What to Expect at UC

Your academic experience at UC will be rigorous, challenging, and stimulating. Excellent high school preparation is essential for making the transition to UC.

All UC campuses, except Berkeley and Merced, operate on the quarter system. A quarter is about 10 weeks long, and the academic year includes three quarters. At Berkeley and Merced, the academic year is two semesters, each 16 to 18 weeks long.

Most important in making the transition to UC will be your scholastic preparation. The University of California encourages you to complete more than the minimum required work in high school and to concentrate on advanced coursework in key areas such as history, English, mathematics, science, and languages other than English. The more comprehensive and challenging your high school coursework, the better prepared you will be for UC, and the better your chances for academic success.

Tips: Solid academic preparation is essential for your success at UC. It is always best to take challenging courses and more than the minimums required. Your counselor is a great source of information to help you prepare for UC.