Lest you think that your high school curriculum doesn’t matter, rest assured, it doesn’t matter. And it may very well shape your future based on what colleges decide you’re ready to do.
“Choosing the right high school curriculum isn’t just about meeting graduation requirements – it’s about crafting a narrative that reflects your intellectual curiosity, academic growth, and alignment with your goals,” says Top College Admissions. said Wafa Muflahi, partner at Command Education. Consulting company based in New York City.
For example, one of Muflahi’s students, a future engineering major, chose to take dual-enrollment classes in AP Physics, Calculus BC, and Robotics while he was in high school. According to Muflahi, these choices not only challenged him academically, but also demonstrated a clear trajectory toward his passion for problem-solving.
“Admissions officers are attracted to students who thoughtfully chart their educational journeys, reflecting both depth and breadth,” he said.
Here’s expert information on what to do to impress college admissions officers – and how to avoid common curriculum mistakes.
Prioritize the top five
That’s English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and a Foreign Language.
Dr. Robert Cohen, PhD, of Cohen Educational Services, said, “Colleges – especially selective colleges – want to see students challenging themselves, so choosing to take challenging courses like honors or AP-level options is typically a “Will strengthen the student’s candidacy.” An independent educational consultancy in Manhattan.
For selective colleges, Dr. Cohen said it’s generally best to take four years of all five majors. “For a language other than English, it is better to take several years of one language than a few years of several languages. In science, all students must take a full year of biology, chemistry and physics,” he added.
Focus on the “Why” Not the “What”
As Cindy Chanin, founder and director of Rainbow Education Consulting & Tutoring in Los Angeles, California, said, your course load isn’t about what you take, it’s about why you take certain classes.
“So many students feel extreme pressure to take as many AP/IB/Honors as they can into their already busy schedules. If there are diminishing returns in course load, you may be better off taking less demanding courses and allocating time and energy to passion projects. [and] Entrepreneurial endeavors,” she said.
According to Chanin, there should be a level of authenticity in your selection of courses. “Don’t take seven APs because someone else is taking seven APs. And don’t take courses just because you know you can get easy A’s!” You should find courses in which you can immerse yourself and that reflect your “deepest interests,” he said.
Along these lines, Chanin emphasizes that it’s helpful when the curriculum you take in school aligns with the narrative you’re crafting outside the classroom, as long as it’s authentic. Doesn’t come at a price. “It’s not necessary to have everything perfectly drawn and plotted, but it’s useful to focus on the overall arc of your copy,” he says.
challenge yourself
Reach beyond your limits, students. Dr. Cohen said, “Many capable students do not realize how important it is to challenge themselves in high school; they think that earning easy courses will put them in the best position to get into college.” “When colleges evaluate the extent to which a student has challenged themselves in high school, they do so with an understanding of the opportunities (or lack thereof) offered within the school,” he explained. That if a student’s school lacks advanced course offerings, colleges will not penalize the student for not taking such courses.
reach goal
Forget the myth of the “fun senior year.” Laurie Kopp Weingarten, CEP, president and co-founder of One-Stop College Counseling, based in Marlboro, NJ, shares that she often sees students who want to lighten their load for senior year in order to have a grand old time . “This is not a good idea. Colleges want to see serious students who continue to challenge themselves. Admissions officers check that senior year program,” she said.
Still, don’t overdo it in any year. “Students often try to take as many difficult courses as possible, even if their grades may suffer. Push yourself, but don’t burden yourself,” said Jake Beckman, founding partner of SLB Education Consultants in Scarsdale, NY.
Supplement your curriculum with independent study
Create your own dream curriculum and admissions professionals will be delighted, because it “shows you as a student who thinks outside the box and takes initiative,” Chanin said.
Similarly, Muflahi underlined the importance of showing consistency and depth in a particular area. “One of my students, an aspiring history major, focused her high school curriculum on the humanities by taking AP World History, AP US History, and advanced writing electives. She also independently began a research project on women’s roles in the civil rights movement, which she used to secure a summer research internship at a local university,” Muflahi said. “This sustained focus demonstrated her intellectual depth and readiness for special programs at the college. Admissions officers look for this kind of sustained commitment to a student’s area of passion,” she said.
Muflahi also mentored a student passionate about environmental science who balanced a challenging load of AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and honors mathematics while maintaining a strong GPA. “Admissions officers appreciate their ability to excel by seeking courses relevant to their interests,” he added, indicating that strategic course selection can help students move forward without compromising their mental health or overall performance. helps.
Chanin, meanwhile, shared the example of an avid rock-climbing student client she worked with who announced an independent study with the science department around the physics of rock climbing. He said, “He had a lot of fun piloting this course with his faculty members and those efforts were successful – Brown University certainly took notice of him and his application.”
That’s why Chanin likes to remind people that our growth as human beings can be reflected in the choices we make, both on and off the academic transcript.
think ahead
Take classes that are pre-requisites for your potential major. Your future self will thank you. And as long as you’re taking advanced core courses, Kopp Weingarten said it’s okay to take courses relevant to your potential major. “If they are applying to major in business, try to reach at least the calculus level in math. If applying to engineering, aim to take Calculus and AP Physics C, if possible and offered at your school,” she said. “For nursing, make sure you have biology and chemistry. In other words, there are core classes that certain majors require,” he elaborated, giving suggestions to individuals (cough: parents reading this) to help guide high school planning decisions. Explore the websites of colleges of interest.
Beckman said connecting your curriculum vitae with potential college majors can prove useful. “This not only shows your commitment, but it also allows you to explore topics in depth to confirm your interests.” For example, from taking Greek in high school and realizing you don’t really want to take Classics to dabbling in a few courses, wasting hours of collegiate study devoted to the major you dropped. can also be stopped.
Perhaps all of this is best expressed in four simple words, Muflahi said: “Prioritize rigor and balance.” With the right college admissions team, teachers, and preparation, it is definitely within your reach.
Is there a future doctor in the house? Consider this fast-track approach
Seven-year BA/MD programs like Brown University’s Liberal Medical Education program offer a direct path from graduate study to medical school, Muflahi said. He said such programs can typically save students a year of education.
Of course, getting into these elite programs is not easy. As Muflahi emphasized, these programs are the most competitive, often requiring a perfect or near-perfect GPA, strong standardized test scores, and an initial focus on health care-related activities.
Read: Your child should start preparing for this track as early as possible. For example, one of the Muflahi students, who was accepted into the joint BA/MD program, began planning in middle school. The student took Honors Science courses in 8th grade, which allowed her to enroll in AP Biology and AP Chemistry as a freshman and sophomore, and by her junior year of high school, she was dual-enrolled at a local community college. Completed Anatomy and Physiology classes. “His extracurricular activities included volunteering at a hospital, supervising a pediatrician, and founding a health sciences club at his school,” Muflahi said.
Preparing to apply to the joint BA/MD program also includes creating what Muflahi calls a “compelling personal narrative.” Through her application essays, the student shared how her experience as the primary caregiver for her younger sibling with chronic illness inspired her interest in pediatrics, recalled Muflahi. “This combination of academic rigor, practical experience, and personal insight made him stand out in the competitive pool.”
If your child expresses interest in these programs, Muflahi said to consider the following three-pronged approach:
Proficient in challenging academics: Encourage them to take rigorous science and math courses early, such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Calculus. Community college classes in anatomy or medical ethics during the summer can also help.
Aim high with standardized testing: Aim for high scores on AP exams in science and math in your sophomore or junior year to demonstrate mastery. The same applies to scoring highly on the SAT or ACT.
Pursue additional courses in the health field: Look for research opportunities, internships in hospitals, or leadership roles in health-focused clubs. Volunteering at clinics or seeing doctors starting in middle school or early high school shows commitment.
