In some high schools, planning for college does not begin until a student’s sophomore year. But freshmen are often in the best position to tailor the high school experience to their college goals since they have several years ahead of them.
Below are three important questions that high school freshmen should ask their counselors in order to maximize their high school experience.
1. What elective classes should I take if I am interested in studying [this subject]?
High school counselors will generally tell their students to take a relatively standard set of courses. These courses are designed to give all students, regardless of intended major, the necessary foundation to succeed in college.
Counselors also tend to recommend that students enroll in as many Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and honors classes as they can while still doing well academically.
Still, there is typically room for several elective courses. These are classes that provid e exploration of an extracurricular subject that students may end up developing a personal passion for — and potentially help put them on a path to studying that subject early.
Students who plan to study English literature may wish to take a theat e r course, for instance, since a portion of what is studied in that subject was originally written for the stage. If your high school offers an Ancient Greek class, and if you are leaning toward a classics major, take advantage and begin your Greek studies now.
The best courses to take will be different for each student, depending on their personality and desired course of study in college, but this is an area where your counselor can help you.
[Explore how to lay the groundwork for college starting in freshman year.]
2. How can I decide what careers I may be interested in?
This is not a question that high school freshmen generally give much thought to, but a chosen career path often highly influences the classes they take in college — and, to a lesser extent, the courses they take in high school.
Although you may be interested in the hard sciences now, for example, it is worth asking yourself whether this is a career path you will ultimately pursue. If it is not, it may not be necessary to take six science classes prior to your high school graduation.
Similarly, students who wish to go into the business field should take economics and entrepreneurship, if available. Students who plan to choose a career that requires international travel, such as a government or journalism job, should take a second or even third language.
If you are not certain of your interests, ask your counselor how you can best explore multiple options.
[Learn how to use all four years of high school to prepare for college.]
3. Who else should I talk to before the year ends?
Your high school counselor can also suggest people to talk to about your specific academic and career goals.
Maybe there is a teacher at your school with experience in a specific career — not just education, but perhaps the special ty he or she teaches, like a drama teacher with great acting experience or an English teacher who has published a novel.
Or there may be former students, either currently in or recently graduated from college, who can offer insight into what a particular major is like.
High school counselors generally know who to contact to locate the information you seek, and talking to someone with relevant experience can often be useful when setting goals for the future.
Many high schools have resources regarding youth employment as well, where students can talk to people who can help connect them with after-school jobs, babysitting opportunities, internships and so on. These offices can also give students important information about what’s legal in terms of teen employment — working hours, acceptable tasks, permits and more.
Students who take on one of these roles would meet additional people to talk to about their interests and future as well. Your counselor should be able to direct you to one of these offices if your school offers them.
Remember: Planning ahead and asking your counselor questions during freshman year can pay dividends as you move closer to graduation and college.
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3 Freshman Year Questions to Ask Your High School Counselor originally appeared on usnews.com
