College Preperation by Grade Level
College Preperation by Grade Level
COllege Application Resources
COllege Application Resources
4-Year College Info
Use the tabs below to view college options
California; it is the official repository of articulation agreements for California’s public
colleges and universities. Articulation shows how courses completed at one college or
university can be used to satisfy requirements at another.
• ASSIST lists courses that fulfill university admission requirements, major and general
education requirements, and university graduation requirements. It also lists transferable
elective courses that can be used to reach the number of units needed to transfer to a
university.
• ASSIST does not contain information about private, out-of-state, or international colleges
or universities.
Use the tabs below to view college options
UC (Univ. of California)
There are 9 undergraduate universities in the UC system:
- Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.
Admissions:
- UC Admissions Website - Contains information regardin admissions to all nine UC campuses.
- Undergraduate (Freshman) Requirments - If you're interested in entering the University of California as a freshman, you'll have to satisfy these requirements.
- Freshman Admit Data - Freshman admission profiles summarize the academic qualifications of applicants and admitted freshmen to each UC campus.
Testing Requirments:
- The UC no longer requires an SAT for admission purposes. The UC will not accept SAT scores or use them for placement or schoalrship opportunities.
Application Process:
- Dates & Deadlines
- APPLY ONLINE - Students may begin the application process starting August 1st. Applications can be submitted starting October 1 with a deadline of Nov. 30.
- No letters of recommendation are currently required for the UC application
- Do NOT submit a transcript at time of application
- Each application requires students to answer four Personal Insight Questions (PIQs):
- Students should work on these questions prior to entering them into their application.
- Use the Personal Insight Questions page to assist you or view this short video provided by UCSB
Additional Resources:
CSU (California State University)
There are 23 campuses in the CSU System:
Basic Facts:
- CSU tuition rates are significantly lower than UCs
- More campuses across California to choose from
- Higher acceptance rate than most UCs
Admissions:
- Freshman Admission Requirments for California Residents
- Admissions website for First-Time First-Year Students
- First-time Freshman FAQs (Frequesntly Asked Questions) - includes most current COVID-19 updates.
- CSU Local Admission and Service Areas - Many CSU campuses use local admission policies for students who graduate or transfer from high schools and community colleges that are historically served by a CSU campus in that region.
Testing Requirments:
Application Process:
- Dates & Deadlines
- APPLY ONLINE (Fall 2024 Application will become available on October 1, 2023 with a submission deadline of November 30, 2023)
- The fee to apply to a CSU is $70 per campus. Some students may qualigy for an application fee waiver.
- Freshman Application Checklist
- Freshman Application Guide 2023-24
- Application Tips
- EOP Program
Additional Resources:
AICCU (Independent/Private College)
Website: Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
Founded in 1955, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) is comprised of 85 independent, nonprofit colleges and universities in California. Together, these institutions make up the Independent California Colleges and Universities sector (ICCU).
Basic Facts on Independent/Private Colleges:
- ICCU institutions enroll 22% of undergraduates at California, 4-year institutions, and 58% of graduate students.
- In general, tuition at private schools will be greater, but private schools may be more likely to offer need-based grants for students who cannot afford tuition. The tuition may range from $30,000 to $45,000 per year at a private school.
- Smaller student to teacher ratio
Application Process:
- Many private schools use the Common App for their applications.
- Application requires a listing of activities and awards.
- Requires a personal statement.
- Deadlines may differ based on school.
Out of State Colleges
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement among WICHE’s 16 member states and territories, through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students.
Through WUE, eligible students can choose from hundreds of undergraduate programs outside their home state, and pay no more than 150 percent of that institution’s resident tuition rate.
Since full nonresident college-tuition rates may exceed 300 percent of resident rates, WUE increases affordable higher-education choices for students, and minimizes the adverse impacts of student loan debt.
HBCU Institutions
There are 107 colleges in the United States that are identified by the US Department of Education as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
College Athletics
College Search Tools
Use the resource guide below to assist you in finding the right college for you!
Find the Right College Resrource Guide
Additional Research Tools:
Find colleges, explore careers, learn how to pay for college, plus other helpful resources.
U.S Department of Ed. college comparison tool.
Interactive website that provides information about different institutions, including programs and majors, admissions considerations and more.
What is ASSIST and what does it do?
• ASSIST provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about student transfer inCalifornia; it is the official repository of articulation agreements for California’s public
colleges and universities. Articulation shows how courses completed at one college or
university can be used to satisfy requirements at another.
• ASSIST lists courses that fulfill university admission requirements, major and general
education requirements, and university graduation requirements. It also lists transferable
elective courses that can be used to reach the number of units needed to transfer to a
university.
• ASSIST does not contain information about private, out-of-state, or international colleges
or universities.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
What can I do with a major in...
Have an idea what you want to major in? See what you can do with it after you graduate.
Have an idea what you want to major in? See what you can do with it after you graduate.
CollegeWeekLive
Virtual college fair with hundreds of colleges and universities from around the world participating.
Virtual college fair with hundreds of colleges and universities from around the world participating.
Features a 360 degree virtual college tours of over a thousand college campus.
Who graduates from College, who doesn't, and why it matters.
Informative college blog from nationally recognized college expert, Lynn O'Shaughnessy.
College Admission Glossary
COLLEGE ADMISSION GLOSSARY: LEARN THE LINGO
When applying to college, you are bound to come across unfamiliar terms. This glossary can help you make sense of all the information you’re sorting through.
APPLYING
Application: A college application is part of the competitive college admissions system. Admissions departments usually require students to complete an application for admission that generally consists of academic records, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and a list of extracurricular activities. Most schools require the SAT or ACT. Deadlines, the date set by college admissions offices, after which applications for admission will not be accepted, for admission applications are established and published by each college or university.
Advanced Placement (AP): AP courses are college-level classes taught in the high school following guidelines and covering material that will instruct students in AP subject areas and should prepare them to take Advanced Placement tests offered by The College Board.
“Best Fit”: The college search is not about getting into the best college. There is no school that is best for all students. Some students do best at large public universities; others excel in small liberal arts colleges; still others want to study far from home. If you want to make the most of college, don't just apply to the big–name schools or the ones your friends are excited about. Do your own research to find schools that are the best fit for you.
Campus Interview: This is a personal, face-to-face interaction between an admissions applicant and an institutional representative (admissions officer, alumnus, faculty, etc.). Interviews are rarely required.
Campus Visit/Tour: A service by the college admissions office for prospective students, allowing them to visit various campus buildings, meet key institutional personnel, and get a firsthand look at campus life.
Catalogue: A catalogue is a comprehensive publication that provides a detailed overview of an institution, including its mission, programs, costs, admissions requirements, faculty and administration, etc.
College Essay: A brief composition on a single subject, required by many colleges as part of the application process for admission.
College Fair: An event at which colleges, universities, and other organizations related to higher education present themselves in an exposition atmosphere for the purpose of attracting and identifying potential applicants.
College Rep Visit: This is when a college or university admissions representative visits a high school or community site for the purpose of recruiting students for admission to the institution.
Common Application: The Common Application (a.k.a the Common App) makes it possible for students to use one admissions application to apply to any of 456 member colleges and universities. There is a Common App for First-Year Admission and for Transfer Admission. Both versions allow the application to be filled out once online and submitted to all schools with the same information going to each.
Demonstrated Interest: Includes a student’s expression of his or her desire to attend a particular college through campus visits, contact with admissions officers, and other actions that attract the attention of college admissions personnel. While not all institutions use this as a factor in accepting students for admissions, studies have shown that many schools do consider demonstrated interest in their admissions decisions.
Extracurriculars: Extracurricular activities are simply anything you do that is not a high school course or paid employment (but note that paid work experience is of interest to colleges and can substitute for some extracurricular activities). You should define your extracurricular activities in broad terms—many applicants make the mistake of thinking of them solely as school-sponsored groups such as yearbook, band or football. Not so. Most community and family activities are also "extracurricular."
GPA (Grade Point Average): Quantitative measure of a student's grades. The GPA is figured by averaging the numerical value of a student's grades. It is cumulative, starting freshman year: grades count every year.
Honors Classes: The difference between a regular class (such as English 1) and the honors class (English 1 Honors) is not necessarily the amount of work, but the type of work required and the pace of studying. Honors courses are not advanced in the same sense that high school Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses are. Rather, honors courses are enriched; they offer the same material in greater depth and with a faster pace.
In-State (Resident) Student: A student whose permanent residence is in the same state as the college or university he or she attends or hopes to attend. In-state students pay lower tuition than do out-of-state students.
Prospective Student: Any student who is a potential applicant for admission, particularly those who have shown interest in attending the institution or in which the institution has shown interest.
Out-of-State (Non-Resident) Student: Student whose permanent residence is in a different state than that of the college or university which he or she attends or hopes to attend. Out-of-state students generally pay higher tuition than do instate students.
“Reach School”: A college or university that you have a chance of getting into, but your test scores, GPA and/or class rank are a bit on the low side when you look at the school's profile. The top U.S. colleges and top universities should always be considered reach schools.
Recommendations: Statements or letters of endorsement written on a student’s behalf during the college application process.
“Safety School”: A college or university where you clearly meet the admission requirements: minimum GPA, test scores, etc. It’s important, though, that the school also be one that you would want to attend, should you not gain admission to more selective colleges.
School Profile: This is an overview of your high school’s program, grading system, course offerings, and other features that your school submits to admissions offices along with your transcript. For better or worse, admissions offices use this information to weigh your GPA, placing a student’s GPA against the academic reputation of the school she or he attends.
Selectivity: Selectivity is the degree to which a college or university admits or denies admission based on the individual student’s record of academic achievement. In general, a highly selective school admits 25% of applicants, a very selective school admits 26% to 49% of applicants, a selective school admits 50% to 75% of applicants and a school with open admission admits applicants based on space availability.
Transcript: This is the official document containing the record of a student’s academic performance and testing history. The school at which a student is or has been officially enrolled must issue the transcript, certified by the signature of an authorized school administrator. The school’s official seal or watermarked school stationery may also be used to authenticate the transcript.
Virtual Tour: This is an online feature offered by some colleges and universities to allow
prospective students to view various aspects of campus life without visiting the institutions in
person.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS
ACT: A two-hour-and-55-minute examination that measures a student’s knowledge and achievement in four subject areas -- English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning -- to determine the student’s readiness for college-level instruction. There is also an optional writing test that assesses students’ skills in writing an essay. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 for each of the four areas. The four subject area scores are averaged to create a Composite Score.
PSAT Test: This exam prepares students for the SAT and is used to qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship semifinals and other academic awards.
SAT: This is a widely used college entrance examination program. It is a 3-hour exam measuring verbal and mathematical skills,as well as grammar/conventions and the ability to write a brief essay. Students may earn a total of up to 1600 points on the three-hour exam (up to 800 points in each of the exam’s content areas: reading/writing/language and math).
TYPES OF POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
Art School (Arts College, Art Institute, Conservatory): An institution specializing in the visual, performing, and/or creative arts.
College: An institution of higher learning, often referred to as a “four-year” institution, which grants the bachelor's degree in liberal arts or science or both.
Community College: Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, technical colleges, or city colleges, are primarily two-year public institutions providing higher education and lower-level courses, granting certificates, diplomas, and associate's degrees. Many also offer continuing and adult education. After graduating from a community college, some students transfer to a four-year college or university for two to three years to complete a bachelor's degree.
Graduate School: Usually within universities, these schools offer degree programs beyond the BA degree.
Historically Black College: HBCUs are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community. There are 105 HBCUs today, including public and private, two-year and four-year institutions, medical schools and community colleges.
Liberal Arts College: A degree-granting institution where the academic focus is on developing the intellect and instruction in the humanities and sciences, rather than on training for a particular vocational, technical, or professional pursuit.
Private Institution: This is a college or university funded by private sources without any control by a government agency. The cost of attending a private institution is generally higher than a public institution.
Proprietary Institution: This is a term used to describe postsecondary schools that are private and are legally permitted to make a profit. Most proprietary schools offer technical and vocational courses.
Public Institution: A college or university that receives public funding, primarily from a local, state, or national government that oversees and regulates the school’s operations is considered a public institution.
University: A "post-secondary institution” that consists of a liberal arts college, a diverse graduate program, and usually two or more professional schools or faculties, and that is empowered to confer degrees in various fields of study.
Vocational or Technical School: This type of institution is similar to a community college in that it offers specific career-oriented programs that last from a few months to a couple of years. Most are specialized and offer intense training in one specific skill area.
Religion-Based Institution: These are colleges and universities established by and currently operating under the sponsorship of a church, synagogue, or mosque; a denomination; or a particular religion.
Single-Sex (or Single-Gender) College: This is a college that accepts either women only or men only.
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE TERMS
Acceptance: The decision by an admissions officer or committee to offer the opportunity for
enrollment as a student at a particular institution.
College Selection: The act of choosing and making the decision to enroll in and attend a particular higher-education program.
Deferred Admission: A category of admission used in conjunction with early (action, decision, notification, or acceptance) plans to indicate that a student has not been admitted early but will remain in the applicant pool for reconsideration during the review of applications for regular admissions.
Deferred Enrollment: This is a category of admission available at some institutions for fully accepted students who wish—for a justifiable reason—to take a semester or year off before enrolling in college.
Denial: The decision by an admissions officer or committee to not offer a student admission to a particular institution.
Early Action: Early action is when a prospective student applies for admission by early deadline (before the regular admission deadline) and receives notice of acceptance, denial, or deferment with no obligation to the university to enroll, if accepted for admission.
Early Admission: Through this program, qualifying high school juniors with outstanding academic records may forgo their senior year in high school and enroll in a college or university.
Early Decision: Through this program offered by many post-secondary schools, students willing to commit to a school if accepted submit their application by a date well before the general admission deadline. If accepted, the student must enroll in that school, so students should only apply Early Decision to their first choice school. That said, a student may only apply Early Decision to one school.
Gap-Year Programs: Year-long programs designed for high school graduates who wish to defer enrollment in college while engaging in meaningful activities, such as academic programs, structured travel, community service, etc.
Notification Date: The date by which applicants who are accepted for admission are expected to notify the institutions of their intent to enroll and make enrollment deposits. That date is often on or around May 1st.
Rolling Admissions: This is a practice used by some institutions to review and complete applications as they arrive, rather than according to a set deadline.
Waitlist: An applicant is put on the waitlist when an admissions officer or committee decides to offer the applicant the opportunity to enroll in the institution only if there is space available in the incoming class after fully admitted students have responded to their offers to enroll. This category of admissions is reserved for students whose profiles are strong, but who are marginally qualified in comparison to the overall strength of others in the pool of applicants.
TYPES OF POST-SECONDARY DEGREES
A.A.: This stands for an "associate of arts" degree, which can be earned at most two-year colleges.
A.A.S.: This refers to an "associate of applied science" degree, which can be earned at some two-year colleges. B.A. or B.S.: B.A. stands for "bachelor of arts," and B.S. stands for "bachelor of science." Both degrees can be earned at four-year colleges.
Graduate Degrees: These degrees are earned beyond the bachelor's degree when the student completes graduate school curriculum requirements. Common examples include the MA (master’s degree), PhD (doctoral degree) MBA (master’s degree in business administration), MD (medical doctor).
Certificates: In an economy that increasingly rewards specialization, more and more institutions are offering certification programs, typically a package of five or six courses, for credit or not, taken over three to 18 months. Some cost a few thousand dollars, others much more.