1. Moving Towards Higher Education FTHS Graduation Requirements and Qualifying for a UC College Education

2. Class Credits at FTHS Semester = 5 credits per class passed Most FTHS Classes are year-long 2 semesters = 10 credits per class 7 classes = 70 credits per year Must pass to earn FTHS credits Passing is D- or higher Must be C or higher for UC/CSU A-G Graduation requires completion of and passing grades in 230 credits allocated in a specific way (see list following)

3. How many credits can you take TOTAL if you take 7 classes per year while at FTHS? 1 Semester (7 x 5) = 35 1 Year (7 x 10) = 70 9 th – 12 th = 4 ( 7 x 10 ) = 280 possible within regular school day

4. Graduation Required Credits 4 years English – 1 year at each grade level (40) 3 years math (30) - 4 years strongly recommended 2 years science (20) – 10/physical and 10/life All FTHS 11 th grade students WILL BE enrolled in a science class 2 years PE (20) – may be 4 if testing not passed 4 years social sciences (35 + 5 in health) Geography (5- 9 th ) + Health (5) World History (10- 10 th ) US History and Geography (10- 11 th ) American Democracy (5-12 th ) & Economics (5- 12 th ) 1 year Applied Arts (10) -EDA meets this 1 year Fine Arts (10) Electives (60)

5. How do VC classes add up? 1 semester at VC = 1 year in high school credit Depends on course, 1 credit VC = 3.33 at FTHS 3 credits at VC = 10 credits at FTHS (1 year) Most PE @ VC = 1.5 credits = 1 semester at FTHS Foreign language @ VC = 5 credits (1 ½ years at FTHS) Use for a number of elective classes Use for languages other than Spanish Priority registration for FTHS students Talk to your counselor about classes Passed credits count as COLLEGE units and go on permanent college transcript… …so be CAREFUL!!!

6. Summer School At VUSD, make SURE it is COLLEGE PREP level Only 1 full-year class can be made up through VUSD per summer For COLLEGE applications, passing is a C or better! Make up failed classes before taking VC classes for fun!!! Enrichment at VC

7. Other Graduation Requirements Attendance at FTHS for last semester before graduation Community Service Hours 75 total (minimum for 4 years at FTHS) Educ in Dig Age class California High School Exit Exam If I pass all my classes with okay grades, will the basic, minimum academic program at FTHS be enough to get me into any college I want?

8. Mr. Boyd says “Just try and get in with a D in freshman English!!! What it really takes to get in to a UC??? So…9 th grade classes not used in UC GPA are not used in UC GPA Calculation Calculation… they ARE counted for A-G requirements if you earn a grade of C or better competition is VERY tough, any poor or, even, average grade could affect your chances So…9 th grade classes not used in UC GPA are not used in UC GPA Calculation Calculation… they ARE counted for A-G requirements if you earn a grade of C or better competition is VERY tough, any poor or, even, average grade could affect your chances

9. Subjects Requirements A-G A History/social science (2 years) B English (4 years) C Math (3 years) Recommend 4 years D Lab Sciences (2 years) Recommend 3 years E Language (2 years) Recommend 3 years F Arts (1 year) G Approved Electives (1 year)

10. Academic Scholarship minimum 3.0 GPA = minimum scholarship requirement Grades from 10 th &11 th A-G used for GPA Subject Requirement – Regular Classes A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0 Pluses/minuses not used in UC GPA calculation 7 of 15 A-G requirements must be taken 11 th & 12 th grade Subject Requirement – Honors Classes A=5, B=4, C=3 (C or better only count for weighting) Only 4 units (years) of honors/AP for weighting Must be taken in 10 th, 11 th, or 12 th No more than 2 units (years) counted from 10 th grade honors/AP A-E and/or any AP coursework

11. Side-by-Side Comparison 4 years social sciences 4 years English 3 years math 2 years science Electives (60 credits) Languages Arts Approved Electives 2 years PE 1 year Applied Arts 1 year Fine Arts A History/social science (2 years) B English (4 years) C Math (3 years) Recommend 4 years D Lab Sciences (2 years) Recommend 3 years E Language (2 years) Recommend 3 years F Arts (1 year) G Approved Electives (1 year) UC approved courses at Foothill Tech HS

12. About UC Approved Courses Foothill classes meeting A-G requirements are listed online and updated year-to-year 7 of 15 A-G requirements must be taken 11 th & 12 th grade Not all “honors” classes will be accepted for weighting in the UC GPA calculation Check for “stars” on online listing Qualify based on available levels of Honors/AP on campus – highest level gets extra “credit” in weighting Not all courses count towards G requirement Check for “blue diamonds” on online listing – these classes CANNOT be used for this requirement

13. Testing for College 10 th grade PLAN or PSAT 11 th grade ACT or SAT Reasoning (was I) SAT Subject (was II) Choose 2 tests Must be from 2 different disciplines Example: Chemistry and US History Not example: Chemistry and Biology 12 th grade Take or retake SATs as needed 3 chances www.collegeboard.com

14. SAT Reasoning (I) Scores 200-800 per test (max total 2400) Verbal, math and essay test taken, then scored separately, then added together No scratch paper – 20 minute essay Colleges see essay in addition to scores Highest score in single seating is accepted for UC – may be different for CSU and private 500 per test is considered average

15. SAT Subjects (II) Scores 200-800 Minimum of 2 tests taken Scored separately Highest score from any seating from each test No re-taking same test for higher score Subjects: English literature, foreign language, science or social studies, math

16. Test Scores and GPA SAT Reasoning (I )= 800 or lower per test 2400 maximum = math + verbal + essay SAT Subjects (II) = (800 or lower per test) x 2 GPA affects minimum score needed for UC/CSU acceptance If higher GPA, can score lower If lower GPA, must score higher

17. Changes, Updates and Trends UC system designed for top 12.5% of high school graduates only Class of 2003- 14.4% of high school graduates qualified This is why went from 2.8 GPA to 3.0 GPA Larger number of applications and budget cuts are combining to increase competition for spaces To adjust back to top 12.5% figure, UC system DID increase admission qualifications SAT requirements (test length, scores, etc.) change from year to year – so be on the look-out