Introduction:

Did you know some colleges and universities have their own academic requirements for admissions? It might not be enough to just graduate from high school - some colleges will expect students to complete additional coursework while still in high school. Students need to be informed about all the requirements for college admission. Let’s take a deeper dive into the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems, which have unique requirements to be eligible for admission.

Loper recently spoke with Guadalupe Sanchez, an Outreach Specialist from UC Scout about their efforts to support students accessing A-G approved courses. A-G courses are the set of courses required for admission as a freshman to the UC or CSU system. Guadalupe shared that UC Scout offers a range of A-G and AP approved courses designed to meet the California academic and eligibility standards for the UC and CSU systems. By offering flexible online courses, UC Scout helps students gain access to required courses, get ahead, and achieve their higher education goals. Here’s our conversation.

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Conversation:

Can you tell us a little bit about what those requirements are in general and for the CSU and UC systems?

College admission requirements can vary depending on the institution, but generally, they include completing certain high school courses. For the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems, required courses for admission are known as the "A-G" requirements, and they include subjects such as History, English, Math, and Science.

While high school graduation requirements vary by state and school district, they often may not include all of the A-G courses required for CSU and UC admission. This is why it's important for students to start planning for college early and make sure they are taking the necessary courses to meet college admission requirements.

How does UC Scout help students with A-G completion?

UC Scout offers a variety of A-G approved courses that can help students become eligible for the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems. Our courses are designed to meet the rigorous standards of these systems, and we offer support to help students succeed. In our On Demand plan, we have experienced California credentialed teachers who are available to answer questions, provide feedback, and meet with students virtually for personalized support.

Students can access our On Demand courses through our website at ucscout.org. We offer 65 A-G approved and 26 AP self-paced, asynchronous online courses that are convenient and flexible. Students can take On Demand classes three times during the year: in the fall, spring or summer terms.

In addition to On Demand courses that UC Scout provides directly to students, does UC Scout also work with school districts to provide curriculum?

Absolutely! Through our Plus plan, we offer our curriculum 100% free to California public schools and at a low cost to private and out of state schools. This includes all of the materials needed to teach any of our 65 courses, such as assignments, quizzes, tests, grading rubrics, and answer keys. Everything that a teacher needs to teach a course is provided, including access to our Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas, which allows teachers to connect with their students in an online classroom.

In addition to our credit-bearing courses, we also offer the Basic plan for both students and teachers. The Basic plan is a non-credit bearing opportunity that allows students to access video lectures for self-study, preparation for AP exams, or to learn for fun. For teachers, the Basic plan provides access to video lectures and the full course curriculum to support their instruction. The Basic plan is free for California public schools and students, and offered at a low cost to private and out of state schools.

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Conclusion:

UC Scout is a great resource for students, families, and counselors, and Loper commends their commitment to helping students succeed and achieve their dreams of higher education. If you have any further questions or would like to learn more about UC Scout, please don't hesitate to connect with us at ucscout.org or contact our outreach team at ucscoutoutreach@ucsc.edu.

It is important for students to research the specific requirements for colleges and universities – the US and CSU systems are not unique in having their own admissions requirements. For the CSU and UC systems, students must meet the A-G requirements in order to be eligible for admission. So whether you have a student looking for AP courses not offered at your school site or a teacher seeking curriculum resources to facilitate instruction, consider UC Scout as a potential resource.

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