GREAT ARTICLE BY MS. SUN ON THE UCS

Ask Ms. Sun
Read on blog or Reader

 
7 Things You Must Do in High School to be Competitive for UC Admission

 
By Ms. Sun on February 13, 2026

 
Getting excited or anxious about how well you are preparing for the UCs? A lot of students spend time stressing about the wrong things and miss straightforward opportunities to strengthen their profile. Here is a list of must-dos during high school to help you gain a competitive edge!

 
Things You Must Do

 
Academic Strategy

1. Make sure the honors courses you are taking are UC-approved or they won’t be weighted (if you are attending a high school in California, you can check by looking at your high school’s UC A-G Course List). Sometimes you may need to take honors courses that are not UC-approved in order to qualify for AP courses; check with your counselor to make sure!
2. Balance your extracurricular activities with your Honors/AP/IB courses during the school year 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).
3. Ask your family and friends to put the word out that you are looking for opportunities, such as job shadowing, internship, or research. UCs like to see active exploration of, or involvement in, the discipline you intend to declare as your major (or exploration of different disciplines if you are unsure/undeclared) and look favorably on students who show initiative in exploring their interests (research experience is especially valued, so pursue it if you have access).
4. Take community college courses (must be UC-transferable and at least 3 semester or 4 quarter units; confirm transferability in the course catalog/schedule or on Assist.orgbefore enrolling) during the summer after freshman year, the summer after sophomore year, and the summer after junior year; the course grades are weighted and calculated into the GPA used for admission evaluation.
5. If you receive a D or F grade, be sure to repeat the course BEFORE the start of senior 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 the UC Application when you apply). You may replace the non-passing grade by taking the same course or a more advanced course (i.e., a passing grade from an Honors/AP/IB or community college course can/will replace a non-passing grade in a regular course).

Relationships & Support

1. Get your parents involved with your college planning. They should stay informed about your course schedule, academic progress, and important deadlines, and know how to reach your counselor and teachers to advocate for you when needed. Counselors and teachers are more likely to stay on top of your schedule and flag potential issues when they know your family is engaged and paying attention.
2. Establish good relationships with your teachers. Talk to 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.