1. How to Get a Diploma and Go To College

2. Diploma Requirements 210 total credits A – G requirements needed for diploma 15 year-long courses C or higher required (colleges look for B’s) Health and PE still required (25 credits) 35 additional elective credits TO BE ON TRACK, YOU NEED ABOUT 55 CREDITS PER YEAR (ABOUT 25-30 PER SEMESTER)

3. The A-G Courses: Preparation for College! The A-G Courses: Preparation for College! The A-G requirements are 15 courses that students must complete to qualify for CSU and UC campuses. Starting with the class of 2016, LAUSD will include the A-G requirements in graduation requirements.

4. A: History & Social Science / Historia & Ciencias Sociales 2 Years Required / 2 Años Requeridos – World History & U.S. History / Historia del Mundo y Historia Americana

5. B.B. English Composition & Literature / Inglés Composición y Literatura 4 Years Required / 4 Años Requeridos – English 9, 10, 11, & 12 / Ingles 9, 10, 11, & 12

6. C. Mathematics / Matemáticas 3 Years Required / 3 Años Requeridos – Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II / Algebra I, Geometria, y Algebra II 4 Years Recommended / 4 Años Recomendados – Math Analysis and Calculus / Math Analysis & Calculos

7. D. Lab Science / Ciencias con Laboratorios 2 Years Required / 2 Años Requeridos – Biology and Chemistry or Physics / Biologia y Quimica o Fisica 3 Years Recommended / 3 Años Recomendados

8. E. World Language / Lengua extranjera 2 Years Required / 2 Años Requeridos. – Spanish 1 and 2 / Español 1 y 2

9. F. Visual & Performing Arts / Arte Visual 1 Year Required in sequence / 1 Año Requerido en secuencia – Drawing, Music, Theater, Digital Imaging / Dibujo, Música, Teatro, Imagen Digital, etc.

10. G. College Prep Electives / Electivos Preparativos 1 Year Required / 1 Año Requerido – Government & Economics (12 th Grade) / Gobierno y Economia (el Grado 12)

11. UC Doorways Check Santee’s list of A-G courses at the UC Doorways web site. UC Doorways

12. Grades Academic Rigor (AP classes) Standardized Test Scores (SAT / ACT) Meaningful essays Extracurricular Activities Teacher Letters of Recommendation WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR IN MATCH STUDENTS WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR IN MATCH STUDENTS

13. 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. * Going beyond the A-G requirements required by the UC and CSU systems.A-G * Taking AP classes

14. Turning A-G Into CSU/UC Readiness Turning A-G Into CSU/UC Readiness GPA requirement for UC (3.0) and CSU (2.0) GPA based on 10 th and 11 th grade only It usually takes at least a 2.6 GPA to get admitted! AP/Honors/CC courses give an extra GPA point For UC, students must complete 11 of the required A-G 15 courses by the end of their junior year

15. 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 Particular strength and exploration in particular content areas ACADEMIC RIGOR

16. 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.

17. UC A-G Guide

18. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 1. GetMeToCollege (Dr. Rebecca Joseph’s web site)GetMeToCollege 2. ImFirst.orgImFirst.org 3. ZinchZinch