Staying On Track for College Admission

January is the perfect time for high school students and families to pause, review progress, and make sure their academic plan is aligned with college aspirations. If your student is considering applying to Arizona State University, it’s important to understand the three requirements for admission — and how their high school courses fit into the bigger picture.

ASU’s Three Admission Requirements

1. High School Graduation
   In Arizona, students must earn at least 22 credits to graduate. Requirements vary by state, so be sure to confirm your student’s graduation plan with their counselor.
2. Competency Requirements
   ASU requires students to complete 16 core courses in English, math, science, social science, and world language. These courses demonstrate readiness for university-level work and may overlap with high school graduation requirements.
3. Aptitude Requirements
   In addition to the first two requirements, students must meet at least one aptitude standard based on GPA, class rank, ACT score, or SAT score. These benchmarks ensure students are academically prepared for success at the university level.

Understanding the 4–3–2–1 Academic Plan

This guide helps students choose courses that meet both Arizona high school graduation requirements and ASU admission requirements:

• 4 years: English and Math
• 3 years: Lab Science
• 2 years: Social Science and Foreign Language
• 1 year: Fine Arts or Career & Technical Education (CTE)

If students follow the 4–3–2–1 plan, they will stay on track for graduation and college admission.

What Students Can Do This Month

• Meet with your school counselor to review your four-year plan and ensure your courses meet ASU’s competency requirements.
• Request a copy of your transcript from your registrar to check your progress.
  Keep researching colleges and using your planning worksheets to stay organized.
• Double-check that your current courses support your pathway to college.
• Complete planning activities such as “Getting on the Right Track” or “Calculating Your GPA” to understand where you stand and where improvements can be made.

How Families Can Support

• Schedule a meeting or check-in with your student’s guidance counselor.
• Review your student’s transcript and GPA together.
• Set aside time to talk about potential college choices and help narrow the search.
• Make grade checks a consistent routine — once a week is ideal.
• Encourage your student to complete their planning worksheets and stay organized.
• Keep offering praise, guidance, and regular conversations about school, goals, and activities.

ASU Career and College Readiness Resources

For tools that support course planning, admissions readiness, and college research, families can explore:

• me3® — an interactive tool that helps students explore careers and majors
• ASU Degree Search — to learn about degree pathways
• FAFSA and scholarship resources — highlighted in this month’s edition