As part of a series of posts, I’ll analyze each of the University of California’s (UC) 14 Comprehensive Review factors which admissions officers will apply to select their incoming first year and transfer classes. The first post can be reviewed here, and in this second post, the following factor will be examined:
Number of, content of and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum “a-g” requirements.
First, “A-G” requirements define the minimum academic qualifications, or set of courses, first year applicants must take during secondary school in order to be eligible for UC admissions. In seeking to understand the student’s academic qualifications for admissions and their interests, UC admissions officers review the courses a student chose to complete over and beyond the minimum A-G requirements.
Students can craft an academic schedule which reflects their intellectual interests, especially when their academic performance, or grades, reflect an aptitude. Although applicants are only required to take two years of the same Language Other Than English (LOTE), some take four years of the same LOTE, to demonstrate their interest in languages and cultures. By contrast, other applicants, who are artistic, may complete more than the minimum required one year of Visual and Performing Arts courses.
In order to make strategic course scheduling choices, students need to understand their interests that can arise through consistent reflection about their experiences, a process which is especially effective with an advisor’s guidance.
In my next post, I’ll analyze the criteria:
Scores on the ACT/ SAT if students choose to submit them (2021/2022)
Jill Yoshikawa EdM is meticulous in helping clients navigate all aspects of the educational experience, no matter the level of complexity. Contact her at jill@creativemarbles.com
