Advising Prospective Freshmen

High School Preparation for University Work

Carefully planned high school coursework provides students with the best preparation for their undergraduate University studies, and allows for advanced preparation for their chosen field of study. Most important, students who master certain basic knowledge and skills in high
school substantially increase their chances of success at the University.

The foundation of UC eligibility is the completion of the high school courses required for admission: the "a-g" Subject Requirements. However, students should be advised to take courses beyond the minimum levels in reading, writing and mathematics in order to be adequately prepared for basic University courses that they may be expected to take in the freshman year.

A well-prepared student will have mastered the equivalent of four years of English
composition and literature with a focus on expository writing; four years of mathematics,
including a precalculus course in the senior year; two to three years of language other than English; two to three years of laboratory science; two or more years of history and social sciences; and one or more years of visual and performing arts.

Students should also give careful thought to the general field of study, and perhaps the specific major, they want to pursue at the University. If they are able to make this decision in advance, they can plan to take additional courses in high school related to the field.

Students should be advised to take courses beyond the minimum levels in reading, writing and mathematics in order to be adequately prepared for basic University courses, such as English composition and calculus, that they will be expected to take in the freshman year. A lack of basic preparation can cause problems for students who do not choose a major until after they enroll or for those who prepare for one major and decide subsequently to change to another.

Good study habits and skills are also essential for success at the University. These are developed in the more advanced courses in high school, but can also be gained in self-directed learning methods. University students are expected to know how to read a textbook effectively and master background material, how to take notes and how to plan a proper study schedule.

Senior-Year Program

The senior year should be used to prepare students for their first year at the University and should include honors and advanced courses, as well as courses that will strengthen overall preparation. A challenging, successfully completed senior-year program is a natural bridge between high school and University coursework in the intended major. A strong senior program will also strengthen a student’s chances for admission to the campus and program of choice.

Reading

Prospective University students need to develop the ability to read and understand scholarly publications. They will have to do more reading and more writing than in high school and will be required to learn more material in shorter periods of time. Students should be able to analyze what they read and question themselves about an author’s intentions, viewpoint, arguments and conclusions. Students should have experience reading commentaries and essays as well as textbooks. They should read a wide variety of other material — including literature, biography, nonfiction and criticism — in addition to what they are required to read in class. They should become familiar and comfortable with the conventions of standard English and with various writing strategies and techniques.

Writing

Prospective students must learn to write clearly and skillfully in English and to think
critically and analyze what they learn in class and in their reading, so that they can
present their ideas in an organized and persuasive manner. University students proficient in composition must be able to understand the assigned topic, select and develop a theme by argument and example, use words and sentences clearly and precisely, demonstrate an understanding of the rules of standard English, and punctuate and spell correctly.

Mathematics

A number of fields of study require preparation in mathematics beyond the three
years required for University admission. All majors in engineering and the physical,
mathematical and life sciences include courses in calculus, as do programs leading
to professional degrees in medicine, dentistry, optometry and pharmacy. Many
majors in the social sciences, business and agriculture require statistics and/or calculus.
The recommended four years of high school mathematics should include basic operations with numerical and algebraic functions; operations with exponents and radicals; linear equations and inequalities; polynomials and polynomial equations; functions and their graphs; trigonometry,
logarithms and exponential functions; and applications and word problems. Most UC students take calculus or statistics, if required, during the freshman year. Students who are not prepared to do so will have to take one or more preparatory mathematics classes at the University.

Laboratory Science

The University requires two years of laboratory science in high school, but many majors require more. Programs in the biological sciences and some natural resource fields require high school biology, chemistry and physics. Programs in the physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, agriculture and the health sciences require chemistry and physics, and recommend biology.