How To Get The Course Combination That Works Best For You!

By: Adith Bondugula

As winter changes into spring, students are beginning to prepare for one of the most significant decisions of the year, course selection. While it may not seem like a big deal, the decision that students are making is very important and may have a great impact on their academics and possibly even their college career.

For many upper-class students, this is a strategic process where one has to balance advanced courses, career interests, and personal passions all at once when picking courses. Students should try their very best to challenge themselves, but make sure not to be unrealistic and overload themselves with too many advanced courses. Advanced Placement and Honors courses are popular choices for students who want to prove they are able to handle challenging courses, but taking these courses means you have to generally be a more responsible student and put more effort and time into studying.

Another important factor that decides what course a student may pick is what their future goals and career targets are. An example of this is if a student has any future goals of pursuing a career in the field of business, medicine, or engineering. The student may thus choose to pick a class that relates to the chosen field of interest they have. For instance, the student may have future goals of one day finding a job in the financial field and, for that reason, decide to pursue a course that is related to some kind of area in economics or business. Similarly, if a student may want to one day have a job in the field of technology, it is a good idea to take some kind of computer science course that gives them career skills such as coding and programming. 

Still, it might not be a good idea to base every class you take purely on academics, and it may be a good idea to take a class in an area you are not too familiar with in order to explore and learn more about other fields, even if you don't intend them to be a career focus. Also, students should make sure to weigh in if they have any important commitments that take up time after school, such as a sport, club, or work, when trying to come up with a successful combination of courses that will work out for them. While the schedule might look good when a college admissions officer looks at it on your application, it may be overwhelming in real life if a student is not able to spend the time they need to be successful in the courses they take and get good grades.

Advice for Underclassmen

It is especially difficult for freshmen and sophomores to choose courses. It is easy to overestimate or underestimate one’s abilities, as one does not have much experience. Here are some of the most important pieces of advice:

1. Make Sure To Challenge Yourself — But Be Realistic

It’s perfectly fine if you take a few challenging classes, but don’t overdo it. It’s better to succeed at a good number of classes than to struggle at a lot of challenging classes.

2. Think Long-Term

Think about the long-term effects of the classes you take. Some classes have prerequisites, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.

3. Talk to Teachers and Counselors

Teachers can provide you with advice about what a class is really like, and guidance counselors can provide you with advice about how you can plan a class load to help you meet your goals.

4. Don’t Just Follow Your Friends

It’s tempting to sign up for classes with your friends, but you should sign up for classes based on your interests and abilities.

5. Leave Room for What You Enjoy

Electives will give you time to look into new interests and will give you a break from other classes. Maybe you like art, music, or journalism. These classes can make your high school years a much more enjoyable time.

Finding the Right Balance

It is, at the end of the day, all about finding that balance. Course selection is not only about finding a schedule that is going to challenge a student, but also give them opportunities for growth outside of the classroom. When choosing a course for the following year, try to ask yourself if you genuinely are interested in what this class will teach you, as well as making sure you can handle the coursework it offers.