What is UC Scout and How It Can Help You

There is an exiting program called UC Scout and it has really provided a lot of opportunities that may be able to help you get into the college of your dreams, Any high schooler knows that course selection can be a nightmare, especially when your high school isn’t cooperating with you on what you want. It’s even harder to get the courses you want when you’re struggling in prerequisite courses. For instance, trying to get to an Accelerated Precalculus course with C’s in Algebra II Honors might not work out for you. Thankfully, there is an alternative option for coursework called UC Scout. But what is it? When should you consider taking a course there?

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What is UC Scout?

According to UC Scout, its mission is to “reach out to educationally disadvantaged students across the state, raising achievement levels and closing achievement gaps.” However, its program is accessible for all students, disadvantaged or not. Providing an opportunity for students to take advantage of so that they can get into the college they are hoping for.

Its course offerings include A-G-approved courses. With transcripts that can be submitted on your college applications. Some of there programs are NCAA approved and accredited, no matter the university you art trying to get into. Therefore, it’s an excellent way to fill in gaps in your academic profile should your high school not be willing to provide you with a specific course.

What are the UC scout courses?

The UC Scout course catalog consists of 8 main courses. Each course then has multiple classes you can take.

History / Social Sciences
English
Mathematics
Science
Foreign Languages
Visual and Performing Arts
College Prep Electives
Computer Science

How Much does UC Scout Cost?

There are free programs for in-state students and up to $50 for out of state. There is also an On-Demand program which provides you with a teacher. The fee is minimal and there are programs that you can fill out to cover the cost.

If you reside in California, there is also a program discount code. You just need to complete a simple form. Contact your college advisor if you need assistance in covering the cost.

Filling Your Gaps and needs for College

In order to be a competitive candidate for highly selective universities nowadays, you need the coursework to back up your Academic Potential. This can be difficult if you can not get the course you wanted to sign up for. Or in some cases, the course is not even available in your school. So whether your high school doesn’t offer AP Physics 1 or it has placed you into Geometry Common Core. Rather than your desired Algebra course, you can use UC Scout to take courses that your high school isn’t providing you.

Common use cases arise for prospective Engineering majors. For example, many students are placed into a math pathway that leads up to Precalculus in the 12th grade. On the other hand, some of their peers are on track to completing Calculus by then. In order for said student to compensate for the competitive disadvantage, it would be wise to consider enrolling in a UC Scout On-Demand course for AP Calculus AB.

Separately, Engineering majors typically don’t get the chance to take AP Physics until their 12th grade. This prevents students from demonstrating their physics aptitude prior to submitting their college applications. Hence, for students who are looking to demonstrate such aptitude before college applications are submitted, UC Scout can prove useful in filling this educational, major-oriented gap. Find more information here about what classes are important to take, as well as get A’s in, for which major.

Using the above use cases as examples, one can apply UC Scout to fill educational gaps in the high school curriculum for any major.

A Final Word of Caution

Like all outside coursework, UC Scout will only help you if you get an A in the classes you take. Hence, it’s worth preparing early for said courses in order to maximize your chances of getting an A. Lastly, we recommend students take UC Scout, and any outside coursework, during the summer when school has ended. Juggling six academic subjects is already hard enough. The last thing you want is to burn out and underperform in all your classes.

Since some of the programs are already prerecorded video courses, take your time. Don’t rush to get through it and then suffer with a poorer grade. Therefore, just like taking any other testing, like the SAT or ACT, prepare for it properly.

For a more in-depth look at UC Scout, we’ll be holding a live event within GoPath, so come check us out at path.readyedgego.com.

Conclusion

We hope that this provides some valuable insight into an alternative option for coursework while making your college application profile even stronger. We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on

See you soon!

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

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