High school course selection: How do you pick your classes?

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It’s course selection season and students across the country are asking themselves “Will this class look good on my college applications?” and “Should I be taking harder classes?”

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by this. To feel obligated to take certain classes because they’re more challenging or because our friends are taking them.

A decent approach, but, alas, not necessarily the best.

When it comes to high school course selection strategies, there are so many options and there’s no ONE right formula. You want to enjoy your high school experience but also present yourself as a strong candidate for universities.

So, today, I want to take a moment to break this down.

To sit down and highlight the areas you should be thinking about in your approach to course selection.

When you are choosing your classes for the next year, you want classes that: 

1) Provide a healthy challenge.

Yes, it’s tempting to take the easy route, especially when the alternative is risking your high school GPA.

But don’t.

Instead, mix it up.

Take a few standard classes, sprinkle in a few Honors, and top off with an AP or dual enrollment class.

So, vary your class list to give you a few easy, low energy classes as well as a few intense, high productivity ones.

And if you’re stuck as to which classes you should level up on, I suggest playing to your strengths.

If you’re a strong math student, then it may be worth it to take an Honors or AP Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB or BC, or AP Statistics.

If you’re better at English, then try out AP English Language or AP English Literature.

Alternatively, level up on subjects you want to get better at.

If you’re awful at writing, then an AP English Language class is not only going to teach you to analyze texts for deeper meaning and writing styles, but it’ll also help you understand the nuances (rhetorical & literacy devices) used in the English language. You’ll struggle initially, but by the end of the year, you’ll be shocked at your own improvement.

If you are thinking of applying to competitive universities (acceptance rate of <40%), aim for the higher-level courses.

Universities like to see academic rigor – your willingness to challenge yourself.

That you’re willing to step out of your zone of comfort and into unfamiliar territory.  And you’re not afraid of the difficult.

2) Indicate an interest in a particular career.

If you already have a career path in mind or a few options you’ve been thinking about, try taking classes related to those field to find out more.  

If you think you’re interested in business, maybe your high school offers a few business electives like accounting or entrepreneurship.

Interested in psychology? Try taking AP Psychology, childhood development or other variations.

If medicine is the route you’d like to go, explore the anatomy classes, and if your high school offers an EMT Training program, try it!

High school electives for career exploration allow you to test out your interests before committing to a major in college.

Finding the right career for you is a trial-and-error process. The more you explore, the more likely you are to find your areas of interest. So, if your high school allows you the opportunity to try a class in your area of interest, do it. It’ll either be the best decision you make, or you’ll knock one career option off your list.

It’s a win-win either way.

3) Allow you to explore your curiosities.

High school is honestly one of the best times to explore your curiosities. It’s low-risk, and you have the luxury of deep-diving into a topic in a systematic manner. The classes have already been designed with curriculums set to cover a wide range of topics within the subject.

So, what better way to find out if you like a certain field or topic than to be thrown into it?

Interested in the environment (or taking an easy AP)? AP Environmental Science may be right up your alley.

Want to see if coding and web design could be your thing? Try a computer science class.

Always wanted to learn to sketch or work with wood? Take the art or woodworking classes.

When choosing your classes for next year, don’t just think about what universities will like. Instead, think about the areas you’re curious about and the skills you want to acquire.

And if you’re wondering “how will the classes I want to take look on college applications?”, don’t.

You craft your story.

As long as you’ve balanced your class list with a few challenges, your electives in particular are yours to play with.

Aim for a well-rounded high school experience.

4) Earn college credit while still in high school.

Did you know that taking AP classes or taking dual enrollment classes in high school can help you earn college credit?

And that earning college credits means that you’ll have to take fewer classes in college…

…which could save thousands of dollars in university tuition fees?

Some high schools allow students to take AP exams for free while others ask you to pay the ~$100 fee. Either way, it’s worth it.

Dual enrollment programs – programs that allow students to take college classes either at their high school or physically at a university at a discounted rate– can also give you a leg up.

They allow you to take the college class at a free or discounted rate and earn credit if you earn a C or above. Unlike APs, which only provide college credit of students pass the AP exam with a 3 or above, dual enrollment classes simply ask students to pass the class

If you’d like to learn more about AP, check out the post of AP Exams: Who, What, When, Where, and How Many?

Note: There are other programs like APs and Dual Enrollment (such as IB) that can also help you earn college credit, however the options mentioned are the most widespread.

Overall, as you think about your classes for the next year, see if you can earn a few college credits. Earning these credits in high school could save you thousands in college tuition.

 Bonus: If you walk into college with enough credits and you could graduate a semester – or even an entire year– early!

There may be certain university-based limits to the AP or Dual Enrollment credits accepted, so talk to your high school guidance counselor beforehand.

5) Have great teachers for those subjects.

If you’re considering taking a difficult subject or are on the fence about it, think about the teachers for that subject.

Are they good? Have a great reputation for breaking down difficult concepts and making them interesting… even if that means doing extra homework?

If so, then take the subject. Some teachers can make the most boring subjects captivating.

 I took AP Calculus BC simply because my phenomenal pre-calc teacher was teaching it. So, why wouldn’t I knock an AP out of the way, get college credit and enjoy the class?

Final Thoughts

Your high school experience doesn’t have to be a chore. It doesn’t have to be a miserable experience that you muddle through by taking the classes that look good for college.

Your classes can be your opportunity to challenge yourself, explore potential career interests and poke at your curiosities. So be strategic.

Think about the approach you want to take and be intentional about it.

Avoid taking subjects solely because friends are taking them. They are leaning into their own interests, and you should lean into yours.

So, take your time, weigh your options, and choose wisely!

Need Help with Course Selection?

If you’re still unsure, talking to your school counselor about how to balance your high school course workload can be incredibly helpful. And if you need more personalized guidance, reach out for a free consult.