Moving Towards Higher Education

FTHS Graduation Requirements and Qualifying for a UC College Education

Class Credits at FTHSSemester = 5 credits per class passedMost FTHS Classes are year-long

2 semesters = 10 credits per class7 classes = 70 credits per yearMust pass to earn FTHS credits

Passing is D- or higherMust be C or higher for UC/CSU A-G

Graduation requires completion of and passing grades in 230 credits allocated in a specific way (see list following)

How many credits can you take TOTAL if you take 7 classes per

year while at FTHS?

1 Semester (7 x 5) = 35

1 Year (7 x 10) = 70

9th – 12th = 4 ( 7 x 10 )

= 280 possible within regular school day

Graduation Required Credits4 years English – 1 year at each grade level (40)3 years math (30) - 4 years strongly recommended2 years science (20) – 10/physical and 10/life

All FTHS 11th grade students WILL BE enrolled in a science class

2 years PE (20) – may be 4 if testing not passed4 years social sciences (35 + 5 in health)

Geography (5- 9th) + Health (5)World History (10- 10th)US History and Geography (10- 11th)American Democracy (5-12th) & Economics (5- 12th)

1 year Applied Arts (10) -EDA meets this1 year Fine Arts (10)Electives (60)

How do VC classes add up?1 semester at VC = 1 year in high school credit

Depends on course, 1 credit VC = 3.33 at FTHS3 credits at VC = 10 credits at FTHS (1 year)Most PE @ VC = 1.5 credits = 1 semester at FTHSForeign language @ VC = 5 credits (1 ½ years at FTHS)

Use for a number of elective classesUse for languages other than SpanishPriority registration for FTHS studentsTalk to your counselor about classesPassed credits count as COLLEGE units and go on permanent college transcript……so be CAREFUL!!!

Summer SchoolAt VUSD, make SURE it is COLLEGE PREP levelOnly 1 full-year class can be made up through VUSD per summerFor COLLEGE applications, passing is a C or better!Make up failed classes before taking VC classes for fun!!!Enrichment at VC

Other Graduation RequirementsAttendance at FTHS for last semester before graduationCommunity Service Hours

75 total (minimum for 4 years at FTHS)

Educ in Dig Age classCalifornia High School Exit ExamIf I pass all my classes with okay grades, will the If I pass all my classes with okay grades, will the basic, minimum academic program at FTHS be basic, minimum academic program at FTHS be enough to get me into enough to get me into any college I wantany college I want??

Mr. Boyd says “Just try and get

in with a D in freshman English!!!

What it really takes to get in to a UC???

So…9th grade classes are not used in UC GPAnot used in UC GPACalculationCalculation… •they ARE countedfor A-G requirements if you earna grade of C or better•competition is VERY tough,any poor or, even, averagegrade could affect your chances

So…9th grade classes are not used in UC GPAnot used in UC GPACalculationCalculation… •they ARE countedfor A-G requirements if you earna grade of C or better•competition is VERY tough,any poor or, even, averagegrade could affect your chances

Subjects Requirements A-GA History/social science (2 years)A History/social science (2 years)B English (4 years)B English (4 years)C Math (3 years)C Math (3 years)

Recommend 4 yearsRecommend 4 years

D Lab Sciences (2 years)D Lab Sciences (2 years)Recommend 3 yearsRecommend 3 years

E Language (2 years)E Language (2 years)Recommend 3 yearsRecommend 3 years

F Arts (1 year)F Arts (1 year)G Approved Electives (1 year)G Approved Electives (1 year)

Academic Scholarship3.0 GPA = minimumminimum scholarship requirementGrades from 10th&11th A-G used for GPASubject Requirement – Regular Classes

A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0Pluses/minuses not used in UC GPA calculation7 of 15 A-G requirements must be taken 11th & 12th grade

Subject Requirement – Honors ClassesA=5, B=4, C=3 (C or better only count for weighting)Only 4 units (years) of honors/AP for weightingMust be taken in 10th, 11th, or 12th

No more than 2 units (years) counted from 10th grade honors/AP

A-E and/or any AP coursework

Side-by-Side Comparison4 years social sciences 4 years English 3 years math2 years scienceElectives (60 credits)

LanguagesArtsApproved Electives

2 years PE1 year Applied Arts1 year Fine Arts

A History/social science (2 years)B English (4 years)C Math (3 years)

Recommend 4 years

D Lab Sciences (2 years)Recommend 3 years

E Language (2 years)Recommend 3 years

F Arts (1 year)G Approved Electives (1 year)

UC approved courses atFoothill Tech HS

About UC Approved CoursesFoothill classes meeting A-G requirements are listed online and updated year-to-year7 of 15 A-G requirements must be taken 11th & 12th gradeNot all “honors” classes will be accepted for weighting in the UC GPA calculation

Check for “stars” on online listingQualify based on available levels of Honors/AP on campus – highest level gets extra “credit” in weighting

Not all courses count towards G requirementCheck for “blue diamonds” on online listing – these classes CANNOT be used for this requirement

Testing for College10th grade

PLAN or PSAT

11th grade ACT or SAT Reasoning (was I)SAT Subject (was II)

Choose 2 testsMust be from 2 different disciplinesExample: Chemistry and US HistoryNot example: Chemistry and Biology

12th gradeTake or retake SATs as needed3 chances www.collegeboard.com

SAT Reasoning (I)Scores 200-800 per test (max total 2400)Verbal, math and essay test taken, then scored separately, then added togetherNo scratch paper – 20 minute essayColleges see essay in addition to scoresHighest score in single seating is accepted for UC – may be different for CSU and private500 per test is considered average

SAT Subjects (II)Scores 200-800

Minimum of 2 tests taken

Scored separately

Highest score from any seating from each test

No re-taking same test for higher score

Subjects: English literature, foreign language, science or social studies, math

Test Scores and GPASAT Reasoning (I )= 800 or lower per test

2400 maximum = math + verbal + essay

SAT Subjects (II) = (800 or lower per test) x 2GPA affects minimum score needed for UC/CSU acceptance

If higher GPA, can score lowerIf lower GPA, must score higher

Changes, Updates and Trends

UC system designed for top 12.5% of high school graduates only

Class of 2003- 14.4% of high school graduates qualifiedThis is why went from 2.8 GPA to 3.0 GPA

Larger number of applications and budget cuts are combining to increase competition for spaces

To adjust back to top 12.5% figure, UC system DID increase admission qualifications

SAT requirements (test length, scores, etc.) change from year to year – so be on the look-out