TIPS, TOOLS AND RESOURCES
FOR ADVISING STUDENTS ON ADMISSIONS TO THE
UC AND CSU
SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
Jacquelyn Ross
Assistant Director of Admissions, UC Davis
John Pliska
Executive Director of Admissions, CSU East Bay
Goals and Organization of the Session
Goals of the Session
Organization of the Session
• Share possible approaches
• Before Junior Year: “It’s
to advising students during
high school.
• Encourage counselors to
explore the many available
resources and tools by
providing some examples.
• Supporting High School
Counselors is good for
everyone.
too early to think about
college.”
• Junior Year: “I can’t think
about college because I
have to take another
exam.”
• Senior Year: “Why didn’t I
think about college?”
• Summer Break: Ask
questions.
YOU ALREADY KNOW THE MOST
IMPORTANT RESOURCE
Our Most Important Resource: Each Other
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/counselors-conferences.shtml
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/newsevents/conferences/
Share ideas. There are many right ways to advise students.
BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR:
WHAT ARE THE VERY FIRST
QUESTIONS?
A.) What college do I want to go to? What college should I go to?
Should I go to a CSU, a UC, a Private School or Community College?
B.) What do I want to major in? What should I major in?
C.) Both of the Above
D.) None of the Above
D.) NONE OF THE ABOVE
THE FIRST QUESTIONS:
“What is college?”
“What is a major?”
“Where can I go to college?”
“What can I major in?”
Where can I go to college? Make it real.
• Question: “Where can I go to college?”
• “Can I even go to college?”
• “Can I go to a UC or a CSU? How about a private school?
California Community College?”
• The long answer: all of the above
• Make it Real: Explore some selected Campus Web sites.
• Don’t forget to look at Campus Maps and Campus Photos.
Resources: Where can I go to college?
UC and CSU Overviews for Students
http://start.universityofcalifornia.edu/
http://www.calstate.edu/college
http://www.californiacolleges.edu/
More Tools for Counselors and Students:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/
http://www.ucop.edu/education-partnerships/programs/resources-forpreparing-for-college.html
http://www.calstate.edu/SAS/counselors.shtml
“Can I Pay for College?” Financial Aid Overviews
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/
http://blogs.calstate.edu/college/index.php/students/paying-for-college/
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/index.html
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/counselors.shtml
What can I major in? Make it real.
• Question: “What can I major in?”
• “I CAN major in that?!”
• Where does this question STEM from?
• Many students assume they are not capable of studying STEM Majors.
• Example: “What is Construction Management?”
• Construction Management may be a better option for some than Civil Engineering.
There are other similar relationships between majors.
• “I can major in THAT?!”
•
•
•
•
Fire Protection Administration and Technology. Where?
Global Disease Biology. Where?
Psychology (Ergonomics and Human Factors Psychology). Where?
Undeclared = Major in General Education with a plan to discover a major
• Campus advising helps multi-interest students.
• Make it real: spend time early looking at fields of study and specific
majors.
Resources: I can major in THAT?
• UC and CSU System-wide degrees and majors:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/resources/majors/ (Tip:
Downloadable .pdf on this page.)
http://degrees.calstate.edu/ (Tip: Under Area of Study, click View List and copy
the list; then use that list to search).
Spend time searching. Majors have a variety of different names.
Examples: Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Physical Therapy
• “I can take a CLASS in THAT?”
• Make it real: links above direct to campus Web sites with lists of
classes.
JUNIOR YEAR:
“I’M SERIOUS, NOW. WHAT KIND OF STUDENT AM I
REALLY?”
“(Oh, yeah I got a ‘D’ in Geometry and failed Spanish 2.)”
A.) UC STUDENT
B.) CSU STUDENT
C.) COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT
D.) PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT
E.) NONE OF THE ABOVE
F.) ALL OF THE ABOVE
G.) WE’RE SERIOUS, NOW, TOO: ALL OF THE ABOVE.
G.) WE’RE SERIOUS, NOW, TOO: ALL OF
THE ABOVE
“A-G” is COLLEGE PREPARATION not APPLICATION PREPARATION
The intent of the “a-g” subject requirements is to ensure that students have attained a body
of general knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced
study.
P.S.: Yes, we also use “a-g” when reviewing Freshmen applications.
P.P.S.: But we don’t use “a-g” when reviewing Junior Transfer
applications.
JUNIOR YEAR:
“WHERE CAN I GO TO COLLEGE?”
Understand Admission Requirements
Explore Campuses
Junior year is the warm-up for senior year
Three components of college admissions
• Eligibility
• Defined requirements
• There are still some guarantees.
• Level of Preparation
• English & Math
• Students with some deficiencies can succeed with support.
• Selection
• CSU Impaction
• UC Holistic Review
• Admission by Exception
Resources: Understand Admissions
General Resources (UC):
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/quickreference-2014.pdf
General Resources (CSU):
http://www.calstate.edu/apply/
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/documents/admissionhandbook.pdf
Resources: Explore Campuses
• Learn about UC campuses:
• http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/index.html
• Includes links to campus Web sites
• Learn about CSU campuses (campus Web sites):
• http://www.calstate.edu/search_find/campus.shtml
• Learn about CSU campuses (admissions differences):
• http://www.calstate.edu/sas/casper/index.shtml
• California Colleges Web site:
• http://www.californiacolleges.edu/
Junior year is the warm-up for senior year
• 2nd big year for GPA calculated for admission.
• Check A-G Requirements progress.
• Plan senior year schedule. Make up any missing classes.
• http://www.ucop.edu/education-partnerships/_files/Map-online.pdf
• http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/
• http://www.californiacolleges.edu/High_School_Planning/_default.aspx
• The big tests (SAT or ACT)
• Optional tests: Subject Tests, Advanced Placement and International
Baccalaureate
• Preparation and college credit
• Students should read, read, read.
SENIOR YEAR: APPLY AND PREPARE
“What school do I want to go to?”
“What schools will I apply to?”
Encourage students to keep a calendar.
Senior year is the warm-up for freshmen year.
APPLY EARLY AND BROADLY!
The CSU Application really has two parts:
CSU Application:
https://www.csumentor.edu/
CSU Impaction:
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/impactioninfo.shtml
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/documents/CSULocalAdmission-ServiceAreas.pdf
Take advantage of the unique eligibility guarantees:
Students should apply to at least one campus and major that is not impacted (including
campuses with local guarantees.)
CSU Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Application is separate:
http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/eop_apply.asp
The UC Application:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/apply-online/
Housing applications procedures and deadlines vary by campus:
Check campus housing web sites early.
Finish the application process
• Senioritis
• Students should report course changes and grade drops (D’s and
F’s) to every campus they have applied to.
• Yes, SIR
• Make sure students declare intents to register by the May 1st
deadline.
• Placement tests
• CSU Entry Level Math (ELM) and English Placement Test (EPT)
http://www.ets.org/csu/
• UC Tests
• Encourage students to keep a tight calendar:
• Examples: Transcript deadlines, Orientation Sign-up
• “Read all e-mail you are sent.”
SUMMER BREAK:
FRESHMEN YEAR, AGAIN?
Summer programs and requirements
Exploring Campus Resources early is part of preparing
for college.
Summer Programs and Requirements
• Check requirements for every campus being considered
• Sign up for orientations
• Is CSU Early Start Required?
http://www.csusuccess.org/earlystart
• “Read all the e-mail you are sent.”
MORE THAN JUST
TUTORING AND A LIBRARY!
There are a wide range of campus and System-wide services, initiatives and
organizations that support UC and CSU students on their path to graduation,
both inside and outside of the classroom.
Advise incoming students to explore campus and System Web sites for
services even before they arrive on campus.
Clubs and organizations and other Student Life Initiatives often support
students outside the classroom, helping them succeed in the classroom.
Example: CSU Affordable Learning Solutions
• CSU’s Affordable Learning Solutions (ALS) enables
faculty to choose and provide more affordable, quality
educational content for their students.
• By reducing CSU student course material expenses, more
students acquire the course materials they need to
succeed and benefit from their CSU learning experience.
• Now, CSU faculty and students have greater access to
quality free and low-cost learning materials through a
variety of ALS programs and partnerships.
http://als.csuprojects.org/
Example: CSU e-Advising Initiative
• Advising and scheduling bottlenecks can impede the path
to degree. Students often lack timely access to
information and guidance as to courses available to meet
their needs. Campus scheduling staff often may not have
required information about students’ plans and courses
needed.
• As a result, campuses have been asked to focus on
leveraging technology to improve advising services.
http://courseredesign.csuprojects.org/wp/eadvising/
Example: UC Resources for Undocumented Students
• Undocumented students of all ethnicities and nationalities
can find a safe environment and supportive community at
the University of California. There are various programs
to help students transition to and succeed at UC.
• UC campuses offer a range of support services — from
academic and personal counseling to financial aid and
legal advising.
• Each campus has a student group, club or organization
where students can find an encouraging peer network.
http://undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu/
THERE ARE MANY RIGHT WAYS
Questions
Discussion