What is UC Scout and How It Can Help You

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. Thankfully, there is an alternative option for coursework called UC Scout that can help you get into the top schools in the US.

Many students struggle to take the courses they were hoping for, whether because the course is simply full or because you scored poorly in prerequisite classes. For instance, trying to get to an Accelerated Precalculus course when you earned C’s in Algebra II Honors might not work out for you.

So how does US Scout help, and when should you consider taking a course there?

Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash

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.

Its course offerings include A-G approved courses with transcripts that can be submitted on your college applications. Some of their programs are NCAA approved and accredited, making UC Scout an excellent way to fill in gaps in your academic profile.

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. The primary courses are:

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

How Much Does UC Scout Cost?

UC Scout programs are free for in-state students and cost up to $50 for out of state.

There is also an On-Demand program which provides you with a teacher. The fee for a teacher-led course is minimal, and there are scholarships that you can apply for to cover the cost if needed. 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 in Your Gaps 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 cannot get the course you wanted to sign up for or if 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.

Here’s an example of what that might look like for a prospective Engineering major. Let’s say this student was placed into a math pathway that leads up to taking Precalculus in 12th grade, while other students are on track for completing Calculus by then. In order to demonstrate proficiency in math and compensate for this competitive disadvantage, this student might consider enrolling in a UC Scout On-Demand course for AP Calculus AB.

Wondering whether you should take a UC Scout course to get ahead? Here's how to know whether UC Scout is right for you. — Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash

Similarly, Engineering majors typically don’t get the chance to take AP Physics until 12th grade. This prevents students from demonstrating their physics aptitude prior to submitting college applications. Hence, for students who are looking to demonstrate such aptitude before college applications are submitted, UC Scout can prove useful in filling in this gap. Find more information here about what classes are important to take, as well as get A’s in, for which 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. 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, after 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. Just like you’d spend time carefully preparing for the SAT, go slowly and study along the way so that you’re taking full advantage of this opportunity and performing at your max.

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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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