2015-2016 Catalog > Undergraduate Admissions and Graduation > Undergraduate Admission Requirements > High School Preparation

High School Preparation

To be eligible for admission to the university as a freshman an applicant must be a high school graduate or equivalent. A high school record that demonstrates achievement in the most challenging academic course work available is the best single predictor of academic success. Beginning freshmen must submit an official high school transcript before classes begin in order to verify graduation and completion of required courses.

The minimum high school units required for admission include:

1. Language Arts
   Required: Four units of English
2. Science
   Required: Three units of science to include at least one unit of Chemistry or Physics
   Strongly recommended: Three units of laboratory science including Chemistry and Physics.
3. Foreign Language
   Required: Two units in a single language effective fall semester 2001.
4. Mathematics
   Required: Three units at the level of Algebra I or higher.
   Strongly recommended: Students planning to enter scientific, engineering and similar technical fields are advised to take at least four units of math in preparation for entering the first university calculus course in their first semester at the university.
5. Social Studies
   Required: Three units
6. Electives
   Required: Additional courses in the areas above and/or in fine arts and/or computer science to satisfy high school graduation requirements

High School Rank in Class and SAT (ACT) Score

1. An applicant who graduates from an accredited high school in one of the two years preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying for admission and who has a grade point average in the top 10 percent of the applicant’s high school graduating class will be admitted automatically (subject to applicable enrollment limit). SAT (ACT) scores must be submitted.
2. An applicant who does not qualify for admission under item A but meets the following criteria also qualifies for regular admission:

Home schooled students:  Requirements for home schooled students entering as freshmen are as follows:

1. SAT or ACT test scores.
2. THEA, if applicable.
3. HS transcript or GED scores.

Additional Criteria

In addition to the current university requirements for admission, applicants must also have either: successfully completed the curriculum requirements for the recommended or advanced high school program or its equivalent; or satisfied ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks on the ACT assessment application to the applicant, or earned on the SAT assessment a score of at least 1500 out of 2400 or the equivalent.

The above requirement may be satisfied if the applicants official high school transcript or diploma states that the applicant completed the portion of the recommended or advanced curriculum or its equivalent that was available to the applicant, but was unable to complete the remainder of the curriculum solely because courses necessary to complete the remainder were unavailable to the applicant at the appropriate times in the applicant's high school career as a result of course scheduling, lack of enrollment capacity, or another cause not within the applicant's control.

An applicant may be given additional consideration based upon an evaluation of the individuals' involvement and level of responsibility in extracurricular activities; involvement in responsible non-academic affairs while attending high school, including employment and family responsibilities; status as a first general college student; English not first language; and socioeconomic background.