Course Selection FAQs
It’s that time of year again--- we are out and about heading to curriculum nights and open houses, trying to learn about the numerous opportunities available for our teenagers. Each year, usually around February, teenagers are asked to select their courses for the following school year. And, on many teenagers' and parents' minds, are questions about how to select courses within the context of college admissions. I’ve decided to take a look at a few of the most common questions I receive.
Before I start, a couple of things to bear in mind-
Every college admissions office evaluates high school transcripts differently. Some will:
Use the reported GPA while others will recalculate what is provided into their own formula
Only look at core courses while others will evaluate electives for interest in the intended major
Look at AP, IB, and DE courses equally while others may rank the rigor differently
Bottom line - there is no concrete formula or universal truth when it comes to evaluating transcripts.
Student applications are evaluated within the context of their high school
A student who goes to a high school that offers 20 different options for AP classes is going to be evaluated differently than a student who goes to a school that only offers 4 AP classes. Colleges are looking for students who are challenging themselves to the greatest extent possible within the constraints of what is available.
Balance is key
Above all else, students need to look for balance among their academic and extracurricular commitments. Students should think about what other activities they are involved in and what they’d like their year to look like. Considerations might include:
Athletic commitments
Academic interests
Part-time work responsibilities
Clubs or other activities
Downtime in their schedule
High School Counselors are your best resource
High school counselors work hard to help their students craft a schedule that takes into account student strengths, interests, and future goals! Not only are they familiar with what colleges are looking for, but they also know the unique characteristics of academic options within their high school. I highly recommend contacting your counselor if you have questions about developing your schedule.
Now let’s get to those FAQs!
How do we decide between Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Enrollment (DE)?
Students must decide between AP, IB, and DE options while also trying to maintain balance in their schedule. The bottom line is that all of these are college-level courses that showcase a student’s ability to be successful in rigorous classes. It’s helpful to look at the comparison in two contexts: college admissions and college credit.
College Admissions
When it comes to the question of how colleges view AP, IB, and DE courses, as with much in college admissions, the answer is “it depends”. One theme repeated by college admissions counselors is that students are evaluated within the context of their high school. While students are not compared against each other, college admissions counselors do try to get an idea of what it looks like to take the most rigorous course load at a high school. Sometimes, that means a schedule full of primarily AP or IB classes, and sometimes that means primarily DE.
College Credit
College credit may be awarded at a 4-year college. For AP and IB courses, the credit awarded will be based on the student’s performance on the end-of-course assessment (the AP or IB exams). Each college has an individual score requirement to award college credits (some give credit for a “3” on an AP Exam while others may require a “4” or “5”). These charts are generally posted on the college website for review. When it comes to DE, the college credit is awarded based on the grade received in the class. However, credit for the course varies greatly among colleges (awarded as a general elective or to exempt a student from a first-year course). College credit for DE is more straightforward when the institution awarding the DE credit (typically the local Community College) is in the same state as the 4-year college the student eventually attends.
Does everyone need to take AP Calculus?
If you are talking about the most selective colleges, then the answer is probably “yes”. The most selective colleges are admitting students who take the most rigorous courses and that usually includes AP Calculus. However, at the majority of colleges, AP Calculus is not necessary for admission. While all colleges want to see students challenging themselves, for many students that means taking rigorous courses in areas of strength or interest. When trying to determine what math course to take, I encourage students to ask themselves the following questions:
How did I do in Precalculus? Was it a challenging class that I was successful in or did I struggle to maintain a B?
Will I eventually need to take Calculus as a part of my intended major? If the answer is yes, it is usually in your best interest to continue with calculus while in high school so that you have a smooth transition to college calculus.
Do I want to study Engineering, Medicine, or another STEM major in college? If the answer is yes, you will want to take Calculus in high school to prepare for the college calculus you will need to take and show the admissions counselor you can be successful in advanced math courses.
Am I showing rigor in other areas of my transcript? If math isn’t a primary strength or interest, are there other academic areas that you enjoy where you can highlight rigorous courses?
What about electives?
For many colleges, electives may not even be a part of the college admissions equation so I always encourage students to select them based on interest and the opportunity for career exploration! Think about what types of activities are interesting and try to find an elective to match up. Do you already know what type of college major/career you want to pursue after high school? Take a class in that area so you can solidify your interest (or, just as importantly, decide it's not for you) before you get to college.
How many World Language credits do I need?
Generally speaking, students want to complete a minimum of two years of high school world language credit to be eligible for admission to most colleges and universities. Some colleges will prefer three years on your high school transcript. With four years of world language credit in high school, some colleges will provide exemptions to foreign language requirements. There are always exceptions to these generalities so it’s a good idea to review individual college websites of your large state institutions to get a better idea of what is required.
I hope this information helps you have a more informed discussion about selecting courses and developing a 4-year plan!
Have your own FAQ around course selection I didn’t include? Send me an email at nikihaubner@deliberatelydesignedllc.com and I’ll get right back to you!