High School Courses for Sports Medicine career?

I'm really set on getting into sports medicine. What are the most critical classes I should be focusing on in high school to get ready for this kind of career?

To prepare for a career in sports medicine, you would likely pursue a pre-medicine or related undergraduate track, which means taking a substantial number of courses in the sciences. To get a head start on this in high school, you should consider taking as many advanced science and math courses as possible.

Biology and Chemistry are particularly relevant as they form the foundation for human anatomy and the chemical processes in the body, which are crucial in medicine. If your school offers it, Physics can also provide a solid foundation for understanding mechanical forces, which can be useful especially in understanding sports injuries.

Math courses, especially Algebra, Geometry, and potentially Calculus, can be helpful as they are critical in many science fields and for potential future medical statistics coursework.

Apart from these core subjects, consider taking a Health or Anatomy course if your school offers them, for baseline knowledge about human health and anatomy. If your school offers AP courses such as AP Biology or AP Chemistry, these can not only deepen your understanding of these subjects, but also potentially give you college credit for required classes in your undergraduate studies.

Graduate programs in sports medicine, like other medical programs, will look for evidence of your commitment to the medical field. Hence, try to participate in related extracurricular activities like HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), Red Cross Club, hospital volunteering, or shadowing local healthcare professionals. These experiences will not only offer real-world exposure to your intended profession, but they will also enhance your college applications and provide material for essays and interviews.

Remember, it's vital to have a good balance in your course enrollments to show you are a well-rounded student, not purely focused on science and math. Balancing difficult science and math courses with humanities and social science courses will show that you have the potential to excel in a rigorous undergraduate environment and communicate effectively, a crucial skill in medicine.

So, while the sciences and math are important to build foundational knowledge, don't neglect other fields, as a well-rounded education can help with skill sets like communication and understanding the human condition - both of which are critical in medicine. These courses will also have reading and writing demands that will help you develop good study habits that will be invaluable in college and beyond.