Discover: College and Career Readiness

A high school student is considered college and career ready if they graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to either enroll and succeed in postsecondary education or join the workforce directly.

This means that your high school senior should be able to:

• Show that their knowledge meets grade-level standards
• Effectively use the "Four Cs": Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity.
• Recognize and manage their emotions, recognize other peoples’ emotions, make thoughtful decisions, and maintain positive relationships

While there is no perfect way to measure all of these areas, colleges use their application processes to try to see if students meet these requirements and are ready to succeed.

Courses Required for College Admission

The “a-g” requirements represent 15 courses that students must successfully complete during high school to be eligible to attend the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems. These courses are divided into 7 categories, labeled “a” through “g”.

The table below lists the minimum required number of years for each category; however, it is recommended that students complete more than the minimum due to the competitive number of applications these universities receive.

See more detailed admissions requirements for the California State University and University of California here:

California State University: Freshman Admission Requirements Links to an external site.
University of California: Freshman Requirements Links to an external site.

Note: Although private or out-of-state colleges may not necessarily use the a-g requirements, the requirements should be similar. If your child is applying to a specific school, be sure to check their applications for details.

College Admission Tests: The ACT and SAT

College admission tests or entrance exams are standardized tests that are used by some colleges and universities to evaluate students’ readiness for college coursework. While this requirement used to be common, more than 75% of colleges and universities have recently made their admissions “test-optional”, including the UC and CSU systems.[1] Some colleges will not consider these types of test scores at all to make decisions about who is admitted, but they may use them for “placement” (see “Placement Tests” below).

The most common college admission tests are the ACT and SAT:

American College Testing (ACT)

The ACT is the most widely accepted college entrance exam. English, reading, math, and science are assessed (writing is optional). The highest possible score is 36 points. For more information, go to www.act.org Links to an external site.. 

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

The SAT has two scores, each on a scale of 200-800: one for evidence-based reading and writing, and the other for math. The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors (11th grade) and seniors (12th grade). For more information, go to collegeboard.org Links to an external site.. 

Practice exams for either of these tests can be taken as early as 8th grade. Scores for these practice tests are not sent to colleges and are only used to help your child prepare for the actual scored tests.

Extracurricular Activities

Colleges and universities want to build a diverse and well-rounded community, so applications often ask about students’ experiences and activities outside of school (referred to as “extracurricular” activities).

There are many options to choose from, so work with your child to find activities they truly enjoy. Here is a list of ten common extracurricular activities and some of the benefits of each:

1. Student Government – builds leadership and responsibility
2. Academic Teams and Clubs – demonstrates a passion for learning
3. Culture Clubs – encourages diversity and acceptance of others
4. Athletics – builds teamwork, leadership skills, and physical fitness
5. Part-time Jobs – demonstrates commitment and the ability to manage priorities
6. Internships – builds work skills and demonstrates readiness for career paths
7. The Arts – develops creativity
8. Volunteer Work and Community Service – shows a value to give back
9. Religious Activities – develops values and discipline
10. Student Newspaper – builds language and writing proficiency

Placement Tests

Depending on the number of courses your child has completed in English Language Arts and Mathematics or the scores they have received on standardized tests, they may need to complete “placement tests” to determine what level of English and Mathematics courses they will be placed in once they enter college. These requirements and tests vary, so check college websites for more information.

CSU Early Assessment Program (EAP): When your child takes the CAASPP in grade 11, they will have the option to release their scores to the CSU system to help with their placement. They will receive an EAP score to show them how prepared they are for college-level coursework, which can also help you and your child see if they need extra learning support. This score does not affect whether or not your child will be admitted to a CSU.

If your child successfully applies to a school in the CSU system, their EAP results can be combined with their grades in English and math or science that they receive in their senior year to determine their placement. Learn more about the CSU EAP program here: csustudentsuccess.org/academic-preparation-overview Links to an external site.

--
Footnotes: [1] Accredited, 4-Year Colleges & Universities with ACT/SAT-Optional Testing Policies for Fall, 2022 Admissions [fairtest.org] Links to an external site.