Admission to any four-year college or university is competitive. To compete for admission to a California State University (“CSU”) or University of California (“UC”) campus, a student must have passed the “A-G” courses with a “C” or above:
- A: 2 years of Social Science
- B: 4 years of English
- C: 3 years of Math (more recommended)
- D:2 years of Laboratory Science
- E: 2 years of Foreign Language (more recommended)
- F: 1 year of Visual or Performing Arts
- G: 1 year of an approved elective
Click here to see the A-G courses and the LAUSD graduation requirements side-by-side.
In addition, most college and university applications require a personal statement, letters of recommendation, a résumé, and that the student have taken the SAT or the ACT. For more information on the SAT, go to www.collegeboard.com or call (866) 630-9305. Private colleges and universities usually have requirements similar to CSU and UC schools, but they can vary.
Talk to your high school/college counselor, your social worker, your mentor, and/or your caregiver about how to make certain that you have everything you need to get into a college or four-year university.
Here are some helpful websites if you are looking to go to college:
- www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/prepare/prepare_grade.html – designed to help students gauge their interests, track their achievements, and head in the right direction.
- www.californiacolleges.edu/admissions/admissions.asp – designed as a central resource to help students understand the application process and research all of their California college options.
- www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions – for information about admission to the University of California.
- www.cacollegepathways.org/ – for information about getting California foster youth into college and helping them succeed in college.