September always brings the UC and CSU conferences designed to keep me updated on what’s new in college preparation, planning and application. Throughout both conferences a common theme seemed to be woven – Solid academic planning is paramount to college admission.
The University of California has seen an increase in applications in recent years. They expect this trend to continue and for UC admission to become increasingly more competitive. What that means for students is to plan early to be a competitive applicant. Students who wish to gain admission to any of the nine UC campuses should enroll in rigorous course work during high school and excel in core subjects (Math, Science, Social Studies and English) all four years of high school. They are also advised to step up into leadership roles in activities and to increase the breadth of their high school experiences to be beyond the normal teenage routine. The University of California is looking for students who will contribute to the vitality of their campuses; high school leadership and activities are excellent evidence of potential for this.
The California State University system is equally dedicated to academic preparedness. Many presentations at the conference included a recommendation that high school seniors be enrolled in college prep math courses. Beginning next summer, applicants who did not meet minimal placement assessment in Math or English will be required to begin remedial work during the summer prior to their freshman year. Classes will be offered through local community colleges or on-line and there will be a significant fee for them. The CSU is now reaching impaction at several campuses. Out of the 23 campuses, only Bakersfield, Stanislaus, Cal Maritime Academy, East Bay, Channel Islands and Dominguez Hills are NOT impacted and admit all eligible applicants. The remaining 17 campuses admit students using a competitive selection index.
Private Universities and out-of-state schools admit applicants with a variety of formulas, but all of them expect students to show evidence of being able to do college level work when students arrive at their campuses. Specific admissions formulas are usually not available, but academic strength is usually a solid indicator to predict student success.
As seniors begin applying for Fall 2012, I encourage them to think of this as a threshold for their futures. It’s one of the most exciting times in a person’s life; a chance to plot a course for a future in a career or just to be an educated person.
