I know that most CSU’s focus on SAT scores and GPA as the primary drivers of the Eligibility Index. How much (if any) consideration is given to the rigor of the course load?
My daughter has a 3.6 weighted GPA and a 1200 SAT score, which gives her an EI of just under 4100. However, 14 semesters of her course work are UC qualified AP/Honors classes, and she has 50 total semesters of A-G credit. She exceeds the minimum requirements in each category by at least one and sometimes two years (with the exception of English).
The three C grades she received in high school were all in classes that were taken in excess of the requirements (Spanish III, both terms, and one term of Honors Pre-Calculus). In fact, she has only ever received two B’s in classes that were not AP/Honors. But there’s the rub. She has received two A’s, nine B’s, and one C in AP/Honors classes that she has completed (AP Stats is still in progress during her senior year). It was a reasonably rigorous course load, but she can only received eight grade bumps for those 12 completed classes.
Does the CSU system, specifically SDSU and CSULB, have any capacity to take that into account? I know CP SLO uses the MCA, which rewards rigor. My son is a junior there and benefited from a very similar course load to what my daughter has now. The MCA for my daughter is fairly competitive for several majors because she has good rigor and lots of EC/Leadership points. Her straight EI makes her other target schools matches or safties (San Marcos, Sac State, Monterey Bay).
Since all a-g courses taken 9-12th including in-progress and planned are listed on the CSU application, the schools can determine the HS rigor of the applicant.
However, since the CSU GPA is capped at 8 semester of Honors points and the CSU’s admit by EI and major, I do not know how the rigor is incorporated into the admission decisions.
Unfortunately, schools want to see a rigorous HS course schedule along with excellent grades.
@Gumbymom, thank you! As always, you are a rock star.
The fact that Section C7 is checked “Very Important” is encouraging for my daughter’s situation. We were never trying to “game” the system by taking or not taking certain classes to protect a GPA. We (counselors, teachers, parents) simply directed her on the established pathway of course load progression. We all just wanted her to get a reasonably challenging education and now the chips will fall where they may.
BTW, since you clued me in to what I should be looking for, I found the same forms filled out for CSULB. In Section C7 high school rigor was not considered, but class rank was listed as very important. A very interesting distinction.
I find it interesting the CSULB does not consider HS rigor but class rank since many HS’s are no longer ranking their students.
I understand your D’s situation. I encouraged both my son’s to take a challenging course load but also take classes of interest.
Older son did 7 AP courses and 2 Honors courses during his 4 years in HS but achieved all A’s with the exception of 1 B so a higher GPA than his younger brother whom took 10 AP’s and 2 Honors but got more B’s than A’s. Luckily for the younger one, he was a good test taker and his ACT scores offset the slightly lower GPA.
I agree that the chips will fall where they may and both son’s got great educations at schools that were a good ‘fit” overall. My younger son is happy to say a proud graduate of SDSU.