How to Pick Classes in High School

It's that time of year again. You know what I'm talking about...picking classes to take next year with your high school counselor. Depending on what grade you are in, you may have different questions. Let's tackle some common scenarios I see from my students at my process to help you as you pick a schedule you can thrive in and enjoy.

I should take easier level courses because it will help me maintain a higher GPA.

While it is definitely important to maintain a high GPA, it is equally, if not more important in some cases to take courses that challenge you. If you are getting A's in a class and it is fairly easy for you, you may want to consider taking a class that is a level up. It could be an honors or AP class depending on what you are currently taking now. Not only will you hopefully be more engaged and interested in learning more challenging material, but colleges will also recognize your efforts. In fact, colleges may wonder why you didn't take a more challenging level if you were getting really great classes in it. I often advise that if you can get away with a B+ or higher in a more advanced class, then take it.

I have C's and D's in my current classes, but I want to take honors and AP because everyone else is doing it.

We also need to discuss the flipside. While it is "cool" to take challenging classes, know your limits, which can also mean time management and organization limits. If you are not doing well in a class, especially if it is a more challenging level, you should talk with your guidance counselor about what the options are to take a less demanding or challenging class for the following year. College admissions would much rather see you thrive in classes that are suitable for you than get C's and D's in classes that are too hard for you.

Is it better to take math, science, English, social studies, and foreign language every year or double up on areas I’m interested in pursuing in college?

This is one of my favorite questions and it can be difficult to answer as it depends on the student. In most situations, it is better to make sure you at least satisfy 4 years of those basic classes. Some students consider dropping a foreign language, but many colleges will consider students that have taken 4 years of a foreign language to be more competitive than those who do not. Similarly, try to pick electives that enable you to explore your academic and personal interests. For example, if you are considering pre-med in the future, it might make more sense for you to double up on science and take anatomy (if offered), rather than take a history class, once you’ve already satisfied the requirements. To learn more about the required and recommended classes and the years you should take, you can check out the Applying section for the college’s CollegeBoard profile.

I don’t have enough room in my schedule to take everything I want. What should I do?

I always recommend that students understand the requirements for graduating from their high school. Oftentimes, required classes can be taken online or over the summer. You can check with your high school guidance counselor on the different options to try and optimize the schedule you want. If you are unable to get a class you really wanted and you are a senior, consider leveraging the additional information section to explain that you had tried to also fit in the additional class but that it conflicted with your schedule. Lastly, consider taking the class elsewhere if that is an option.

Were these the types of questions you had? Did this help? Let me know in the comments.

I Didn't Get In. What Do I Do Now?

This is often a time of either great joy or sometimes disappointment for college bound students.

I'm guessing you're reading this now, because you have either been waitlisted or rejected by your first choice.

First of all, don't take it personally. I know some students may think that they weren't good enough or perhaps they met the qualifications, but are still confused as to why they weren't accepted.

Unfortunately, college admissions isn't as clear cut as we'd like it to be. Just meeting the average GPA, rank or SAT/ACT score isn't quite enough to guarantee you will be accepted by the school. In truth, there are no guarantees.

The one thing I do want to get across to you today is - that its not necessarily you. Similar to a breakup, where the cliche line is "It's not you, it's me," this is kind of the opposite, especially if you are a very competitive candidate for that college or university.

Accept that you can only be in control of your own application and as long as you have submitted the best application possible, then there's nothing more you can do. The application results are based on what you submit, BUT also based on what other applicants submit and you can't control your competition.

In some cases, there are students that may get admitted that you may think are less qualified than you are and that's another example of when you don't actually know what the school was looking for to round out their class or if there was something special about that applicant, outside of their academics.

If you were waitlisted, you can still write a letter of interest to the school that waitlisted you sharing why you love that school and how you would definitely attend if accepted. Your passion has to get across! Also consider including specific examples of what makes you and that school such a great fit.

If you were rejected, its time to accept that you did a great job and put out some great applications. Then review the schools that accepted you and decide which is the best one for you. I mean...wouldn't you want to go to a school that is "into you?" I'd like to think so :)

Lastly, if you are still dead set on attending your number one choice for college/university, you can always apply the following year as a transfer student.

Now, go and enjoy the rest of your senior year!

Do colleges and universities consider the difficulty of your courses taken in high school?

Yes, absolutely. Schools prefer students who challenge themselves. I have students who sometimes ask if its better to stay in regular classes vs. moving up to honors or AP, because they know they can maintain a better GPA. The truth is, many schools consider the difficulty of your courses just as much, if not more than your GPA. That being said, if you are getting C's and D's in an honors or AP class, you should either get a tutor or talk with your guidance counselor about whether those classes are too difficult for you.

How many years of world languages should I take in high school?

Do I have to take another year of Latin? How many years of a foreign language do I have to take? 
These are questions that I often get asked when it is time to select classes for the following year, especially if it is a junior picking out their senior year classes.

The answer, unsurprisingly, is it depends. It depends what kind of school you want to apply for and what you want to study. If you are applying to elite schools, top 20 to 30 in America, then yes, you should take four years of a foreign language. Most schools require at last two to three years of a foreign language and recommend three to four years. Some schools even have a foreign language proficiency requirement you need to meet in order to graduate college.

Overall, if you are trying to be the most competitive applicant, then I recommend four years. However, if you are learning a language that you are not particularly interested in, but there is the option to take a class that is related to your intended major, then that might be worth swapping out.

To truly understand a school's requirement as it related to foreign languages, you can check the school's website, or check out the Applying section, then Academics & GPA on College Board's school profile. They'll show you how many years are requested and required.