What classes should I sign up for next year?
Now is the time of year many high school students are deciding which classes to take next year. What classes a student takes is often a significant factor in college admissions decisions.
1. All students should take a challenging course load. This is especially important to do in subjects you are considering pursuing in college. While colleges like students to take rigorous courses, they also want you to show maturity and not take on more than you can handle. In general, challenge but do not overwhelm yourself. Take classes where you can get a B or higher.
2. Colleges like you to continue to take classes in all five core subjects all four years. English, Math, Science, History, and Foreign Language.
3. Take classes in subjects that interest you. Colleges like to see you dive deep into areas of interest, especially if you are considering them as a course of study in college. Also, you will always have better results in classes you want to take.
4. This is a general guide, and you should adapt this as it is right for you.
So what does this really all mean:
Most colleges would prefer to see a B in an AP or Honors class versus an A in an easier class.
The more selective the college, the more rigorous your course load should be when applying. For example, highly selective colleges like to see students with at least AP Calculus AB and Physics, even those students not planning on studying STEM fields. Business Schools want students to have taken Calculus and Statistics.
Foreign language is better if it is the same language all four years.
Sciences with a lab component are more rigorous than Sciences without.
If you really hate language and are terrible at it, most colleges only require 2 or 3 years of a language.
The last thing to remember is that what classes you decide to take earlier in high school often determines what courses you will take as you progress through your years. It is hard to jump from all regular classes to someone who will take all AP courses their last year. Try and think of your long-term goals at the beginning of high school and plan accordingly.
Please reach out with any questions.