Are there secondary school course requirements for admission?
Is it to a student's advantage to take advanced, accelerated or honors courses?
Must a student have certain grades or marks to be considered for admission?
Does Harvard rank secondary schools in the U.S. and abroad?
What if a student has attended more than one secondary school?
Which standardized tests does Harvard require?
How do I report my test scores?
Are there minimum required SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test scores?
Which SAT Subject Tests should students take?
Does Harvard consider scores from previous administrations of the SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Test?
If a student takes the required tests more than once, which results does Harvard consider?
Which teachers should write recommendations?
Should students send supplementary recommendations?
Is there a personal interview?
How can I request a fee waiver?
How can I pay my application fee?
Can I get a receipt for my application fee?
What kind of admissions criteria does Harvard use?
How important are extracurricular activities in admissions decisions?
Does Harvard admit students to enter in the spring semester?
Are there quotas for certain kinds of applicants?
Are a student's chances of admission enhanced if a relative has attended Harvard?
Is there a separate admissions process for prospective athletes?
May admitted students defer their matriculations at Harvard?
There is no single academic path we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous secondary school curricula available to them. An ideal four-year preparatory program includes four years of English, with extensive practice in writing; four years of math; four years of science: biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects; three years of history, including American and European history; and four years of one foreign language.
Yes. Although schools provide different opportunities, students should pursue the most demanding college-preparatory program available.
The Admissions Committee recognizes that schools vary by size, academic program, and grading policies, so we do not have rigid grade requirements. There is no single academic path we expect all students to follow, but the strongest applicants take the most rigorous secondary school curricula available to them. We do seek students who achieve at a high level, and most admitted students rank in the top 10-15% of their graduating classes.
We have worked hard for many years to learn about schools in the U.S. and around the world. Our careful study of different schools, curricula, and educational systems benefits, too, from information we receive directly each year from schools, extensive personal communication we have with school personnel, and the interview reports we receive from our alumni/ae, who meet thousands of applicants to the College each year. We can always learn more, so we welcome information students think might be helpful to the Admissions Committee in understanding their accomplishments in their school communities.
No. While we understand there are differences in the overall strengths of secondary schools, we are most interested in how well applicants have taken advantage of available resources.
We ask students to provide Secondary School Reports from the college counselor of each school they have attended in their last two years of secondary school.
Yes. We value any information that helps us form a complete picture of an applicant's academic interests and strengths.
Harvard requires applicants to submit the results of either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT with writing component. All applicants, must also submit the results of two SAT Subject Tests. The Admissions Committee continues to consider test results in light of students' educational opportunities.
Please note that in order for your application to be considered complete,we must have your official test scores submitted directly to Harvard by the testing agency on your behalf.
Directions for sending your official scores to the admissions office can be found atwww.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/scores/sending.html for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests and www.actstudent.org/scores/send/ for the ACT. Harvard College official codes are 3434 for the SAT and 1840 for the ACT.
Applicants can use the Application Status Website to check whether we have official scores on file.
If we do not receive your official scores from the testing agency, we will be unable to make a decision on your file. Please plan accordingly.
Harvard does not have clearly defined, required minimum scores; however, the majority of students admitted to the College represent a range of scores from roughly 600 to 800 on each section of the SAT Reasoning Test as well as on the SAT Subject Tests. We regard test results as helpful indicators of academic ability and achievement when considered thoughtfully among many other factors.
To satisfy our application requirements, applicants must take two SAT Subject Tests. Students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics to meet this requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English should ordinarily not use a Subject Test in their first language to meet the two Subject Tests requirement. . Applicants may wish to convey the breadth of their academic interests by taking tests in different subjects. All students are encouraged to submit additional Subject Tests (which may include one in a student’s first language), Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test results, or any other evidence of the breadth and depth of their academic accomplishments.
Yes.
We consider a student's best test scores, but it is generally our experience that taking tests more than twice offers diminishing returns.
Teachers who know the applicant well and who have taught him or her in academic subjects (preferably in the final two years of secondary school) most often provide us with the most valuable testimony.
While we can make careful evaluations with required recommendations, we are happy to read helpful letters from people directly familiar with applicants' lives outside the classroom. Such letters are not necessary, however, and it is generally advisable to submit no more than two or three.
When and where possible, we try to arrange for applicants to meet with alumni/ae in or near their school communities. No candidate is at a disadvantage if an interview cannot be arranged. In the U.S., Canada and the U.K., an alumnus/a will contact an applicant directly by phone, email, or letter if such an interview is possible. If you live outside these areas, please check our website for country-specific instructions.
If paying the $75 fee would cause undue financial hardship for your family, we encourage you to request a fee waiver. You should contact your guidance counselor for assistance in obtaining the waiver. Information on the College Board fee waiver program is available athttp://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/922.html. Your counselor may use the College Board form, or your school’s own form. If no form is available, your counselor may choose to write a personal letter testifying that he or she is familiar with your family’s financial circumstances and believes payment would cause hardship.
If you submit a form signed by authorized school personnel, you can assume it will be accepted. If we have any questions, we will contact you.
The $75 application processing fee can be paid online through the online application system (either theCommon Application or the Universal College Application). Please note that the Common Application and Universal Application websites are operated independently, and their respective offices are better able to assist you with specific logistical issues you may encounter while submitting the application forms or your fee through their sites.
You may also send a check drawn on a US bank in US dollars to:
Harvard College Admissions
86 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Please be sure to write the name and date of birth of the applicant on the check!
If you paid on-line, your e-mail confirmation is your receipt. If you paid by check, your cancelled check (or image sent by your bank) is your receipt. We do not send any other acknowledgment of payment. If payment is missing, we will contact you.
Important note: Payments are tracked only by Harvard's database. Please disregard any notification of payment status posted on the Common Application or Universal College Application website.
If your question has not been answered, please submit your question to admfee@fas.harvard.edu. One of our staff members will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
There is no formula for gaining admission to Harvard. Academic accomplishment in high school is important, but the Admissions Committee also considers many other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and work experience. The Admissions Committee does not use quotas of any kind. We rely on teachers, counselors, headmasters, and alumni/ae to share information with us about applicants' strength of character, their ability to overcome adversity, and other personal qualities--all of which play a part in the Admissions Committee's decisions.
Each case is different. Harvard seeks to enroll well-rounded students as well as a well-rounded first year class. Thus, some students distinguish themselves for admission due to their unusual academic promise through experience or achievements in study or research. Other students present compelling cases because they are more "well rounded" -- they have contributed in many different ways to their schools or communities. Still other successful applicants are "well lopsided," with demonstrated excellence in one particular endeavor -- academic, extracurricular, or otherwise. Some students bring perspectives formed by unusual personal circumstances or experiences. Like all colleges, we seek to admit the most interesting, able, and diverse class possible.
Most applications are read by two or more members of the Admissions Committee, and are considered very carefully in a series of committee meetings where a majority vote is required for admission. The entire process requires several months.
No. All students begin study in September to benefit from special programs designed for freshmen.
The Admissions Committee does not use quotas of any kind.
The application process is the same for all candidates. Among a group of similarly distinguished applicants, the daughters and sons of College alumni/ae may receive an additional look.
No. We encourage students with athletic talent to contact our Athletic Department for information about any of Harvard's 41 varsity athletic teams.
No. We request, however, that students submit the Common Application and the Harvard Application Supplement by December 1 if possible. Receipt of these two forms allows us to expedite application processing and to arrange personal interviews more quickly.
No. There are no quotas for individual schools, communities, states, or countries. A student's application is compared rigorously with others from around the globe.
Yes. Our wait list includes the strongest applicants whom the Committee was not able to admit but might still wish to consider for admission if spots in the entering class open later. The wait list is not ranked. In some years, we have admitted no one from the wait list; in others, we have admitted more than 100 candidates.
Harvard College wants to do everything possible to help the students we enroll make the most of their opportunities, avoiding the much reported "burnout" phenomenon that can keep them from reaching their full potential. Harvard's overall graduation rate of 97%, among the highest in the nation, is perhaps due in part to the fact that so many students take time off, before or during college. The Admissions Committee encourages admitted students to defer enrollment for one year to travel, pursue a special project or activity, work or spend time in another meaningful way - provided they do not enroll in a degree-granting program at another college. Most fundamentally, it is a time to step back and reflect, to gain perspective on personal values and goals, or to gain needed life experience in a setting separate from and independent of one's accustomed pressures and expectations. Deferrals for two-year obligatory military services are also granted. Each year, between 40 and 80 students defer their matriculation to the College, and all report their experiences to be uniformly positive; virtually all would do it again. After graduation, large numbers of Harvard students take time off before beginning work or graduate school.
For more thoughts on the advantages of taking time off you can read "Time Off or Burn Out for the Next Generation" written by William R. Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions, Harvard College, Marlyn McGrath, Director of Admissions, and Charles Ducey, Director or the Bureau of Study Counsel, Harvard University.
No. Students admitted under an Early Decision program at another college must withdraw any pending application to Harvard and are not eligible for admission.
Students cannot register for it online and have to register for it through the high schools which are members of the College Board. The test is composed of three sections: Math, Critical Reading, and Writing Skills,
College Major Quiz
http://homeworktips.about.com/library/maj/bl_majors_quiz.htm
We expect applicants to pursue a reasonably challenging curriculum, choosing courses from among the most demanding courses available at your school. We ask you to exercise good judgment here, and to consult with your counselor, teacher, and parents as you construct a curriculum that is right for you. Our hope is that your curriculum will inspire you to develop your intellectual passions, not suffer from unnecessary stress. The students who thrive at Stanford are those who are genuinely excited about learning, not necessarily those who take every single AP, Honors, or Accelerated class just because it has that name.
Our admission process allows – and indeed encourages – the flexibility of a high school to design the most appropriate curricular offerings and opportunities for its students. What a course is named or whether it concludes with a standardized test is considerably less important to us than the energy a student contributes to the learning process and the curiosity with which he or she pursues questions and ideas. Sometimes this challenging high school course load will include advanced placement classes; other high schools choose to offer equally demanding courses that neither carry the AP designation nor lead to an AP exam.
We want to be clear that this is not a case of “whoever has the most APs wins.” Instead, we look for thoughtful, eager and highly engaged students who will make a difference at Stanford and the world beyond, and we expect that they have taken high school course loads of reasonable and appropriate challenge in the context of their school.
As a result, we do not require students to submit AP scores as part of our admission process. AP scores that are reported are acknowledged but rarely play a significant role in the evaluation of an application. Grades earned over the course of a semester, or a year, and evaluations from instructors who can comment on classroom engagement allow us the most detailed insight into a student’s readiness for the academic rigors of Stanford.
To qualify for admission to UC by examination alone, students must satisfy the same examination requirement as students who qualify in the statewide context.
We respect the responsibility that high schools, principals, and teachers should have in the development of courses and curricula for their students. For that reason, we do not have a set of required courses for admission to Stanford. We have found, though, that a curriculum emphasizing depth and breadth across the core academic subjects is the best preparation for the academic rigors at Stanford. Our experience has suggested that students who excel in a curriculum like the one below are well-suited for the demands of college academics:
There is no magic formula for getting into college. It is true, however, your college search has the potential to be enjoyable and successful if you have:
Univ.of Nebraska: 402-472-2175
B.Y.U: 800-914-8931
Aventa Online Learning: 800-594-5504 www.aventalearning.com
Univ. of Missouri: 800-609-3727
Indiana University: 800-334-1011
Keystone National High School: 800-255-4937
UC is in discussion with other providers and hopes to expand this list in the coming year.
To date, the University has approved the following online providers:
APEX Learning Virtual School
Aventa Learning
Brigham Young University Independent Study (BYU)
Connections Academy
Education Program for Gifted Youth Online High School at Stanford University (EPGY)
Education2020
Florida Virtual School
K12, Inc.
Kaplan Virtual Education
Laurel Springs Online
National University Virtual High School
PASS Program / Cyber High
Riverside Virtual School
UC College Prep Online (UCCP)
UC Irvine Extension
VHS, Inc. Virtual High School Global Consortium
English: four years, with significant emphasis on writing and literature.
Mathematics: four years, with significant emphasis on fundamental mathematical skills (algebra; trigonometry; plane, solid, and analytic geometry).
History/Social Studies: three or more years. Such courses should include the writing of essays.
Science: three or more years of laboratory science (including biology, chemistry and physics).
Foreign Language: three or more years of the same foreign language. Your study of a foreign language ought to include the development of four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension.
taken full advantage of the opportunities available to you in high school
achieved at a high level all four years
and consulted early on with your high school counselor
Students must earn a minimum UC Score total — calculated according to the eligibility index instructions — of 410 (425 for nonresidents). In addition, students must achieve a minimum score of 580 on each component of the SAT Reasoning Test or 25 on the ACT composite and ACT With Writing test and 580 on each SAT Subject Test.
Students may not use an SAT Subject Test to meet these requirements if they have completed a transferable college course with a grade of C or better in that subject.
An applicant who currently is attending high school may qualify for admission to UC by examination alone without completing his or her
Our admission guidelines are designed to ensure you are well-prepared to succeed at UC.
If you're interested in entering the University of California as a freshman, you'll have to satisfy these requirements:
Complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses (a-g courses), with at least 11 finished prior to the beginning of your senior year.
The 15 courses are:
Harvard accepts the Common Application and the Universal College Application. Both will be treated equally by the Admissions Committee. Please choose one. Please note that the Admissions Committee begins reading applications beginning on December 1st in the order in which they were completed.
Important: If you plan to/expect to submit an online application, you should complete and submit your online materials as soon as possible. The Common Application requires the submission of your application (or supplement) before releasing to a college your supporting application materials (SSR, Teacher Reports, etc.) To ensure full and timely consideration of your application you should submit your own application materials at the earliest possible time.
It is very important that you submit to us your portion of the Common Application as soon as possible. Until you do so, your application will not be transmitted to the Harvard Admissions Office.
If you are completing a paper copy of the application, you may choose to send your Personal Statement and Short Answer on a separate piece of paper. If you choose to do so, please write your full name, address, date of birth and high school on each page. If you are submitting an electronic copy of the application, you will need to complete these sections before your application will be transmitted to us.
Please also note: If you are submitting your application materials on paper you should ask those who are completing supplementary forms (SSR, Teacher Reports) to provide those materials on paper to us.
The Admissions Office begins sending email applications acknowledgements in early October. We then send acknowledgements (via email) weekly. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within two weeks of submitting your application, please write to us using this form with the subject line "Confirm Receipt of Application" from the drop down list or call (617) 495-1551. This is very important, because applications can get lost in the mail.
Please note, we will not begin processing applications until October so the earliest you would receive an acknowledgement is mid-October.
The $75 application processing fee can be paid online through the online application system (either the Common Application or the Universal College Application). Please note that the Common Application and Universal Application websites are operated independently, and their respective offices are better able to assist you with specific logistical issues you may encounter while submitting the application forms or your fee through their sites.
You may also send a check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars to:
Harvard College Admissions
86 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Please be certain that the applicant's name appears on the check or money order, and staple it to the front page of the Application. If you mail your check separately from the application, please attach a note with your full name and address. For a fee waiver, have your guidance counselor attach a written request to the front of the application.
If paying the application fee would cause a hardship for your family, please request a fee waiver. You or your guidance counselor may use one of the official forms or may simply write a short letter, asking us to waive your fee.
The supplement can be filled out on-line while submitting the Common Application or Universal College Application. Or you can print a copy and mail it to the Admissions Office.
All applicants must take the SAT or the ACT (with the writing component) in addition to the two Subject Tests outlined below.
We encourage applicants to submit at least one set of scores from or before the November series. Doing so enables the admissions staff to begin considering applications in December. We recommend that students complete their standardized testing by the December series and have scores reported promptly. January test results may also be submitted for consideration.
Read Harvard's statement about Score Choice. There are no score cutoffs, and we do not admit "by the numbers." Students applying to Harvard are free to use the College Board's new Score Choice option and/or a similar option already offered by ACT.
Test scores for the middle 50 percent (from the 25th to the 75th percentile) of recently admitted classes range from 700 to 790 on the SAT critical reading section and 690 to 790 on the SAT math section.
Please note that in order for your application to be considered complete, we must have your official test scores submitted directly to Harvard by the testing agency on your behalf.
Directions for sending your official scores to the admissions office can be found at www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/scores/sending.html for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests and www.actstudent.org/scores/send/ for the ACT. Harvard College official codes are 3434 for the SAT and 1840 for the ACT.
Applicants can use the Application Status Website to check whether we have official scores on file.
If we do not receive your official scores from the testing agency, we will be unable to make a decision on your file. Please plan accordingly.
When registering for tests, please use your name as it will appear on your Harvard application. Using a nickname may prevent your scores from matching up with the rest of your application in our database.
If you have a concern regarding your standardized test scores as they appear on your status page, please send a brief message describing the issue to us at scores@fas.harvard.edu. Please be sure to include your full name, date of birth and name of high school in your message.
You may take any two subject tests. Students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics to meet this requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English should ordinarily not use a Subject Test in their first language to meet the two Subject Tests requirement. All students are encouraged to submit additional Subject Tests (which may include one in a student’s first language), Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test results, or any other evidence of the breadth and depth of their academic accomplishments.
Please give these forms to your school counselor or other school advisor and ask that the School Report form be completed and returned to our office as soon as possible. The Mid-Year Report should be returned in February with your latest grades.
If you have attended more than one high school in the past two years, give a second copy of the School Report to your former counselor(s) or school official to complete.
These evaluations must be completed by teachers in different academic subjects who know you well.
Please do not resend your application in order to make updates. If you need to make changes to your identification or contact information please write to us using this form, and select "Personal/Contact Info Change" from the drop down list. If you need to send updates, additional information or corrections to the content of your application, please select "additions to Application" from the drop down list.
(A more detailed list can be found below.)
Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (3.4 if you're a nonresident) in these courses with no grade lower than a C.
Meet the examination requirement by taking the ACT With Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test by December of your senior year. We don't require SAT Subject Tests, but certain programs on some campuses recommend them, and you can use subject tests to satisfy the "a-g" requirements listed above.
California students
If you're a state resident who has met the minimum requirements and aren't admitted to any UC campus to which you apply, you'll be offered a spot at another campus if space is available, provided:
You rank in the top 9 percent of California high school students, according to our admissions index, or
You rank in the top 9 percent of your graduating class at a participating high school. We refer to this as "Eligible in the Local Context" (ELC).
A) History/social science
UC-approved high school courses
Two years of history/social science, including:
one year of world history, cultures and geography (may be a single yearlong course or two one-semester courses), and
one year of U.S. history or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government
SAT Subject Examination
U.S. History: Score of 550 satisfies one year.
World History: Score of 540 satisfies one year.
AP or IB Examination
U.S. History: score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP U.S. History exam;
score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB History of the Americas HL exam
U.S. Government: Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Exam satisfies a half year.
World History/Cultures/Geography: score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exam in European History, World History or Human Geography; score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB History HL or Geography HL exam
College courses
U.S. History/Civics/American Government: grade of C or better in a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in U.S. history, civics or American government
World History/Cultures/Geography: grade of C or better in a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in world history, cultures and geography
B) English
UC-approved high school courses
Four years of college-preparatory English that include frequent writing, from brainstorming to final paper, as well as reading of classic and modern literature. No more than one year of ESL-type courses can be used to meet this requirement.
SAT Reasoning Examination
Writing section: Score of 560 satisfies first three years; score of 680 satisfies entire four-year requirement.
SAT Subject Examination
Literature: Score of 560 satisfies first three years.
AP or IB Examination
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition Exam; score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB Language A1 English HL exam
College courses
For each year required through the 11th grade, a grade of C or better in a course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in English composition, literature (American or English) or foreign literature in translation. Courses used to satisfy the fourth year of the requirement must be transferable. For lower-division transfer, all courses must be transferable. Literature courses must include substantial work in composition.
C) Mathematics
UC-approved high school courses
Three years (four years recommended) of college-preparatory mathematics that include the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-dimensional geometry. Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement, as may math courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades if the high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.
SAT Subject Examination
Mathematics 1C: Score of 570 satisfies entire requirement.
Mathematics Level 2: Score of 480 satisfies entire requirement.
AP or IB Examination
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Statistics Exam satisfies elementary and intermediate algebra.
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB or Calculus BC Exam satisfies three years.
Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IB Mathematics HL exam
College courses
Grade of C or better in a transferable mathematics course that has intermediate algebra as a prerequisite satisfies the entire requirement. Freshman applicants cannot satisfy this requirement with statistics.
Three semester (4 quarter) units of non-transferable courses in elementary algebra, geometry, intermediate algebra or trigonometry, with a grade of C or better, satisfy one year of the math requirement.
D) Laboratory science
UC-approved high school courses
Two years (three years recommended) of laboratory science providing fundamental knowledge in two of these three foundational subjects: biology, chemistry and physics. The final two years of an approved three-year integrated science program that provides rigorous coverage of at least two of the three foundational subjects may be used to fulfill this requirement.
SAT Subject Examination
Each test clears one year:
Biology: Score of 540
Chemistry: Score of 530
Physics: Score of 530
AP or IB Examination
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on any two AP Exams in Biology, Chemistry, Physics B or Physics C, and Environmental Science; score of 5, 6 or 7 on any two IB HL exams in Biology, Chemistry or Physics
College courses
For each year of the requirement, a grade of C or better in a transferable course in a natural (physical or biological) science with at least 30 hours of laboratory (not "demonstration")
E) Language other than English
UC-approved high school courses
Two years (three years recommended) of the same language other than English. Courses should emphasize speaking and understanding, and include instruction in grammar, vocabulary, reading, composition and culture. American Sign Language and classical languages, such as Latin and Greek, are acceptable. Courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades may be used to fulfill part or all of this requirement if the high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.
SAT Subject Examination
The following scores satisfy the entire requirement:
Chinese With Listening: 520
French/French With Listening: 540
German/German With Listening: 510
Modern Hebrew: 470
Italian: 520
Japanese With Listening: 510
Korean With Listeninig: 500
Latin: 530
Spanish/Spanish With Listening: 520
AP or IB Examination
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Language or Literature Exam in French, German, Spanish or Latin (Chinese, Italian and Japanese are pending faculty approval);
score of 5, 6 or 7 on an IB Language A2 HL exam
College courses
Grade of C or better in any transferable course(s) (excluding conversation) held by the college to be equivalent to two years of high school language. Many colleges list the prerequisites for their second course in language as "Language 1 at this college or two years of high school language." In this case, Language 1 clears both years of the requirement.
F) Visual and performing arts
UC-approved high school courses
One yearlong course of visual and performing arts chosen from the following: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art
AP or IB Examination
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP History of Art, Studio Art or Music Theory Exam;
score of 5, 6 or 7 on any one IB HL exam in Dance, Film, Music, Theatre Arts or Visual Arts
College courses
Grade of C or better in any transferable course of 3 semester (4 quarter) units that clearly falls within one of four visual/performing arts disciplines: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art
G) College-preparatory elective
UC-approved high school courses
One year (two semesters), in addition to those required in "a-f" above, chosen from the following areas: visual and performing arts (non-introductory-level courses), history, social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science and language other than English (a third year in the language used for the "e" requirement or two years of another language)
SAT Subject Examination
U.S. History: Score of 550
World History: Score of 540
Writing/English Compositions or Literature: Score of 560
Mathematics Level 2: Score of 520
Science (other than taken for "d" requirement): Same tests and scores as listed above under "d"
Language Other Than English, third year
Chinese With Listening: 570
French/French With Listening: 590
German/German With Listening: 570
Modern Hebrew: 500
Italian: 570
Japanese With Listening: 570
Korean With Listening: 550
Latin: 580
Spanish/Spanish With Listening: 570
A second Language Other Than English: Same tests and scores as listed under "e"
AP or IB Examination
Score of 3, 4 or 5 on any one AP Exam in Computer Science A, Computer Science AB, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Human Geography, Psychology, U.S. Government or Comparative Government; score of 5, 6 or 7 on any one IB HL exam in Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Social and Cultural Anthropology, or Computer Science
College courses
Grade of C or better in one transferable course beyond those listed above as clearing any of the "a-f" requirements; or a transferable course having as a prerequisite the equivalent of two high school years in a second language; or a transferable course equivalent to those that clear the "c," "d" or "e" requirement; or a transferable course of 3 or more semester (4 or more quarter) units in history, social science, or visual or performing arts