Choosing High School Classes for College Benefit

Choose rigorous classes that challenge you and give college admissions officers confidence in your abilities.

By Brian Witte and Tiffany Sorensen

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Feb. 28, 2022, at 3:31 p.m.

High School Classes for College Prep

Students who are uncertain about a future career or major should use senior year to sample classes outside of their known strengths.(Getty Images)

The early years of high school, when students must fulfill basic academic requirements and prerequisites for advanced classes, do not tend to afford students very much choice in their class schedules. Options, if any, may be limited to one precious elective per term.

Seniors, however, often have more space in their schedules for courses that genuinely interest them. Here are four goals for seniors to consider before choosing their last round of high school classes.

Think About Your Future

Arguably the most common approach to senior-year course selection is to register for courses that complement your intended career path or college major.

For example, enrolling in additional math classes would certainly benefit a prospective physics major, especially if they prompt the student to use core skills in a new way. For the same student, a computer science course could serve to expand creative thinking and problem-solving capacities.

If you are considering a liberal arts major, seek out electives with a theme, such as African American poetry or Renaissance art. No matter how seemingly specific, such courses will prepare you for a comprehensive liberal arts education.

If your high school does not offer targeted electives, investigate dual-enrollment options available through local colleges. Alternatively, you can find out if your high school has an independent study option, which would allow you to work with a teacher to build a curriculum that demonstrates your interests and abilities to colleges while furthering your skills in those areas.

In short, avoid taking basic survey classes during your senior year. Your main goal is to prove to colleges that you are delving into your preferred fields as deeply as possible.

 

Experiment

If you are not certain about a future career or major, use senior year to sample classes outside of your known strengths. In other words, step outside your comfort zone.

Perhaps you are wavering about a science specialization. In such cases, think outside the box and take a class in an unrelated discipline, like business. Doing so can bring you clarity, as the outcome will likely be twofold: either you unearth another passion or confirm your affinity for science.

Art classes, too, can add depth to your transcript and provide you with the chance to explore new fields. If, along the way, you discover that you love both biology and drawing, for instance, you may be led to a career in the burgeoning field of medical illustration.

 

The practical benefits of exploration extend beyond broadening your horizons. The courses you take throughout your high school career can demonstrate to prospective colleges that you are a well-rounded student with an active and curious mind.

Challenge Yourself

Senior year also provides you with the opportunity to step it up a notch. If your high school offers Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or dual-enrollment classes and you are not already enrolled in them, this is your last chance to take on the challenge.

Enrolling in advanced courses can be especially beneficial if you struggled early in your high school career and need to demonstrate academic improvement. Remember that college admissions officers look favorably upon students who showed significant betterment as they progressed through high school.

As a bonus, AP, IB and dual enrollment can help you obtain college credit before you even set foot on campus.

Taking these challenging courses is often worth the sacrifice, as they can save you significant time and money later. Furthermore, they serve as legitimate practice for the more rigorous coursework you can and should expect in college.

Go the Extra Mile

State or school policies may allow students to discontinue their studies in a field after a certain term. For instance, you may be able to drop foreign language or music once you conclude sophomore year.

While it may be tempting to abandon a discipline you have struggled with or are not particularly fond of, the decision is worth some contemplation. College admissions counselors view it positively when applicants go beyond meeting the basic requirements. In addition, certain types of courses can benefit you in the long term.

Language courses, for instance, can equip you for an internship with a multinational company or a study abroad experience. Note that study abroad programs in English-speaking nations like Ireland and Australia rarely involve foreign language requirements, but this may not be true for countries in which other languages are spoken.

However, even if you never study abroad or complete an international internship, competence in a foreign language is known to make your job applications more competitive and can even result in a higher pay grade.

What Are Your Test Prep Options?

Source: CollegeData.com

 If you’re wondering how to study for the SAT or ACT, you are not alone. Here are a few test prep options to explore to help you create a SAT or ACT study plan that is right for you.

Although many colleges and universities have become test-optional, taking the SAT or ACT may still be important, depending on your goals or college list. In addition to the fact that many colleges still require test scores, test-optional schools will consider your scores if you submit them, and high scores may enhance your academic profile.

However, preparing to take the SAT and/or ACT can be one of the more stressful parts of applying to college and many students don’t know how or where to begin. Fortunately, a wide range of test prep resources and study plans are available – from in person and online courses to mobile apps to printed books and guides. Here are a few strategies to consider.

Practice Tests

For many students, the best way to prepare for the SAT and ACT is to take practice tests at home. Free practice tests for the SAT are available from Khan Academy, which partners with the SAT’s parent organization, the College Board, to provide SAT prep. Free practice tests for the ACT are available from the ACT website and through its partner Kaplan.

Many test prep books include sample tests with answer keys. Books are usually updated annually and provide analysis of questions and test-taking strategies. While you can purchase new or used test prep books from a bookstore or an online retailer, it’s also a good idea to check with your school or public library to see if these books are available to borrow.

Study Groups

Education research has shown that studying with a group can be more effective than studying alone. Joining a weekly SAT or ACT study group can introduce you to new study and test-taking strategies, provide support, and help you stick to a study schedule.

For tips on starting and running a study group, visit the College Board website. “Teaching” the material to others is another way to retain it for yourself, so consider offering to tutor a classmate or a friend.  

Resources on the ACT/SAT Websites

The ACT and SAT websites each offer test prep resources and advice. The ACT website offers video lessons, online self-paced courses, and one-on-one online tutoring. Fees for these resources range from $99 to several hundred dollars. There are some free resources as well, such a free ACT practice test and study guide, and the ability to view one online class for free.

The College Board, through the Khan Academy, provides a variety of free SAT test prep resources, such as practice tests, diagnostic quizzes and numerous videos that hone in on different types of questions and how to approach them. You can also create your own test prep schedule on the site and set up email reminders to keep you on track.

Commercial Test Prep Classes

A number of companies and tutoring firms offer formal test prep classes both in person and online. Courses range from one-day seminars to weekly classes held over several months. These are often, but not always, taught by professional testing tutors or people who have scored in the 90th percentile on the tests and include additional study guides, activities, or materials.

Typically, in these courses, your instructor will walk you through the entire test, provide test-taking strategies, explain test questions, and help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. These classes can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. If you’re taking the test a second time, some companies guarantee a score improvement or your money back.

Test prep classes and review sessions are also offered by some high schools, community colleges and public libraries. It's worth popping by your counselor's office to see what your local options are.

APPS And YouTube Videos

While mobile apps enable you to study for the ACT or SAT anywhere, most SAT and ACT test prep experts caution against relying on them as your only study source. Still, apps can supplement other prep you’re doing, help you track your progress, and enable you to study anywhere at any time.

Here are just some of the SAT and ACT study apps currently available.

You’ll also find a multitude of videos covering various aspects of the SAT and ACT on YouTube provided by a wide range of instructors. The ACT, College Board, Kaplan, and Khan Academy also have their own YouTube channels. You probably won’t want to rely on YouTube as your sole source of test prep information. However, if you have a specific question or problem you want to work on, or you just want to change things up with your test prep routine, YouTube might be a good option.

Private Coaches and Tutors

A private test prep coach or tutor can be an expensive option. Private tutors can charge anywhere from $45 - $200 an hour or more. But, a tutor will focus exclusively on the areas where you need to improve, and tailor the instruction and practice to your individual goals. You may be able to find free or inexpensive tutoring through your high school, youth center, or other organization.

Test Prep Only Goes So Far

Test prep can help you practice your skills, refresh your knowledge, and become more comfortable with the tests. But test prep will not teach you the fundamental skills and knowledge that you should have acquired during high school. Be careful that extensive and obsessive test prep doesn’t distract you from your other commitments, such as your school work and extracurricular activities.

Should You Take a Test Multiple Times to Improve Your Score?

Test prep experts disagree on how many times a student should take the ACT or SAT. Some say the most significant improvement usually comes after the second attempt at the official test. Others say improvement plateaus after the third attempt. If you are happy with your score after the second try, you might want to relax and move on to your other college admission tasks.

2022-2023 Common App Essay Prompts

By Scott Anderson

The Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2022-2023. Because as we enter the third year of a global pandemic, consistency is not a bad thing.

That’s not the only reason, of course. We know from our most recent survey on the topic that over 95% of every group who responded--students, counselors, teachers, and admission officers--agree that the prompts spark effective essays. That’s why we kept them the same last year as well, with the exception of adding a new one about gratitude.

As we’ve said in the past, this announcement is not an invitation to juniors to start writing. And it’s definitely not a signal that they start thinking about applying. Those things will come in time. We share this news in January because it’s when some schools begin conversations about college options. It’s a time for learning, reflecting, and planning. That’s where the prompts can be useful: in helping students understand the aspects of their lives that colleges are curious about. 

"We share this news in January because it’s when some schools begin conversations about college options. It’s a time for learning, reflecting, and planning. That’s where the prompts can be useful: in helping students understand the aspects of their lives that colleges are curious about."

Scott Anderson, Senior Director, Common App

Something else we’ve said in the past: prompts are not topics. They are simply questions designed to spark thinking. Our Telling Your Story resource shows students just how much flexibility they have in what they write when the time comes.

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2022-2023. We will also retain the optional COVID-19 question within the Additional Information section.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

 

American Univ. HS Scholarships, Teach Me Wall Street, EF International Language Campuses, Savannah College of Art and Design Pre-College Programs, Kaleidoscope Education

American University High School Summer Scholars American University (AU) offers high school students the opportunity to pursue their interests in greater depth by enrolling in 1-credit online courses covering a range of topics, from global public health and law to biotechnology and public speaking. By enrolling in an AU Summer Scholars course, you will enjoy a stimulating, rigorous, and personalized college-level learning experience especially tailored to high school students.   The AU credit course is taught online in a self-paced, asynchronous format, allowing flexibility in completing reading and written assignments on your own schedule. Instructional content may include pre-recorded lectures, podcasts, documentaries, and faculty-led discussion boards. AU faculty remain involved and accessible to students during the course via Canvas or office hours conducted via Zoom or Skype. Courses are four weeks in length.

LEARN MORE

Teach Me Wall Street: Virtual Summer Camp for Teens Teach Me Wall Street Virtual Summer Camp for Teens, Grades 9-12. Our Wall Street Learning Pathway covers 4 areas: Wall Street 101, Investing & Trading, Personal Finance (Budgeting & Beyond), Fintech, Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency. Instruction is live and interactive. Track 1 - Wall Street 101 - Explore how Wall Street works and the basics of stocks and bonds.  Track 2 - Investing & Trading - Learn the best investment strategies to help you grow your money and how to do analysis to find these investments. Track 3 - Budgeting & Beyond - Learn how to create and manage a budget and avoid financial pitfalls. Track 4 - Fintech, Bitcoin, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency - Focus on new, uncharted and developing technologies plus the exciting  career opportunities they present.

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EF International Language Campuses  Learn a language abroad on the adventure of a lifetime. You will see the world, experience a new culture, and make friends from 100 countries as you prepare for your global future. Start any Monday and study from 2 weeks to up to a whole year.  Personalize your course by selecting your housing (host family or residence), the intensity of study, and the special interest classes that interest you most. Courses are available at all language levels, beginner to advanced. Earn transferable college credit through our partner in education, The University of Montana. Get ahead while still in high school!  Study in France, Italy, Costa Rica, Spain, Germany, Japan, Korea, and China. Ages 13 and up.

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Savannah College of Art and Design: Pre-College Summer Programs Explore new avenues of artistic development and spark your imagination at The University for Creative Careers. SCAD offers pre-college programs during the summer for high school students of all ages to pursue art and design disciplines while working alongside peers from all over the world — and offer ideal opportunities for artists at all levels to create, learn, and grow.

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Kaleidoscope Education In the last 25 years, we’ve learned almost everything we know about the human mind...and almost NONE of it is taught in schools. Join us this summer for two-week Practical Psychology fellowships designed to do two things: 1) teach you the most important things psychologists have learned about topics like identity, prejudice, connection, and anxiety, and 2) develop the tools and skills to practice and apply these insights to your daily life. In our live online small-group classes, students engage in discussion and research, getting an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned to a project of their own choosing. Many alumni use this project as the basis of their college applications!

LEARN MORE

 

8 Factors to Never Consider When Choosing a College

Source: College Data

While you’ll consider many factors when making your college choice, some factors are more important than others. Here are eight of the worst reasons for choosing a college and how they can lead to unhappiness down the road.

You may feel like you have some great reasons for making your college choice. But it’s important that your decision is centered around your top college priorities and not solely influenced by other people or reasons that you might regret later on. Here’s what to watch out for when it comes time to select a college.

1. Romantic Relationships

It’s important to consider your significant other when making big life decisions. However, when it comes to choosing a college, put yourself first and encourage your partner to do the same.

In fact, allowing your relationship to influence your college decision may lead to problems in the future, causing you to be unsatisfied with your decision and resentful of your partner. Be sure to choose a school that is the best fit for you, regardless of your partner’s decision. If you both end up at the same school, then it should be because it was right for both of you!

2. Friendships

If you’re considering accepting or rejecting a college because of your current friends, you might want to rethink your college decision. Just because your friends are going there (or won’t be there) doesn’t mean the college is -- or isn’t -- right for you!

Friendships can change dramatically once you graduate from high school. Although you may plan to stay in touch with high school friends after graduation, and some of them may be lifelong friends, there’s also a chance you’ll grow apart as your college lives unfold. Plus, one of the best parts of college is meeting new people and making new friends.

3. Beautiful people

It’s normal to weigh multiple pros and cons when choosing a college, but the physical attractiveness of the students on campus shouldn’t be one of them. On average, most public colleges have populations ranging from 6,000 to 40,000 students. It’s impossible to gauge the attractiveness of a college's entire student body from a few individuals you saw during a college tour or connected with over Zoom.

Your social life in college will be important, but if you prioritize dating over studying, your college life may be short-lived. It’s important to consider other aspects of a college community beyond how physically attractive the students are. Instead, pay attention to the kinds of activities students participate in, how friendly and happy the students seem, the availability of social and academic support, and how welcoming the community feels to you.

4. College rankings

Some students consider rankings and reputation top reasons to choose a college. Even parents can get caught up in a college’s statistics! It’s important to remember that a college is much more than its ranking on U.S. News and World Report.

Although it is a good idea to make sure a college has a good reputation, image isn’t everything. Just because a college has a high rank and impressive statistics doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you. If you don't base your choice on factors related to your personal academic needs, learning style, and goals, you may end up miserable at even the most prestigious college.

5. Making Parents Happy

Although your parents should have a voice in your college decision, you shouldn’t choose or not choose a college just for them. It’s good to listen to the advice your parents give you when it comes to college, especially if they’re speaking from experience. But remember, you are not exactly like your parents. Assuming all the colleges you are considering are affordable and have similar academic opportunities, your parents’ personal preferences should not overshadow your own. 

6. An imperfect visit

Another factor that shouldn’t influence your college decision is an imperfect visit, an off-putting Zoom call, or a lackluster campus tour. College visits and online tours are great ways to explore a campus, get a glimpse of student life, and learn more about a college, but not all these experiences are perfect or completely representative of the experience you might have there as a student. Many things can affect a campus visit, such as bad weather, a boring tour guide, or incomplete information. Try not to let these experiences affect the way you view the college.

If a school seems like a good fit in every way but didn't feel right when you visited or attended an online event, visit or connect again, if possible. Don’t let one bad experience make up your mind about a college.

7. It's too big or too small

Although the size of a campus and its student population are important factors to consider, these factors shouldn’t outweigh other college qualities, such as majors offered, internships, and other academic opportunities.

Many small colleges do everything they can to make their campuses vibrant on nights and weekends. On the other hand, a large university may have an honors college that gives you a small college experience in a big campus setting.

8. Winning Sports Teams

You might have been a fan of a particular college sports team your entire life and dreamt of cheering on that team as a student there. But if that college doesn’t offer your major, is too expensive, or is farther from home than you’d like, will it really be the best choice in the long run? Unless you are an athlete who hopes to be recruited to play at the collegiate level, a championship football, basketball or other sports team shouldn’t be the main reason to choose a college.

If school spirit is something you value, keep in mind that you can find it at lots of colleges—even those that don’t have large or well-funded sports programs.

Keep Your Goals in Mind

Figuring out how to choose a college isn’t always easy. But if you keep your educational goals top-of-mind when making your college decision, you are more likely to attend a school where you will thrive and succeed.

 

For Parents Only – Tips for you for Campus Visits

If this spring break is going to be your first stroll on a college campus since your own graduation day, here are four tips to avoid some rookie-parent campus visit mistakes.

Remember, this is about your kids, not you. Your priorities for safety, class size, spacious dormitories and nutritious food may not be exactly aligned with those of your child.

Tip #1: Keep quiet. As hard as that may be, the less you say, the more your child is likely to create their own impressions, ask their own questions, and make their own judgments. This trip is not about you reliving your college experience, it’s about identifying colleges that represent a great fit for your child. Empower your student to take control of the visit.

Tip #2: Encourage your child to be proactive.  Gently suggest that your child ask questions during the Information Session and Tour. Additionally, encourage them to initiate conversations with current students in the dining hall or in the Student Center. I always recommend that my students walk up to a group of students and ask them for five minutes of their time. There is no question this is a tough task for many high school students, but the return on the investment is well worth the effort. College students love to talk about their school; the good, the bad and the ugly. Your student will receive some honest feedback on what current students like and what they don’t like about their school. If the chat reveals that everyone is in the midst of transfer applications because the academics have been disappointing; well then, you’ve learned an awful lot that you would never have heard from anyone in the admissions office.

Remember that you need to take all the information you receive with a grain of salt. It is the admissions office’s mission is to make you want to apply; consequently, they are only going to share their accolades and their strengths and yes, the tour guides are really college cheerleaders in disguise.

Tip # 3: Get lost. Get off the beaten path. Try and visit a dorm room that wasn’t on the tour. Say “hi” to students passing by to see how friendly the campus is. Ask for directions. Check out different facilities on campus: the theatre, recreation center, science laboratories, dining halls, etc.

Don’t forget to tour the surrounding area. How far do you need to travel for that late-night pizza or that missing shower cap? What’s within walking distance and how accessible are movie theatres, restaurants, and cultural opportunities?

Tip # 4: Have everybody jot down their thoughts. This task is especially helpful if you plan to see multiple colleges over several days. It’s very hard to remember which one had the gorgeous fountains or the brand new dorms. But, even more importantly, ask your child to record their impressions of how well they think they’d fit in at each school, both academically and socially. Can they visualize themselves on that campus? That’s key.

Lee Bierer is an independent college consultant and founder of Bierer College Consulting based in Charlotte. Send questions to: leesbierer@gmail.com and visit www.leebierer.com. 

STEAM Academy, Physicians Academy, Online Summer Programs, Wilderness Camps

 

Discover a New Frontier         UC San Diego: Sally Ride Science Junior Academy   The Sally Ride Science Academy offers fascinating and fun STEAM workshops for students entering grades 3 through 12. Our online workshops let students investigate coding, acting, space science, marine biology and more, as they immerse themselves in hands-on projects. This year, students will earn 1.5 pre-college credits for each workshop. Top-notch STEAM instructors incorporate real-life stories of vibrant women conducting research in each field inspiring students and making STEAM careers more accessible.   Learn More »     Kaleidoscope Education   Kaleidoscope offers dynamic summer seminars for ambitious high school students from around the world taught by alumni of top colleges. Our online programs enable students to go beyond the headlines, find their paths to impact, and build the mental habits of leaders. Learn the fascinating science of social connection, understand the global politics of climate change, explore identity & prejudice–and more! Each class includes a student-directed project, which is an opportunity to explore and make it legible to colleges.     Learn More »     Future Physicians America   Think you may want to be a doctor? Future Physicians America (FPA) helps students achieve their dream of becoming a physician. FPA programs are especially good for students who want a combined BS-MD program. FPA offers 4 in-person summer programs: 1-clinical skills program (May 30-June 3, 2022) 2-advanced certification program (June 6-10, 2022)   3-medical writing & publishing (June 20-24, 2022) 4-clinical research program (June 27-July 1, 2022) Get hands-on experience with clinical skills such as suturing, splinting, resuscitation, airway, physical exam, ultrasonography, & more. Work on a case study or research project that will be published in a peer-reviewed PubMed indexed medical journal with you as first author. Get certifications that make your resume stand out.   Learn More »     Montana Wilderness School   Montana Wilderness School provides empowering wilderness courses for youth designed to foster personal growth and cultivate a conservation ethic through connecting with wild places in Montana. On MWS expeditions, students develop a deeper connection to the natural world and return to their communities more skilled, confident, and compassionate leaders. We offer several adventures to choose from. For ages 14-16: Missouri River Adventure, Montana Backpacking Adventure, Intro to Packrafting Adventure. For ages 16-18 - Backpacking for Aspiring Hunter Expedition, Horsepacking Expedition, Rock Climbing & Mountaineering, Yellowstone Expedition, Montana Expedition and Alpine Backpacking Expedition.   Learn More »