How to prepare for a STEM Pathway at Moreno Valley College

Prepare in High School

• Take the A-G requirements – Although not required for admission to Moreno Valley College (MVC), A-G classes prepare students for the more rigorous STEM courses.
• Take math EVERY year – Exposure to math increases student’s chances of scoring higher in math classes.
• Take Geometry – Although students will not get college credit, geometry allows students to meet one of the trigonometry (math 36) prerequisites.
• Take Chemistry – Students who took chemistry in high school can take the Chemistry Diagnostic Exam and with a qualifying score can skip chemistry (CHE-2A) at MVC.
• Take two years of a foreign language – The UC system has a foreign language requirement, however high school students who take two years with a C or better satisfy the requirement.
• Pass AP exams – Students scoring a three or higher in AP exams can receive college credit at MVC. In some instances, four-year institutions will also give college credit for passing scores.
• Note – Courses that have been articulated with the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) or your school district can qualify for college credit. You need to apply for Credit by Articulation.

Steps to Become a Student at MVC

1. Admission and Records
   • Apply for Admission beginning in January of student’s senior year.

2. Financial Aid
   • Apply for the FAFSA in January of student’s senior year.
   • Submit required forms to the MVC Financial Aid office to ensure financial aid disbursement prior to the start of classes.
   • Apply for scholarships

3. Complete Orientation and Counseling

4. Special Programs
   • A few programs at MVC afford students the opportunity to receive priority registration. Students are encouraged to look into programs such as Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS), Academic Counseling and Educational Support (ACES), Puente Program, and the Umoja Community.
   • Apply for the MVC Honors Program: Honors courses are typically not as impacted as traditional classes. Students who complete five honors classes increase their chances of acceptance to universities like UCLA and Cal Poly Pomona.

Accomplishments of Moreno Valley College STEM Students

Danilo Noguera graduated from Rancho Verde High School. Noguera is currently a student at MVC and is planning to transfer with a degree in mechanical engineering. He has also served as STEM Club President and was the team leader for the STEM Weather Balloon Project. The project was featured in The Press-Enterprise newspaper.

Rozalyn Wood graduated from Yucaipa High School and was a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for anatomy and physiology. Wood transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution, where she’s studying biology, with an emphasis in neurobiology and behavioral neuroscience. She was a presenter at the Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative National Poster Session which was held in Washington DC last September.