It’s course selection time at high schools across the country! If you’re the parent of a rising freshman, this podcast is a must-listen, as we walk you through the ins and outs of how to choose courses in high school that prepare your student for college.
First, it’s important to make a 4-year plan right from the start and get to know the college requirements for a variety of schools your student might be applying to (for example, if you live in California and think you might like to go to a UC school, getting to know the A-G requirements is a must).
Next, understand these four areas that impact course decision making:
- Get the minimum graduation requirements from your high school
- Ideally, a college bound student has four years of all their core academic subjects, including a language other than English.
- Get to know your school’s policies about higher level courses, and understand the differences between regular, honors, Pre-AP, AP and IB.
- Choose electives that help develop a students interests and strengths.
Some common mistakes people make in course selection include:
- Choosing the “easy” courses.
- Thinking that it’s enough to meet the minimum requirements.
- Overloading themselves with too many hard courses.
- Allowing too many off periods.
- Not being thoughtful and having a plan.
For more information about course selection, listen to the entire podcast and then visit Megan’s website at www.collegeprepresults.com.
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