As an individual, if you already know a specific field that you want to study for college and have idea of the preferred discipline, taking high school classes that are directly aligned with your college curriculum in the future can certainly help in saving you time and energy. But it is a challenge to determine the high school classes that can help in setting you up for success in college. When designing a high school schedule, you should consider your interests, current curriculum, intended major and the available course options.
In this blog, we will provide you a list of top high school courses that can provide you a head start in college. This blog will provide a list of courses that you can take for setting yourself up for long term success in your college career.
Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics as high school subjects
Courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics can provide a good career, particularly if you are pursuing a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) depending on the career that you plan to pursue. You should modify your schedule for your particular goals and requirements. If you plan to study psychology or medicine in the future, you should take biology and chemistry. For pursuing careers in engineering, taking physics and chemistry will be highly beneficial. However, if you are not sure regarding what your future field entails, you must reach out to a professor in that particular scientific community to obtain a sense of the courses that are essential in the future.
Mathematics as a high school subject
It’s essential for all students, specifically STEM students, to obtain a solid foundation in mathematics, regardless of what STEM major you are interested in. Most colleges list math as an essential requirement. Depending primarily on the school, you can test out the requirement in college. If you are not good at mathematics and are considering a career that does require a strong background in Mathematics, there are several schools that provide an option to take college algebra, which is less challenging. It is highly recommended to take the most rigorous website courses available to you. However, if there is an advanced course that you don’t need for your potential major as it could risk your GPA and transcript, its better not to pressurize yourself.
Computer Science as a high school subject
If you aim to work in programming, taking computer science high school course for college can certainly help. Moreover, it also provides an opportunity for earning college credit when you take a computer science course in high school. However, if computer science is not related to your future career it is not essential.
Psychology as a high school subject
Having foundational knowledge in psychology can also help in setting you up for success in different fields. Gaining a perspective on how different individuals think is highly beneficial for advertising and marketing. The knowledge you derive from taking a high school elective in psychology will be essential for future studies.
Foreign language as a high school subject
Colleges provide value to a course load when assessing and evaluating applicants. Taking a foreign language subject can certainly help you in standing out to college admissions officers. It can certainly help in setting you up for success to obtain a language in college. Colleges provide testing out a requirement for foreign language if you attain a specific foreign language exam.
Depending mainly on high school course for college, taking one foreign language in high school is beneficial for testing out, irrespective of the final score. Irrespective of the different language you want to study, its totally your selection. The versatility helps in providing more options to attain your future goals.
Classes to take if you don’t know what to major in?
Do not worry if you do not have clarity regarding the high school course for college. Not every individual knows what they must major in graduating from high school. You can take variety of high school classes or online independent study courses that can help in setting you up for success. This will help you to explore the various avenues of interest. Moreover, it will also help in making sure that you have a good foundation for future subjects. You can also take one one-on-one tutoring or mentor school for guidance.
Key takeaways
It is evident to note that there are various disciplines available to study as a student in high school. You must remember to research your specific field before making a choice. The high school classes you select will mainly depend on your goals for college admissions. When selecting junior and senior year classes, it is better to consult with a college counselor. They can provide you a curated advice that mainly depending on your individual goals.
