How High School Students with “Mixed” Academic Records Can Meet Admission Subject Requirements

Presentation Content

Using international secondary school courses to meet “a-g”

subject requirements

Starting Points• A student with mixed records presents records

from schools in both the United States and other countries.

• UC does not accept pass along credit from

international secondary school – will not accept U.S. high school’s interpretation.

• Applicants must report international academic courses exactly as they appear on their official secondary school record.

UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE September 2014

Accurate Self-Reporting of International Courses on the Admission Application

Pass along credit is a “no-no”


Report Courses & Marks exactly as they appear on the official secondary record

= area “b”

= area “e”

= area “c”

= area “d”

= area “d”

= area “d”

= area “a”

= area “a” or “g”

= area N/A

= area N/A

A-G Requirements

Each subject area requirement will be discussed with examples shown from real transcripts.


a. History/Social Science

If graduating from a U.S. high school:

• a year-long U.S. History course, or one semester of U.S. History and one semester of U.S. Government is required in addition to one year of World History/Geography/Cultures.

UC COUNSELOR CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 2014

Example: History/Social Science Courses


b. English- Language of Instruction in Composition & Literature

Use courses in composition and literature in the language of instruction for coursework outside of U.S. and use English courses for coursework completed in the U.S.

• If the student graduates from a California high school:

a non-ESL/ELD college prep English course is required in the senior year (a senior-year level course is not specifically required).


Example: Language of Instruction


c. Mathematics

Combinations of math courses in an integrated-style with single subject discipline courses are acceptable.

NOTE: Depending upon how the geometry material is covered, the combinations for some integrated programs may be different.

• UC provides guidance on acceptable combinations of courses.


Example: Mathematics

Geometry

Details about meeting area “c” and UC’s Geometry requirement


Meeting the Geometry Requirement with

Integrated-Style Math Courses All applicants must complete a Geometry course or a sequence of courses covering the equivalent of a full year of geometry concepts) with a letter grade of “C” or better to satisfy the math “c” subject requirement.

• Combinations of integrated-style mathematics

courses can fulfill the Geometry requirement.


d. Laboratory Science

If a student completes only part of an integrated-style science course sequence outside the U.S., the combinations may be used to satisfy the full area “d” subject requirement.


Example: Lab Science


e. Language other than the language of instruction (LOLI – aka foreign language)

Use the language of instruction beginning with the U.S. equivalent of sixth grade based on middle school transcripts.

• Generally, a bilingual student is considered to have met the “e” requirement and may choose not to enroll in courses in a language other than English.

Other options for satisfying area “e”:• Assessment by language faculty at college/university• Certification by the high school principal


Example: Language Other Than The Language of Instruction


f. Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)

A student who did not complete a yearlong VPA-type international course must complete a yearlong UC-approved VPA course.

• Online courses: UC does not accept online high school VPA courses. • College/university VPA online courses are acceptable.


Example: Visual and Performing Arts


Validation of Coursework: “Subject Omission”means validation of a lower-level course even if the lower-level course was not actually completed.

Validation of Grades: “Grade Deficiency” means validation of “D” and/or “F” grades in a lower-level course after completion of a higher-level course with a letter grade of C or better.


Validation of Geometry

Grade deficiency—yes

deficient grade 1st sem validated by 2nd sem grade

deficient grade 2nd sem validated by advanced math course

Omission—no

By exam—no

If no specifically named geometry course—integrated-style math courses with geometry content are acceptable


Repeating courses

Courses used to satisfy the minimum “a-g” requirements in which a

student earns D or F grades must be repeated with grades of C or

better to satisfy the subject requirement.

NEW: effective immediately, each “a-g” course in which a student

received a grade of “D” or “F” may be repeated as many times as

necessary until the first instance in which the student receives a grade

of “C” (or better). The repeated grade of “C” (or better) will be used

in calculating the GPA.


Repeating an academic year

Even if a student “repeats” an academic year, they must report their entire academic history.

Students cannot choose to exclude any courses/marks


English Proficiency Requirement

If the student has had less than 3 years of instruction in English, they must demonstrate English proficiency.


English ProficiencyProficiency can be demonstrated in any one of the following ways:

• Combined ACT English/Writing - score 24 or higher• SAT Writing - score 560 or higher• AP English Language and Composition or AP English Literature and Composition=score 3,4 or 5

• IB Standard Level exam English: Literature, or English: Language and Literature=score 6 or 7

• IB Higher Level exam English: Literature, or English: Language and Literature=score 5, 6 or 7

• TOEFL -score 80 or higher • IELTS - score 7 or higher

Examinations must be completed by December of the senior year of high school

& official scores must be submitted to UC by the following January.

Evaluation Tips/Tools


External Exams resultsStudent must report external exam results on the admission application.

After accepting an offer of admission, the student must submit the official external exam results to the UC campus.


Tips

• External agency evaluations are not considered/accepted by UC and can be costly for your students.

• Encourage students to obtain an official, sealed academic record/transcript as early as possible.

• UC very rarely makes exceptions for submitting official academic records/transcripts of international coursework.

• If your student reports difficulty with obtaining official records, encourage them to contact the Ministry of Education in the country for their records.

In Closing


Counselor Resources

Quick Reference for Counselors – September 2014Options for Satisfying A-G Subject Requirements

Validation Matrix

On website: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/downloadable-guides/index.html

Geometry Factsheet

To determine the language of instruction at the international school, try Google search

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/downloadable-guides/index.html

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/downloadable-guides/index.html


Student Resources

UC Admission Application

Additional Comments boxes

Explanation about Academic Record/History

Explanation of school calendar, grading system, external marks

Provide explanation of anything in the application they may be unclear

Future Questions:[email protected]

How High School Students with “Mixed” Academic Records Can Meet Admission Subject Requirements

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