We encourage all of our students to plan to attend college or enter a formal training program after high school graduation. Minimum entrance requirements vary, depending on the selected training program, college or university. Students are responsible for knowing the entrance requirements for the institutions to which they intend to apply.
Our University Pathway is designed to prepare students for the rigor and academic challenges at the four-year university level. In addition to the fifteen core requirements students must take advanced algebra, a second year of world language in the same language used to complete the core requirement, a second year of laboratory science and any other college preparatory elective needed to meet the minimum entrance standards for the UC/CSU system. Courses must be passed with a “C” or better to qualify as meeting the a-g requirements.
The a-g requirements noted below are submitted by the Regents of the University of California:
a. Two years of history-social science, which are to include one year of world history, culture and geography, and one year of US history or one half year of US history and one half year of civics or American government,
b. An English class every semester of every year for four years (no more than one year of ESL courses can be used to meet this requirement)
c. A mathematics class every semester of every year for three years, including elementary and advanced algebra and geometry. (Four years are recommended)
d. Two years of a laboratory science beyond the ninth grade in at least two of these three foundational subjects: biology, chemistry and physics. (Three years are recommended)
e. Two years of the same language other than English (Three years are recommended)
f. One year long course from a single discipline in the visual arts or performing arts.
g. One year of a college preparatory elective in addition to those required in “a-f” above.
To gain admission to a four-year college, students must also take and submit scores from either the SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests, or the ACT (college entrance exams). Both tests are offered several times during the year at various school sites. Students are encouraged to take the PSAT/NMSQT, (preliminary SAT), in their sophomore or junior year and the SAT at least once in their junior year so they have scores when applying for college in the first semester of their senior year. For information about testing dates and deadlines contact the Counseling Center at your high school. You can find more information about SAT's at www.collegeboard.com, and about ACT’s at www.actstudent.org.
Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) provides opportunities for students to earn associate degrees, complete the requirements to transfer to a four year college or complete career certification in a wide variety of industry areas. Students are encouraged to take placement tests for the California Community Colleges. These tests determine the level of English, Math and Chemistry for student enrollment. For information about testing dates and deadlines at SRJC, consult the website at www.santarosa.edu or the Counseling Center at your high school.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses allow students to complete college level work and get enhanced grade points in high school. These courses are more demanding than regular high school courses and may require some summer preparatory work. At the conclusion of an AP course, students have the opportunity to take the corresponding AP exam, for which the student may earn college credit with a qualifying score of 3 or better. For more information about the benefits of AP courses and exams, students should consult with the AP instructor or their school counselor.
FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANT AND LOANS AVAILABLE TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF COLLEGE.
INFORMATION ON FINANCING YOUR COLLEGE EDUCATION IS AVAILABLE IN THE COUNSELING CENTER OR FROM THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AT THE INSTITUTION TO WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING TO ATTEND.