TYPES OF UNIVERSITIES
University of Cailfornia
Nine undergraduate universities are part of this CA public system, with UC Berkeley being the closest and UC San Diego the furthest. Visit www.universityofcalifornia.edu for information pertaining to each campus, the majors offered, and for the application site. Applications are available Oct. 1, and can be submitted between Nov. 1-30. No transcripts or recommendation letters are needed. Four Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) are required. The UC system no longer requires the SAT Subject Tests for admission, however the most competitive majors on each campus (Engineering, Biology, etc.) have strong recommendations for students regarding these Subject Tests. Students will find the curriculum focusing on a strong informational foundation – and students often select areas for specialty and in-depth training during Graduate school. |
California State University
This 4-year public college system, known for hands-on, learn-by-doing teaching curriculum, using real world projects, has 23 campuses spread across the state. Explore pages on finances, campus facts and more at www.calstate.edu/. No recommendations or essays are required for admission and application period is Oct. 1 – Nov. 30. Each campus has different requirements regarding when they want to receive transcripts. Students are expected to be job-ready by graduation from a CSU. |
Private Schools
Private colleges and universities receive their funding through many different sources - endowments, tuition and generous donations from friends and alumni. Though often thought of as “expensive” alternatives to public campuses, their private funding sources allow them to offer scholarships or merit awards to students with attractive resumes and backgrounds, GPAs, test scores or a special talent. The reality for RHS students, however, is that only the highest tier students are likely to qualify for sufficient funding to make the private option viable. Less “red tape” is a benefit over public institutions and these campuses are often smaller and could be more diverse in student population, and afford students very close relationships with faculty members. This usually means more hands-on instruction for each of its students and more intimate class sizes, compared to public institutions, which regularly offer stadium seating for more popular courses. |
Out-of-State Public Colleges
Many public college campuses seek to draw out-of-state applicants to fill available seats and offer regional diversity. Admission to these campuses may be less academically competitive than popular CA colleges due to the smaller population of their state, and financial incentives may be offered to entice CA students to consider enrollment. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is the official name for this popular tuition reduction program - tuition is typically 150% of in-state tuition. A full explanation of the financial benefits and colleges that participate is available at www.wiche.edu/wue/students. (Keep in mind that students going out of state for college are not eligible for Cal Grants; out of state is usually a realistic option financially for only the highest tier students.) There are some great offerings and strong schools with spirited campuses - many with football teams to keep in mind if going out-of-state is an option for your student. Many popular non-WUE campuses will offer CA students who are stronger than the average incoming freshmen merit awards to attend, as well. |
Community College
The CA Community College system offers 112 campuses to make the first two years of a four-year college degree very accessible and much cheaper than taking classes at a typical 4-year college. Remedial courses are also available. Certificate programs, lasting under two years and targeting class work in a particular field of interest, like dental hygiene, computer technical support, or culinary arts, are also available. www.cccco.edu/ is the site to explore for information regarding Community Colleges. Check individual sites for EARLY REGISTRATION programs for graduating high school seniors in early spring – these, if offered, are for local students coming from high schools close to each community college. |