This document provides an overview of the A-G requirements that California students must complete to qualify for the Cal State and UC university systems. It outlines the specific course requirements across 7 subject areas: history, English, math, lab science, foreign language, visual and performing arts, and a college prep elective. It emphasizes taking rigorous courses, continuing to increase academic challenge through high school, and using options like community college classes to fulfill requirements. Contact information is provided for the author to learn more about preparing for and applying to college.

1. THE A-G REQUIREMENTS:
A COLLEGE READINESS
PRIMER
Dr. Rebecca Joseph
rjoseph@calstatela.edu

2. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Iphone and Ipad application
 All College Application Essays
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org/hs (focus on first
generation and under-represented students)

3.  Grades
 Academic Rigor (including senior
year)
 Standardized Test Scores
 Strong applications
 Great essays
 Counselor Reports
 Extracurricular Activities
 Teacher Letters of Recommendation
 Other Unique Features
WHAT COLLEGES
LOOK FOR IN MATCH STUDENTS

4. GRADES
 Grades are the best predictor of how well a
student will do in college.
 Colleges look for students who
demonstrate
 Continuous strong performance
 Upward progression in performance
 Particular academic strengths
 Exceeding basic admissions requirements.
For example, in California, going beyond
the A-G requirements required by the UC
and CSU systems.
For top privates, taking advanced classes
in and out of high school.

5. What Are the A-G Requirements
 The A-G Requirements are a sequence of high
school courses, GPAs, and grades that students
must complete to qualify for the Cal State and
UC campuses.
 Starting with the freshman (9th graders) class of
2013, LAUSD will now use the A-G requirements
as their graduation requirements.
 Older classes will be held to LAUSD’s former
requirements.

6. A. History/Social Science – 2 years required
Two years of history/social science, including
one year of world history, cultures and geography, one year of
U.S. history, or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year
of civics or American government.
B. English – 4 years required
Four years of college-preparatory English. No more than one
year of high ESL-type courses can be used to meet this
requirement.
C. Mathematics – 3 years required, 4 years
recommended.
Algebra 2 is minimum for Cal States and UCs.
Three years of college-preparatory mathematics that include the
topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two-
and three-dimensional geometry. Approved integrated math
courses may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement, as
may math courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades that
your high school accepts as equivalent to its own math courses.
A-G Requirements

7. D. Laboratory Science – 2 years required, 3 years
recommended
Two years of laboratory science providing fundamental
knowledge in at least two of these three foundational subjects:
biology, chemistry and physics. Advanced laboratory science
classes that have biology, chemistry or physics as
prerequisites and offer substantial additional material may be
used to fulfill this requirement, as may the final two years of an
approved three-year integrated science program that provides
rigorous coverage of at least two of the three foundational
subjects.
E. Language Other than English – 2 years required, 3
years recommended
Two years of the same language other than English. Courses
should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include
instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition and
culture. Courses in languages other than English taken in the
seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part of this
requirement if your high school accepts them as equivalent to
its own courses. Foreign students who receive 800 on SAT II
foreign language or approved AP score can test out of
language requirement. One year of sign language at a
community college also can count.
MORE A-G REQUIREMENTS

8. F. Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) – 1 year required
A single yearlong approved arts course from a single VPA
discipline: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art. dance,
drama/theater, music or visual art.
G. College-Preparatory Electives – 1 year required
One year (two semesters), in addition to those required in "a-f"
above, chosen from the following areas: engineering,
technology, visual and performing arts (non-introductory level
courses), history, social science, English, advanced
mathematics, laboratory science and language other than
English (a third year in the language used for the "e"
requirement or two years of another language).
MORE A-G REQUIREMENTS

9. A-G Requirements
 All the classes just listed.
 No Ds or lower in any A-G class.
 ELLS must pass four years of high
school English. ESL 4 counts as 9th
grade English.
 Each school has a school specific list of
A-G classes.
 Check your school or district list:
 https://doorways.ucop.edu/list/app/hom
e;jsessionid=6D7C506FEA5112007248
22855FEADC49?execution=e1s1

10. TOO FEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO
GRADUATES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A 4-YEAR
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY
35%
59%
41%
27% 26%
39%
29%
43%
31%
41%
74%
89%
83%
59%
68%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
All Asian White African-
American
Latino
HighSchoolGraduationRate
High School and A-G Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity, 2009-
10
HS Grads
NOT Meeting
A-G
Requirements
HS Grads
Meeting A-G
Requirements

11. ACADEMIC RIGOR
Colleges look at
 How difficult each student’s course load is
compared to academic options offered at
school
 Whether students keep up rigorous schedules
and/or drop too many core classes as they go
up in grades
 Academic reputation of school
 Particular strength and exploration in
particular content areas
ACADEMIC RIGOR

12. SO…
 Take the most challenging courses possible while keeping
grades as high as possible.
 Make a four year plan and make sure all your classes
count.
 Take honors and AP classes in stronger content areas if
planning to apply to top colleges.
 Continue to increase rigor in higher grades.
 Most colleges, including the UCs and Cal States, do not
accept Ds in any A-G classes.
 Do not drop core content in junior or senior year.
 Use summers for advancement and enrichment, not just
for fulfilling high school graduation requirements.
 Understand that colleges will compare student academic
choices to those offered at school.
 If foreign language is a struggle, consider sign language.
One year at community college equals two years for CSU
and UCs and many colleges.

13. NEW UC Admissions
policies…
1. California students are guaranteed
admission if: You rank in the top 9 percent of
California high school students, according to
our 2012 admissions index. To see the
index, http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/ad
missions/freshman/applying-fall-2012/2012-
admissions-index/index.html
2. You rank in the top 9% of students at your
high school. We refer to this as "Eligible in
the Local Context" (ELC).
3. You take 11/15 A-G courses before senior
year.

14. Academic Advancement
 If you run out of classes at your high school, take classes
at your local community colleges. High school students
get AP credit for these classes. Taking advanced
classes impresses colleges, and they are free (except for
fees and books). If you have time, also take community
college or state university classes in areas that interest
you such as Psychology or Art History. Consider taking
English 101 to enhance your reading and writing skills.
 Note community colleges are cutting back so sign up as
early as you can or look to take classes at local four year
university.
 Find other academic programs, such the UC Cosmos
program for science, to advance, deepen, or expand your
academic interests. For example, here is a list of
programs for students interested in math.
http://www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html
http://www.petersons.com/summerop/specnote.asp
 Free online classes through MIT and Stanford.
 If you need to retake a class because of a low
grade, consider Brigham Young online. Please clear low
grades early. Don't wait until your senior year. Get this
approved from your school first.
http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/courses/highschool.cfm

15. UC A-G Guide
http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/

16. Making Up Classes
 Take classes through adult schools.
 Take classes through summer school.
 Take classes by adding another class to school year
schedule.
 Take classes online.
 Some free or very low cost providers of online classes-
Check at your high school.

17. Validation
 Validation occurs to help with certain math and foreign
language issues.
 If you’re not sure, check this website.
 http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/q-
and-a/validation/
 http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/
CC11_SatisfyingA-G_final.pdf

18. Validation

19. Sample Transcript
http://collegetools.berkeley.edu/popups
/transcript_mrkd.htm

20. It’s Time To Meet Colleges
Search out NACAC College Fairs.
NACAC College Fair
Pasadena Convention Center
Thursday, April 25
9-12; 6-9 p.m.
Hundreds of colleges and dozens of free workshops.
http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/SpringNCF/Pages/default.aspx
Cash for College and The Hispanic Scholarship Fund do fall
conventions. Many of other free workshops are offered around the
area.

21. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM
HERE?
1. UC admissions fact sheets
http://statfinder.ucop.edu/default.aspx
2. New York Times. College admissions articles and new blog
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/
3. College Board-SAT
http://www.collegeboard.com
5. ACT
http://www.actstudent.org
6. My Website
http://www.getmetocollege.org/hs
7. National Association of College Admissions Counselors
(NACAC)
http://www.nacacnet.org/StudentResources/CollegePrep/Page
s/default.aspx

22. COLLEGE READINESS
IS
NOT A GAME!

23. TO LEARN MORE
 Email
 rjoseph@calstatela.edu
 Phone
 323-646-5759
 Facebook
 Getmetocollege Freeadvice
 Iphone and Ipad application
 All College Essays
 Twitter
 @getmetocollege
 Website
 getmetocollege.org/hs (focus on first generation
and under-represented students)