
◦ AP European History
◦ AP United States Government
& Politics
◦ AP United States History
◦ AP English & Language
Composition
◦ AP English Literature &
Composition
◦ AP Calculus AB
◦ AP Calculus BC
◦ AP Statics
◦ AP Chemistry
◦ AP Biology
◦ AP Physics
◦ AP Spanish Language
◦ AP Spanish Literature
◦ AP French Language
◦ AP French Literature
◦ AP Music Theory
◦ AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
◦ AP Studio Art: Drawing
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Honors
◦ English 5/6 (H)
◦ Pre-Calculus ½ (H)
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Under the new policy, all California high
school seniors who…
◦ complete the 15 UC-required collegepreparatory ("a-g") courses, with 11 of those
done by the end of 11th grade,
◦ maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better (weighted by
honors/AP bonus points) in these courses, and
◦ take the ACT with Writing or SAT Reasoning
Test
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…will be invited to apply and will be
entitled to a comprehensive review of their
applications at each UC campus to which
they apply.
Changes to Freshman Eligibility
for Class of 2012
 Within
this "entitled to review"
pool, two categories of
applicants will be guaranteed
admission somewhere within
the UC system:
◦ those who fall in the top 9% of all high school
graduates statewide, and
◦ those who rank in the top 9% of their own high
school graduating class.
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Successfully consume large amounts of information in an efficient
manner.
Know how to organize information effectively: mastery of
outlining, note-taking, structuring and grouping information.
Know how to organize and complete long term assignments while
working independently.
Make a successful transition to acquiring information through the
lecture approach and the lack of interaction during the class
period.
Seek out counseling services and understand how to make use of
support services.
Be self-directed in making personal choices.
Adjust to the depersonalized setting of the secondary school.
(Very few adults may know the student's name.)
Complete homework assignments and attend classes with a
minimum of prodding from school staff.
Inform their parents of school events.
Successfully fulfill the expectations of six or more different
teachers.
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Encourage as much reading as possible,
especially beyond what is assigned in class.
Meet all of your student’s teachers.
Check in regularly with your student’s
counselor.
Familiarize yourself with Lincoln’s a-g course
list @ https://doorways.ucop.edu/list/
Complete and regularly update an Individual
Academic Plan (IAP) with your student.
Questions?????
Claudia Morales
moralesc@berkeley.edu
Felicia Aldana,
DCAC advisor
fefe@berkeley.edu