By Christine, IvyWise Premier College Admissions Counselor
The most important document in a college application, as I tell all my students, is the transcript. Admissions committees are keen on applicants who have challenged themselves and excelled academically throughout high school, not just in junior or senior year when they think it “counts.”
Given the transcript’s importance, you should thoughtfully consider what college prep courses to take each year and plan for subsequent years. This not only helps you build a strong academic profile for college admissions, but it also prepares you to take on more rigorous courses in college.
How Colleges Evaluate Your List of High School Courses?
College admissions officers evaluate both course rigor and grades from all four years. Everything from ninth grade on counts, making it crucial to start preparing for college early in high school. The most selective colleges seek students who have taken the toughest courses available to them in all five core academic subjects — math, history or social sciences, science, English, and language — during all four years of high school.
That said, colleges do consider trajectory, too. For high school students who have had a slower start, taking increasingly difficult courses with improved grades could help make a stronger application.
Do Colleges Look at Honors and AP Classes?
For students seeking admission to the most selective colleges and universities, signing up for advanced classes — honors, AP, advanced topic (AT), IB courses — is crucial. Here, it is important to note that context matters, too. A student’s transcript and four-year curriculum rigor are evaluated in the context of what is available at the high school.
That said, if your school offers only a limited number of AP courses, for example, consider self-studying for AP exams. Not only will this impress admissions committees, but you may receive college credit or advanced placement at some schools.
What Is the Best Course to Take in High School?
Ninth and 10th grade students, especially, should take time to discuss course selection and planning with their counselors to ensure the strongest foundation. In general, my recommended college prep curriculum for high school students includes four years of English, history/social studies, science, math, and a foreign language, even if high schools have fewer requirements.
This “general rule of thumb” also applies regardless of a student’s academic interest and strength. STEM students should take four years of English and history, and humanities students should take four years of science and math courses. Importantly, all students should strive to study a language deeply.
For specific subjects, there are other considerations as well. For math, students should aim to complete pre-calculus by senior year. For those considering selective colleges and universities, calculus is necessary. For science, students should take at least one year each of the three lab sciences — biology, chemistry, and physics.
Tips on Choosing the Right High School Classes
Selecting the right high school classes can significantly impact your academic and career goals. These 5 tips for choosing high school classes can help you make informed choices.
1. Consider course rigor: Your transcript should demonstrate increasingly challenging courses as you progress through high school — that said, you must also maintain good grades. You will take the most advanced core courses as a junior and senior; however, it’s fine to enroll in advanced or honors courses in ninth and 10th grade if the courses are available and you’re prepared to do the work.
2. Take classes that match your interests: While grades and course rigor are important, college admissions committees look for “pointy” students who are specialists in their areas of interest. Select classes that align with your intended major and demonstrate that you are prepared for undergraduate-level study in that area.
3. Branch out: Don’t be afraid to explore other areas of interest. It’s fine to take one or two classes in other subjects that appeal to you, so long as you continue to dive deeper into your main subject area. If you’re an aspiring biologist who likes to sing, feel free to sign up for choir — colleges expect students to be passionate about more than one thing.
4. Meet your course requirements: Don’t focus so much on course requirements for college that you forget to meet all the requirements you need to graduate. Check in with your counselor to ensure you’re staying on track so that you won’t have to squeeze in missing requirements later.
5. Don’t overload yourself: It’s important not to take on more than you can handle. It can do more harm than good.
List of the Most Common High School Classes
The most common high school classes cover the core subject areas required by college admissions. These are:
- English (literature, composition)
- Mathematics (algebra, geometry, calculus)
- Science (biology, chemistry, physics)
- Social Studies (history, geography, government)
- Foreign Languages (Spanish, French, German)
Additionally, it’s common for high schools to offer classes that cover these subject areas:
- Physical Education
- Health Education
- Art (visual arts, music, drama)
- Computer Science
- Electives (psychology, economics, business)
Strike a Balance with Your High School Course Selection
Above all when selecting courses, balance is key. Students should appropriately challenge, but not overwhelm themselves — especially when their grades would be adversely impacted. I’m often asked: “What’s better, the easy A or the hard B?” In an ideal world, a student would take the harder course and earn an A, but that is often not the reality.
Understanding that every student is different, I would advise to carefully calibrate each year’s courses to maximize overall course rigor and academic performance. This could mean taking a regular-level lab science course while pursuing the highest-level English and history courses for a humanities student, or vice versa for a STEM student. Ultimately, maintaining a healthy balance with all aspects of a student’s life is the key to enduring success.
Course selection is a big part of students’ college prep, and you don’t have to go into it blindly. At IvyWise, our team of expert counselors works with students to help them build a challenging, yet appropriate, course schedule for the upcoming school year to ensure that they are exploring their interests while laying the groundwork for more challenging coursework later on.
For more information on how IvyWise can help you craft a balanced and challenging class schedule, contact us today.
Selecting High School Courses FAQ
If you plan to major in any of the academic areas listed here, it’s important to enroll in the right high school classes to set you up for success. Check out the recommended high school courses for popular majors — if any of these classes are not available at your school, consider taking an online course.
What Classes Should You Take for a STEM Degree?
For a STEM degree, you will need a high school course load that focuses heavily on math and science: biology, chemistry, physics, advanced mathematics, and computer science. A psychology course can also be extremely useful for STEM.
What Classes Should You Take for a Humanities Degree?
This multidisciplinary area encourages broad exploration. English, foreign languages, and social studies are the core subject areas that fit within humanities. Psychology is applicable to a broad range of academic disciplines and works well in a humanities curriculum.
What Classes Should You Take for Med School?
To prepare for a pre-med track in college and eventually medical school, it’s important to build a strong foundation in math and science in high school. English, psychology, sociology, ethics/philosophy, and health education courses also build the knowledge and skills you need in medicine.
What Classes Should You Take for Architecture?
Preparing for an architecture major in college involves taking a mix of courses that develop your math, science, technical, and creative skills. Some suggestions include art, drawing, environmental science, drafting, woodshop or metal shop, art history, and computer-aided design.
What Classes Should You Take for Law School?
While there’s no specific pre-law track, certain courses can help develop the reading, critical thinking, and communication skills needed for success in law school and beyond. Consider English, history, government/civics, economics, psychology, statistics, speech, debate, philosophy, business, and ethics.
What Classes Should You Take for Computer Science?
If you aspire to be a computer science major, take as many computer science and technology courses as you can, including programming, web design/development, and robotics. Also, enroll in as many math courses as possible. Other useful courses include physics, business, graphic design, statistics, and English.
What Classes Should You Take if You Don’t Know What to Major in?
Taking a diverse range of courses will help you explore different subjects, discover your interests, and develop a well-rounded education. This approach will also prepare you for a variety of college majors and career paths. In addition to the core subject areas, consider electives and exploratory courses in areas that appeal to you.
