High School Resources
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How to Select Your Courses
Create a Solid Academic Portfolio
Your course schedule may seem like a random selection of classes to you, but college admissions officers see it as the blueprint of your high school education. They're looking for a solid foundation of learning that you can build on in college.
Take at least five solid academic classes every semester. The following subjects and classes are standard fare for success in high school and beyond, whether you plan to attend a four-year, two-year, or technical school.
English (Language Arts)
Take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help you improve your writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.
- Literature
- Writing/composition
- Speech
Math
You need algebra and geometry to succeed on college entrance exams, in college math classes, and in most careers. Take them early on and you'll be able to enroll in advanced science and math in high school—and you'll show colleges you're ready for higher-level work.
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Algebra II
- Trigonometry and/or calculus
Science
Science teaches you to think analytically and apply theories to reality. Laboratory classes let you test what you've learned through hands-on work. Six semesters are recommended.
- Two semesters in biology
- Two semesters in chemistry and/or physics
- Two semesters in earth/space sciences, advanced biology, advanced chemistry, or physics
Social Studies
Understand local and world events that are happening now by studying the culture and history that has shaped them. Social sciences round out your core curriculum.
- Two semesters in U.S. history
- One semester of U.S. government
- One semester in economics
- One semester in world history or geography
- One additional semester in the above, or other areas
Foreign Languages
Solid foreign language study shows colleges you're willing to stretch beyond the basics. Many colleges require at least two years of foreign language study, and some prefer more.
The Arts
Research indicates that students who participate in the arts often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts help you recognize patterns, discern differences and similarities, and exercise your mind in unique ways, oftentimes outside of a traditional classroom setting.
Computer Science
More and more college courses and jobs require at least a basic knowledge of computers. Computer skills also can help you do research and schoolwork better and faster.
Advanced Placement Program® (AP®)
Try out college-level work, master valuable skills, and, with satisfactory grades, maybe even receive college credit. More than 3,000 higher education institutions award credit based on satisfactory AP Exam grades.
(Source: www.Collegbound.com)
Why Get a College Degree? | Top
Knowledge, Skills, and More Opportunities
If you go to college, you'll gain information and skills that you'll use for the rest of your life, no matter what career you chose. College will enable you to:
Expand your knowledge and skills.
- Express your thoughts clearly in speech and in writing.
- Grasp abstract concepts and theories.
- Increase your understanding of the world and your community.
What This Means for You | Top
These benefits may sound great on their own, but college also has some very practical benefits:
- More Job Opportunities: The world is changing rapidly. More and more jobs require education beyond high school. College graduates have more jobs to choose from than those who don't pursue education beyond high school.
- Earn More Money: A person who goes to college usually earns more than a person who doesn't. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, on average, someone with a bachelor's degree earns $50,900—that's 62 percent more than the $31,500 earned annually by someone with only a high school diploma.
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