Getting into college requires more than filling out an
application. It takes four years of a rigorous course load and
involvement in sports, clubs, leadership and the community.
Getting into college requires more than filling out an application. It takes four years of a rigorous course load and involvement in sports, clubs, leadership and the community.
This is what San Benito High School educators are impressing upon students – even those who aren’t enrolled yet.
“It’s important. Students need to know what the requirements are. They (colleges) want a well-balanced student with a leadership position and community service,” said Mark Conklin, SBHS senior class counselor.
Ninth, 10th and 11th graders are scheduling classes this week for next year and counselors will begin working with students at the middle schools Monday, Conklin said.
Counselors are trying to impress upon students how difficult it is to get accepted to a University of California or certain California State universities without an advanced and Advanced Placement course load in high school.
“The minimum is not going to get you in anymore,” Conklin said.
Beginning with 2001 applicants, the UC system began accepting and denying students based on the amount of advanced classes they took compared to how many were offered at their high school, Conklin said.
Each year, high schools submit a course list that states which classes are approved for admission into the UC system. The list also details what types of classes and how many advanced and AP classes each school offers.
Sixty percent of UC applications are run through an eligibility index – based on grade point average and SAT scores – and 40 percent are graded on a comprehensive review – looking at the essay and various high school activities, Conklin said. Applications are graded on a scale of one through seven.
“It’s more like a private school now,” Conklin said about the application process of UC schools. “… Students need to have a back-up plan.”
Colleges are now putting more emphasis on how many AP classes students take.
“AP classes give students the background to be successful,” Conklin said. “It used to be honors classes.”
Although more SBHS graduates go to CSU schools, UCs are more competitive, Conklin said. Tough UC schools to get into include Los Angeles and Berkeley. Competitive CSU schools include Long Beach State, Chico State, San Diego State and Cal Poly. Cal Poly has always been more like a UC, Conklin said.
Fall 2002 freshman data at Cal indicated how competitive the school is. The university received 36,461 applications and admitted 8,699 students. However, only 3,836 enrolled, according to the university.
Of the 142 SBHS students who enrolled at a four-year university from the class of 2002, an estimated two attended Cal. Those students took 14 and 15 advanced and AP classes each. At Cal Poly, 11 enrolled and they took between four and 13 advanced and AP classes.
Currently, SBHS offers 12 advanced and 11 AP classes.
One process students falsely rely on is that the top 4 percent of all California high schools automatically get into a UC school. What students do not realize is that this guarantee is for one UC campus – one that may not be on an applicant’s list of choices, Conklin said.
