As a new school semester starts, you will soon be meeting with your college counselors to begin planning for the summer and the next school year. One important part of the counseling process is ensuring that you are taking the proper courses that match your academic ability, interests, and ultimately your college admissions goals.
For many students and parents, course selection can be an afterthought — the focus primarily being on grades and test scores. But it’s important to be intentional about what to choose to prepare for college. The types of classes that you take in high school, regarding both the level and content, can influence admissions decisions further down the line.
Course rigor refers to the level of challenge and academic intensity of a course. It encompasses the depth and complexity of the material covered, the expectations for student performance, and the workload required. Taking rigorous courses pushes you to achieve a higher level of understanding and mastery of the subject matter to prepare you for college-level coursework.
The aim is not to complete just a few rigorous courses but to have a transcript that reflects curriculum rigor. So, what is curriculum rigor? This refers to the challenging nature of the educational content across the entire curriculum and the expectations set for students. It involves creating an environment where students are encouraged to engage deeply with the material, think critically, and apply their knowledge in complex ways.
In order to understand how high school courses factor into the admissions process, students and parents first need to know what colleges look at when evaluating applications. When reviewing an applicant, the emphasis isn’t just on general grades, test scores, and essays. College admissions officers mostly evaluate students on these more specific core components:
More and more, colleges are placing an emphasis on rigorous courses in high school because they want to ensure that students are prepared to handle a college course load. If you are applying to a highly selective college but have only taken one or two advanced classes, it is likely that the admissions officer reviewing your application will wonder whether you are prepared or motivated enough to handle the academic rigors of that particular institution.
When it comes to course rigor and grades, many families ask if it’s better to get an A in a regular course or a B in an AP course. You should be taking courses with increasing rigor each year and maintaining strong grades in those classes. The best thing you can do is get the A in the AP course!
Keep in mind, however, that colleges look at course rigor in the context of the high school itself, which is where strength of school comes in. If a high school is seen as not as academically strong and offers few advanced courses, colleges will take that into consideration. After all, it is hard for students to take more challenging courses if they’re not available.
On the other hand, if a high school is rated as academically strong and offers a plethora of advanced classes, colleges will expect students from those institutions to have taken a higher number of AP, IB, or honors classes. Highly selective colleges want students who have taken the most challenging courses available to them and excelled. Discover whether you should take AP or IB courses.
One way for students to supplement their course load if their high school does not offer a lot of challenging classes is to enroll in more advanced courses at a community college or consider taking some MOOCs — massive open online courses.
Course rigor and GPA are about equally important. Good grades definitely matter to admissions committees and are used as a benchmark, but the ideal is to take courses that are more challenging and earn a high GPA. Your GPA reflects your overall academic performance, but your success in rigorous courses shows a strong work ethic and a willingness to challenge yourself. It means you are capable of critical thinking and problem solving at a higher level, which is important for success in college.
Course selection is also important because it can help you focus your interests and learn more about a field you’re interested in pursuing. Colleges want to build a well-rounded class made up of specialists, and high school courses go a long way toward helping a student develop a focused area of interest.
If you’re interested in majoring in engineering, it’s not a good idea to take only art classes. Instead, load up on STEM courses like physics, calculus, chemistry, etc. Admissions officers will look for context like this to be sure that an applicant is serious about that major and not just applying to a program they think they have a good chance of getting into.
Remember, colleges have institutional needs, and if you don’t come across as sincere in pursuing a certain major, that could work against your chances of admission. Colleges are wary of students who come across as likely to switch from a major that needs more students into one that is oversaturated. It’s important to be focused when applying to college, and course selection can factor into that.
Determining the “most rigorous” colleges academically can be subjective, as it often depends on the specific criteria used. However, some institutions are widely recognized for their academic rigor due to their challenging curricula, high expectations, and competitive admissions, like these three schools.
Located in Cambridge, just outside of Boston, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is known for its demanding STEM programs. MIT challenges students with a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes problem-solving, innovation, and research. Learn how to get into MIT.
Another Cambridge, Massachusetts, institution, Harvard University is among the best universities in the world. With a broad range of challenging courses across various disciplines, this Ivy League school maintains high academic standards and offers a rigorous intellectual environment. Learn how to get into Harvard.
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California, is renowned for its intense focus on science and engineering. Caltech students pursue a curriculum that requires deep analytical thinking and extensive research.
Managing a rigorous course load requires effective organization and time management. Try these tips:
Don’t hesitate to seek help from teachers or classmates if needed, and take care to balance your academic responsibilities with self-care, including regular breaks, exercise, and adequate sleep. But whatever you do, don’t pull all-nighters! They do more harm than good.
First, consider your college goals and work toward identifying your core interests and how that influences what you want to study in college. If you think you might be interested in a business major, consider taking an advanced math or economics course to test the waters. Now is the time to focus on your interests, and that starts with trying out a few things until you find what you’re truly passionate about.
Next, plan to meet with your college counselor early in the semester to evaluate the courses you’re taking now and go over options for next year. Counselors can offer a lot of insight into what courses are the most appropriate for your abilities and interests and help to craft a schedule that meets your needs and goals. Keep in mind, however, that your peers are also vying for your counselor’s time, which can make it difficult to get the one-on-one attention you need throughout the school year. It can be beneficial to use independent counseling services to help with course planning and all other aspects of college prep.
Not enough academic opportunities at your school that match your goals or interests? Consider self-studying for a particular AP test. Not only will this help you gain a better understanding of a particular subject, but it also demonstrates maturity and initiative.
Not sure if you’re taking the right classes this school year? Need help planning classes for next school year or preparing for the admissions process? The IvyWise team of expert college counselors can help you create a course schedule that will enhance your interests and help you stand out during the admissions process. Contact us to learn more about our customized college prep programs.
As the sun sets on the summer and we enter another academic year, seniors are less than a year away from the induction into adulthood and independence that awaits after high school graduation. Before that new journey begins, seniors must contend with graduation requirements and post-high school plans.
If you’re planning to go to college, it’s essential to make all four years of high school count. Colleges look at your entire high school record — courses, grades, activities, and more — when evaluating college applications. They want to see how you have progressed over your time in high school and if you’re truly ready for the rigors of a college education. So, whether it’s your first year in high school, your senior year, or somewhere in between, these resources can help you on your path to higher education.
The transcript is one of the most powerful documents provided in the application process and is often one of the first components of the college application that evaluators consider. A student’s GPA, found on a transcript, can be regarded as a significant indicator of success in post-secondary education and therefore has an essential role when considering applicants.
