It’s January, and for a lot of high school students, that means it's time for course selection! This week we wanted to offer some answers to the most frequently asked questions we get about course selection from our students, to help you build the best possible high school schedule next semester and beyond.
“Do I have to take Spanish?”
I’d have to say that this is the number one question we get from students, and we hate to be the bearers of bad news - but YES, you do! Most schools are looking for students to take a language for all four years of high school. If at all possible, plan to take one language throughout high school rather than switching or stopping after junior year. Yes, even if you came in at a higher level after middle school coursework and will have finished Spanish 4 at the end of tenth grade. Yes, even if you really, really, really don’t want to.
“Which is better, Honors Calculus or AP Statistics?”
Most selective schools like to see students on the calculus track, so if you have not yet taken a calculus course, that would be the best option. AP Calculus is better than Honors Calculus (and we love to see students finish AB and BC of possible) but I’d still recommend choosing Honors Calculus over AP Statistics if those are the only two choices. For students that finish their school’s calculus offerings during their junior year, AP Statistics might be a great senior year option - particularly if they attend schools that do not offer Linear Algebra or another advanced math course.
“What if my school doesn’t have those higher-level courses?”
Schools want to see you take the most rigorous course load available to you. Luckily, they have a profile of your high school, along with your counselor letter of recommendation. These documents provide context about the choices you made among the options you had. If your school only offers two AP classes and you’ve taken them both, an admissions officer will evaluate that very differently from a student who has taken two APs at a school that offers eleven. But remember - AP courses alone do not necessarily equate to rigor (as in the math example above). Try to pick the most challenging courses across the board, AP or not.
“Is it better to get an A in a regular class or a B in an AP class?”
This is truly the million-dollar question! Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a simple answer because - it depends. With our clients, we look at the overall strength of the transcript and the student profile before giving advice on this issue.
In general, it is better to get an A in an AP class! If you are considering dropping down a level in a class, here are a couple of things to consider:
Is this a subject area that you are applying to major in, or is it closely related?
If you stay in the higher-level class, is there a chance that you will receive a C or below?
If you stay in the higher-level class, will your grades drop in your other classes because you will spend so much time on more difficult material? (This is a very important one to consider).
If you stay in the higher-level class, will it compromise your time management or mental health?
In the end, this is ultimately a decision that should be made with the help of your parents and school counselor (and, if you are a client, let’s discuss!).
“Which electives should I take?”
One of the first things we do with all of our new clients is talk with them about where they think they might like to specialize. So if you have some open slots on your schedule, take a look at the subjects where you already excel and the extracurricular activities that you love. Are you an athlete who thinks you may excel as a physical therapist? Try out Anatomy & Physiology. Are you a DECA rockstar? See if there is an entrepreneurship or business elective you haven’t already taken. When thinking about adding courses, you want to make sure that they fit into your overall applicant profile and align with your interests. The bonus is that you will enjoy classes much more if they connect to what you already love to do!
If you want to talk more with us about course selection, book a strategy session and we can dive deep into your schedule and come up with a plan for the next two, three, or four years of high school.
We hope you enjoy the start of the new semester!