Many juniors (and their parents) want to know what courses they should take to improve their chances of admission to the college of their dreams. There is no magic formula but when weighting your course selection for the upcoming year, there are a few things you should consider:

•  Have you taken full advantage of opportunities available to you in high school?
•  Are you achieving at your highest level all four years?
•  Have you consulted with your counselor before locking in your course selection?
•  Ask yourself,  “Am I challenged by the courses I am taking?”
•  Are your courses a good foundation for college and will you be prepared to take college-level math, writing, and science courses?
•  Are your courses among the most rigorous ones available to you at the school?

Suggestions for how to succeed in courses you choose:

•  Exercise good judgment in the curriculum level that makes sense for you. Some students achieve at the same level across all subjects, while others may be stronger in one or two areas.
•  Choose coursework that inspires your intellectual passion.
•  Take classes that reveal your excitement for learning, not just to show you are taking an AP (advanced placement), IB (International Baccalaureate) or Accelerated class just because of that name.
•  Do as well as you can, not just “good enough” in your courses
•  Don’t overreach your capacity. Find your balance between academic and extracurricular leadership commitments.
•  Read, read, read. Proficient readers build comprehension skills, vocabulary, and develop a curiosity and imagination for a variety of subjects. It is the ground work for academic success and growth.

It is wise to first consult your teachers and high school counselor on what courses are most appropriate for you at your high school. You will have to make some difficult decisions about which courses to take and how to balance your schoolwork and your extracurricular pursuits.

We hope that this advice helps inform you as you make those decisions.