College Preparation
Are you thinking about attending a 4-year college, community college, tech school, or learn a trade? You are in the right place! Exploration of this page will connect you with a number of resources to inform you of what you will need to do to achieve your dreams. If you have questions about any content, please make an appointment with your academic counselor, Brooke Martin by filling out an advising request form.
Top Tips For College Preparation
Only UC/CSU approved courses provide you with a weighted GPA. Your AR coursework is UC/CSU approved, but if you are not sure about a CR class, see Brooke.
Balance extracurriculars with your academics throughout your time at AR so you maintain excellent grades and devote adequate time to your extracurricular activities to gain meaningful experiences and develop important skills (such as leadership and collaboration).
Ask your family and friends to put the word out that you are looking for opportunities, such as job shadowing, internship, or research. Colleges like to see active exploration or involvement in the discipline you intend to declare as your major (or exploration of different disciplines if you are unsure/undeclared). Research experience is a plus!
If you receive a D or F grade, be sure to repeat the course BEFORE your fourth year to replace the bad grade in the GPA calculation and to meet the subject requirement (although you MUST report both the non-passing grade AND the repeated grade on college applications). You may replace the non-passing grade by taking the same course or a more advanced course (i.e., a passing grade from a community college course can/will replace a non-passing grade in a regular course).
Communicate with your teachers outside of class and show some interest in them and the subjects they teach. Ask them how you can improve your performance in the subject and get better grades. The better your teachers know you, the more likely they are willing to help you.
Schools will look at your high school record holistically. If you received poor grades in your 1st year, demonstrating improvement and steadily increasing the rigor of your schedule will still appeal to schools as this demonstrates growth! Of course, you will need to provide an explanation if there are any anomalies in the rigor of your schedule or grade trends.
Only the grades recorded on your transcript will count so don't stress out about the grades on your progress report! Do the best you can!
Four-Year College Information
University of California: 9 Campuses
Basic admission requirements
Complete 15 A-G courses (11 of them by the end of your third year)
Earn a 3.0 GPA or better in A-G coursework with no grade lower than a C.
UC Freshman Fall Admissions Summary
UC Admissions by Source School: Choose Academy of the Redwoods to view our UC admissions statistics.
California State University: 23 Campuses
Basic Admission Requirements
Completion of A-G coursework
Earn a 2.50* or greater GPA in A-G coursework with no grade lower than a C.
* Students who earn GPA's of 2.0-2.49 may be evaluated based on supplemental factors.
Private and Out-of-State Universities
Admission requirements vary. Check with each individual school to determine your eligibility.
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
AXS Companion for the Common Application
Community College Information
All students who graduate from AR have already completed the application process for College of the Redwoods. If a student would like to continue at CR after graduation, they need to make an appointment with a CR academic counselor in the spring of their 4th year to change their Academic Goal. If a student is interested in attending another community college, they will need to complete the application for that particular school prior to enrollment. For more information about California Community Colleges, click the link below.
UC Transfer Admission Guarantee for CCC Students
Additional College Information
An all-inclusive guide for college and career planning.
California Colleges (integration with Aeries coming soon!)
Study Abroad Information
If you are interested in studying abroad in college, you have a few options. University Led Programs, Third Party Programs, Direct Enrollment in an international university, and other unique experiences are options you can weigh. Click the link below to read more about how to begin exploring study abroad options to determine which may be the best fit for you.
Technical and Trade School Information
Careers in the trades are ever in demand. College of the Redwoods offers many Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs that AR students are able to get a jump start on in high school and some may be able to complete training prior to graduation.
Humboldt County Office of Education also has a wide range of programs to support with CTE education. Their website has a wealth of information regarding trades as well as a career video library. Check it out!
CR Workforce and Community Education
Preparing for College Applications
Understanding where you would like to apply to college is great, but being prepared to apply is even better. Be sure to review all admissions requirements and prepare for what is to come. Some colleges may require the submission of a portfolio or supplemental application for some programs and others may require an interview and the submission of standardized test scores. Be thorough. Be prepared.
Writing the Personal Statement