What high school classes should I take to prepare for college?

Hello! I’m trying to plan my courses for next year. What classes did you take in high school that you felt gave you an edge in the college admissions process, or just generally prepared you better for college-level work?

Hello there! It's wonderful that you're considering your coursework in the context of college preparation. To give yourself an edge in college admissions, especially if you're aiming for top-tier institutions, you should take the most rigorous classes available to you. This often means enrolling in Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are offered at your school.

These classes mimic the challenge and depth of college-level work, showing admissions officers that you're ready for the next step academically. For example, if you're interested in engineering, taking AP Doing well in challenging courses will not only look good on your college applications but also give you a solid foundation for the kind of critical thinking and study skills you'll need in college.

However, it's also important to maintain a balance. While you want to challenge yourself, you also need to ensure that you can manage your workload and achieve high grades across your courses. Remember, quality over quantity is key, so choose rigor in the subjects that interest you most and that you plan to continue studying in college. Plus, if you are aiming for slightly less selective schools, then you don't necessarily need to take the highest level in every single subject. Focus on your interests, as that will lead to the most enriching academic experience possible, not only for college admissions but also your personal intellectual growth.

Good luck with your course selection!