This month each student in grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 will receive a course selection form to select which courses they would like to take for the 2018-2019 academic year. Here are a few things to pay attention to when selecting courses.
When in doubt, err on the side of rigor
The degree to which you expose yourself to rigor or challenge in the high school classroom speaks volumes with regard to the likelihood that you can perform well in college level courses. As a result, admission officers are watching to see how you use the curriculum available to you to see how you “step it up” each year. Each year of high school should reflect advancement through progressively rigorous coursework in each core subject area (English, math, science, history and world language). Know your capacity to do the work. In contemplating rigor in course options, it is easy to assume that taking the highest level will be most impressive to colleges. While there is some truth in that assessment, you need to be able to function at a high level in the course. Barely passing an inordinately “hard” course produces the double whammy of a low grade in that course and the ripple effect of lower grades in other courses as you spend a large amount of time making it through the “hard” course. The bottom line: While it is important to stretch yourself, don’t over-reach in taking courses for the purpose of impressing admission officers. Your previous teacher’s recommendation is a great way to go if you are unsure.
Breadth matters
In other words, keep your bases covered. In each year of high school, you should take courses in the five core discipline areas: English, math, science, history and world language. Do this regardless of your career interests. Why? Admission officers, especially at highly selective colleges, want to see that you have developed skills of critical thinking and analysis across disciplines. Having such an experience gives them greater confidence that you will be able to handle credit requirements and cross-disciplinary courses you are likely to encounter in college.
Substitute value for value.
It is not uncommon for students entering the junior or senior year to rationalize course selections (e.g. “I don’t like Spanish…” “I want to double up in sciences…”). Generally speaking, dropping a course in one discipline for a course in another is acceptable if you are substituting value for value. This typically means that taking a core subject course in replace of another core subject course is fine. If there are additional AP electives available, you can also take one of these in replace of a course subject course. For example, dropping an Honors or AP Spanish in order to take AP Psychology or two math or history courses is acceptable. On the other hand, dropping it for an art class (if you are not pursuing art in college) or because you want a study hall would be a bad move within the context of competition at selective colleges. You need to also consider what you may be pursuing as a major in college. If it is math and/or science oriented then you should continue to pursue the most rigorous courses in math and science.
Don’t settle for “good enough.”
It is common for students to chart their progress through high school by working only to the level of their graduation requirements or to the course “requirements” posted by colleges. The problem is that selective colleges want to see what you will do when you have seemingly satisfied your “requirements”—when you don’t think you have to do anything else. Be careful, then, not to settle for the minimum or that which is “good enough”. If you want to increase your range of options as a college applicant, push past that which is good enough to that which will make you a better candidate. A common question from students regarding course selection sounds like this: “Is it better for me to take an easier course where I know I can get an “A” or should I take a harder course where I’ll probably get a lower grade?” The best way to answer this question is to take the harder class and get an “A”. God expects the best from us using the knowledge, gifts and abilities He has given us. In my mind, when you assume you will get a lower grade in a course, you are not only selling yourself short but also not trusting in Him to bring out the best in you. You know what you are capable of and what would be a wise choice of courses to take, but sometimes you will surprise yourself when you put your total trust in Him and work to the potential He’s given you.