High school course selection matters.
Grades and strength of high school curriculum are among the top factors college admissions officers weigh when vetting freshman applicants, according to a report released in 2016 from the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Families navigating the selection of high school classes can use the following do’s and don’ts for guidance.
Do create a rigorous — yet balanced — schedule: Students should take challenging classes, such as honors or Advanced Placement courses, says Jodi Edmunds, school counseling department chairwoman at Walter Johnson High School in Maryland. But they should balance their schedule with easier classes, too.
Students can talk with their teachers about what courses will offer the appropriate challenge, she says.
Parents can be the voice of reason in these conversations for what seems like an appropriate course load, says Edmunds, and sometimes need to set limits for students.
If students are not ready for a challenging class and earn a C, they could potentially create an unfavorable picture of themselves for colleges or universities they apply to, since that grade could represent many different things, says Geoff Heckman, school counseling department chair at Platte County High School in Missouri.
Don’t take classes for the wrong reasons: Students shouldn’t take a class just because their best friend is taking it or it’s a course they think they need to get into college, says Edmunds.
Many students at her school feel they need to take many AP courses to get into college, she says. “The reality is that they don’t need to take every course at that particular level,” she says. Students should focus on their strengths and ensure they have time to devote to studying.
Parents shouldn’t set unrealistic expectations either, she says. Focus on where the student fits academically and don’t add pressure.
[Get answers for parents about college-level classes in high school.]
Do consider future plans when selecting high school classes: Students should first think through their career plans and whether they want to go to a four-year college, the military or straight to the workforce after graduation, says Heckman, who was named the 2016 Missouri School Counselor of the Year.
From there, students can determine what high school classes will best prepare them for their intended path.
Students should take challenging courses early on in high school if available, especially if they plan on going to a postsecondary institution, he says. Junior and senior year, students should take courses that mirror expectations for what they want to do after high school.
While students don’t need to know exactly what they want to do after high school, the closer they can get to figuring out their career path, the better prepared they will be, he says. He helps his students who are unsure of what they want to do after high school identify some kind of career path based on interests to help guide course selection.
While students should take courses that interest them or align with college and career goals, they should be mindful they are fulfilling graduation requirements too, says Edmunds.
Don’t neglect to plan early: Freshmen and sophomores should become familiar with all the courses their school offers and what prerequisites are required, says Heckman. Otherwise, students may miss out on classes they want to take later.
Ninth grade might be a good time for students to repeat a course they took in eighth grade, such as foreign language or math, to build a strong foundation before moving forward, Edmunds says.
[Learn how to use college goals to choose senior year courses.]
Students can also research what the basic requirements are for colleges they are interested in attending — something school counselors could help with, she says.
Yale University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, offer advice on high school course selection on their websites.
Parents should respect what their child wants to do, but can play an important role in guiding students through the course selection process, Heckman says. “I don’t want them to sit back and just watch everything unravel,” he says.
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Do’s, Don’ts of Picking High School Classes originally appeared on usnews.com
