I’m working with a California resident, age 18, who has extreme circumstances that have had an impact on her high school transcript, and she nevertheless graduated in June. She would like to apply to the Cal States, possibly as a freshman in spring 2023. However, she did not complete a second year of Spanish, and she has only two years of math on her transcript. Her senior year grades, which included making up grades from her junior year, are good at, and she has a GPA in the range of 2.5. Will ANY Cal State consider her situation and admit her without the A-Gs being complete? Can she apply as a freshman this month (August) for spring even though she is about to enroll in a community college? We would like to apply if there is any chance, but obviously, if there is no chance, we don’t need to waste the time.
Here is some information on what can be done to meet the CSU a-g course requirements. If she has graduated already and will be attending a community college then she will be classified as a Transfer.
WAIVER OF “LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH” REQUIREMENT
If you can demonstrate competency in a language other than English that is equivalent to or higher than that expected of students who have completed two years of language other than English study, you may be allowed a waiver for this language requirement. For further information, contact the CSU campuses to which you are applying.
HOW TO MAKE UP MISSING COURSES
If you didn’t take all the required high school courses or earned D or F grades in some of them, you have several options to make up these courses and qualify for CSU admission.
You can complete appropriate high school courses with a grade of C or better either in summer school or in adult school. Courses in this category must be those found on the high school or adult school UC “a-g” course lists. Some adult schools may not have “a-g” course lists.
You may also complete college courses with a grade of C or better in the missing subject areas. Finally, you can earn an acceptable score on examinations such as Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, or International Baccalaureate examinations.
If you are unable or do not choose to make up your subject deficiency, you may earn at least 60 units, including 30 semester units of general education from a California Community College or other college and transfer as an upper-division transfer student, where only your college performance is considered for admission.
My advice is have her attend the CC and transfer using the ADT program if possible. ADT guarantees admission to a CSU (may not be preferred campus). Associate Degree for Transfer Major and Campus Search | CSU
What was the highest level of Spanish completed? If it was high school year 2 or higher, then the LOTE admission requirement is fulfilled.
Similarly, what math? If they are geometry and algebra 2 (or integrated math 2 and 3), then those fulfill the math requirement.
If she enrolls in a community college, she will be committing to the transfer pathway. Most CSUs prefer upper division transfers who will have 60 units of credit, completion of some general education courses, and be ready to declare a major by the time of transfer. Following the ADT path as described by @Gumbymom should be helpful, assuming an ADT path is available for her major. https://www.assist.org can also help with selecting courses for transfer preparation.
I have to agree with @Gumbymom with starting at a CC.
With a 2.5 GPA, this student needs to increase the GPA, relative to the rest of the students who will also be applying to Cal States. She needs to learn what it takes to increase her workload while doing well in her classes.
If funding is an issue, then she will have to increase her GPA to, at least, a 3.0 to qualify for the CalGrants and State funding. https://www.csac.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/understanding_my_cal_grant.pdf
Yea, GPA is if not for anything important for scholarship and grants.