Across the country, many high school students and their families are being asked to plan their course selections for next academic year.
The classes you choose in HS become a key piece of your college application.
Here’s what we want every student & family to know– 
Context is Everything 
The classes on your transcript will never be assessed in a vacuum. An admissions reviewer will always be reading a student’s transcript in the ‘context’ of the high school they attend. This is to say that the admissions officer will pay close attention to what coursework and programs are offered at a student’s high school and will want to understand what portion of those rigorous and advanced offerings a student took advantage of. If there are limited advanced offerings at the school, this will be taken into consideration and will not negatively impact the applicant.
This doesn’t mean the most rigorous program is right for every student, but it is important to understand that even beyond the grades a student earns, the rigor of the curriculum is a critically important factor in admissions decisions. At the most selective colleges, the general expectation is that a student will have taken rigorous offerings across the curriculum, and earned strong grades in those courses.
Think 5 x 4 As Your Baseline Plan
Most colleges do not publish detailed guidelines of their high school course requirements for admission, however they do ‘prefer’ to see some things in a transcript. In general, know that colleges want to see students take all five core academic subjects all four years of high school. This means English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies/History & World Languages. While there can be, in certain cases, exceptions to this, it’s best to discuss this closely with your family, your school counselor, and/or your college admissions advisor before dropping courses. Even if the course isn’t required for graduation, admissions officers prefer to see students taking 5 academic courses each year.
Senior Year Matters 
Although an early application may mean a college will not review senior grades (though they can and often do), they will always see the courses you are enrolled in. Admissions readers will not look favorably upon a student who has just 3-4 academic courses senior year, even if the student has already completed required coursework.
Align Your Choices to Your Interests
When students indicate prospective majors and career interests on their applications, college admissions officers apply those interests as a lens to understand the student’s coursework and choices. For example, a student who indicates interest in biology or engineering will face increased attention on the rigor and grades of their math and science courses. Most selective colleges will expect and prefer to see students with these interests pursue the most rigorous math and science curriculum such as advanced work in calculus and physics, and earn strong grades in these classes.
Don’t Overload Courses at the Expense of Active Engagement Beyond School
We want students & families to be empowered with the knowledge to understand how the choices you make will be interpreted by admissions officers, and to have a realistic understanding of how high the expectations of the admissions process are. That said, each student needs the opportunity to grow and develop as a full person. Having the most rigorous courses and best grades with no involvement in your community or engagement of your interests in activities will not serve you well in the application process. You shouldn’t overload on advanced coursework at the expense of your well-being or your capacity to build a life that tells the story of your passions, interests, and involvement beyond your classes. 
TBU Advisors are experienced in supporting students to understand themselves, navigate their college choices, clarify their personal best fit, and tell their most compelling stories; our passion is helping you make a plan that takes the overwhelm out of the process and empowers you to become your own best you. 
If you’d like to explore working with a TBU Advisor from 8th grade through transfer admissions, get in touch here and we will look forward to connecting with you.
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