1. What Colleges Look For
(and Scholarship Committees)
EQ: What can I do to appeal to colleges and scholarship committees?

2. 1. Academics (G.P.A. and Class Rank)
Your GPA or Grade Point Average is comprised of all the grades you’ve earned on your high school transcript and averaged together. If you’re high school is on a “4 point system”, then a 4.0 would signify that you’ve earned all A’s in your respective courses.
Along with your GPA goes your Class Rank. Class Rank is loosely described as where you fit in when compared to other students in your graduating class using your GPA. For instance, if you have an overall GPA of 3.75/4.0 and your Class Rank is 50 out of 400 students, that means there are 49 other kids in your graduating class that have a better Grade Point Average than you do. So the higher the GPA you earn, the higher your Class Rank will be. (highest being #1 in your class).
Source :

3. 2. Test Scores (ACT/SAT)
Taken during your junior year, the ACT is probably the most important test for college entrance. Most schools work on what is called a “sliding scale” for admission. This basically means that the higher GPA/Class Rank you have, the lower the ACT Composite score you will need to gain admission. And, it works the other way also. The higher the ACT Composite score you earn, the lower the GPA/Class Rank you will be able to get away with and still get admitted. Keep in mind that all colleges differ with regard to how low of a GPA or ACT score you can get and still get accepted.
The average ACT composite score in California is 22.6 out of 36
The average SAT score is 1080.

4. UC Application Data Fall 2017 of Middle 25%-75% of students
Campus
Admit Rate
G.P.A.
ACT Composite Scores
SAT Reading & Writing Scores
SAT Math Scores
SAT Essay Scores
Berkeley
17%
4.15 – 4.30
Davis
44%
3.95 – 4.25
Irvine
37%
4.00 – 4.25
Los Angeles
16%
4.13 – 4.31
Merced
70%
3.4 – 3.91
Riverside
57%
3.6 – 4.04
San Diego
34%
4.04 – 4.28
Santa Barbara
33%
3.96 – 4.25
Santa Cruz
51%
3.70 – 4.13

5. Cal State Application Data Fall 2015
Campus
Admit Rate
Average G.P.A.
Average ACT Score
Average SAT Score
Bakersfield
62%
3.2
16.21 X
Channel Islands
3.19 21
994
Chico
79%
3.21
1013
Dominguez Hills
80%
3.0 17
851
East Bay
68%
3.1 19
1366
Fresno
60%
3.33
17-22
929
Fullerton
44%
3.48
1018
Humboldt
75% 23
1000
Long Beach
31%
3.43
18-24
Los Angeles
3.14 18
880
Maritime Academy
61%
3.36
21-27
Monterey Bay

6. Cal State Application Data Fall 2015 Continued
Campus
Admit Rate
Average G.P.A.
Average ACT Score
Average SAT Score
Northridge
75%
3.09 19
926
Pomona
53%
3.43 23
995
Sacramento
71%
3.25
17-23
985
San Bernardino
83%
3.22
16-20
894
San Diego
37%
3.6
22-26
1103
San Francisco
64%
3.14 21
997
San Jose
76%
3.28 X
San Luis Obispo
31%
3.88 27
1244
San Marcos
67%
3.18
Sonoma
80%
3.2
19-24
Stanislaus
93% 20
949

7. 3. Course Rigor
When colleges receive a transcript from you for evaluation, chances are they will want to see what courses you chose to take in college. Did you challenge yourself, or did you take relatively easy courses that you could get an easy A in? Colleges are looking for the students that challenged themselves in high school by taking Honors and/or Advanced Placement courses as opposed to lower level classes. Course rigor is important in demonstrating to your prospective college that you are capable of handling college level work. Those students who earning a high GPA, but didn’t take any challenging courses in high school run the risk of being denied admission based on their weak course selection. It does happen, so take the highest level courses in each subject area that you will get a B or better in. If you cannot earn at least a B, do not take the higher level course.

8. 4. Letters of Recommendation
Admissions officers rely on letters of recommendation to let them know how others view you. Be sure to pick your recommenders wisely. If your recommender doesn't know you that well, it will show through in his/her letter.

9. 5. College Admissions Essay/ Personal Insight Questions
The college admissions essay, or personal insight questions for the UC system, allows you to show your uniqueness to admissions officers. Counselors look for application essays that are honest and provide supplemental information.
Do not restate the information found on your transcript and application. Instead, write about your desires, your goals, special events in your life, community service, leadership, etc.

10. 5. Personal Insight Questions (for University of California)
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.  (350 Word Maximum) 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.  (350 Word Maximum)
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?  (350 Word Maximum)
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. (350 Word Maximum)

11. 5. Personal Insight Questions (for University of California)
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? (350 Word Maximum) 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. (350 Word Maximum) 7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?  (350 Word Maximum) 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? (350 Word Maximum)

12. 6. Extra Curricular Involvement/Community Service
Being involved outside of the classroom shows good initiative and time management skills. Colleges want to see that well-rounded student, not just top grades and scores. Being a member of a club or sports team is a great choice. But do your best to take it a step further. For instance, if you are a member of Student Council, consider running for an office such as Treasurer, Vice President or even President! The top colleges are looking for leaders, and what better way to show them that you are a leader than by holding office or running a club or activity. If sports is more your thing, strive to be named a team captain. This displays outstanding leadership and colleges love that when its combined with a solid academic background. The UC system is looking for 200+ hours of community service!

13. 7. Work and Entrepreneurial Experiences
Part-time work experience, an internship or summer job, even starting your own business can provide excellent essay material to showcase your maturity, initiative, work ethic as well as interpersonal and time-management skills

14. 8. Other Factors
There are numerous other factors that can play a role in the admissions decision including:
geographical diversity (students from places other than the communities surrounding the college)
legacy (your grandparents or parents attended the same university)
ethnic heritage
socio- economic background (colleges typically give more financial aid to less fortunate students)
first in family to go to college
ability to overcome adversity (death, single parent home, etc.)

15. Get IGETC
IGETC stands for Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum. It is a general education pattern which community college transfer students can use to fulfill lower-division general education requirements in either the CSU or UC system without the need, after transfer, to take additional lower-division general education requirements.

16. UC’s Old Comprehensive Review
Although UC schools don’t technically use this calculation anymore, each campus receives more than 10,000 applications and must use something similar in the “holistic review process.”

17. UC’s New Comprehensive Review (Since 2002)
Grade-Point Average
Test Scores (ACT or SAT)
Courses Completed/Planned
Honors, AP, & College Classes
Top 9% Local Context (ELC)
Quality of Senior-Year Program of Study (Rigor & Number for both semesters)
Academic Opportunities in California High Schools
Performance in 1 or More Academic Subject Areas
Achievements in Special Projects

18. UC’s New Comprehensive Review (Since 2002)
Improvement in Academic Performance (G.P.A & Quality Coursework)
Special Talents, Achievements, and Awards (leadership, significant community service project, job)
Participation in Educational Preparation Programs
Academic Accomplishment in Light of Life Experiences & Circumstances
Geographic Location

19. A-G Requirements

20. Colleges are Looking for the “Total Package”
5. Personal Insight Questions or College Admissions Essay
1. Academics
2. Test Scores
Extra Curricular
Involvement
3. Course Rigor
Work and Entrepreneurial
Experiences
Letters of
Recommendation
8. Other Factors

21. Types of College Degrees
Type of College: 4 Year College or University
Degrees Available: Doctoral Degree (i.e. PhD, Ed.D)
Average Completion Rate for Degree: 7-8 years
Graduate Degree
Type of College: 4 Year College or University
Degrees Available: Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.)
Average Completion Rate for Degree: 2-3 years
Type of College: 4 Year College or University
Degrees Available: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Average Completion Rate for Degree: 4-6 years
Undergraduate Degree
Type of College: Community College, Junior College, Trade School
Degrees Available: Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.)
Average Completion Rate for Degree: 2-3 years

22. College Entrance Game
4.0
3.6
3.1
2.9
4.2
3.2
2.8
3.5