Lest you think your high school curriculum doesn’t matter, rest assured it does. And it may very well forge your future regarding what colleges decide you’re up to snuff.
“Selecting the right high school courses 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,” said Wafa Muflahi, partner at Command Education, a top college admissions consulting company based in New York City.
For example, one of Muflahi’s students, a future engineering major, chose to take AP Physics, Calculus BC, and a dual-enrollment class in robotics while in high school. Per Muflahi, these choices not only challenged her academically, but also demonstrated a clear trajectory toward her passion for problem-solving.
“Admissions officers are drawn to students who thoughtfully curate their academic journey, reflecting both depth and breadth,” she added.
Here’s expert intel on what to take — and common course mistakes to avoid — to impress college admissions officers.
Prioritize the core five
That’s English, math, science, social science, and a foreign language.
“Colleges — especially selective ones — want to see students challenging themselves, so electing to take challenging courses like honors or AP-level options where available will generally strengthen a student’s candidacy,” said Dr. Robert Kohen, PhD, of Kohen Educational Services, an independent educational consultancy in Manhattan.
For selective colleges, Dr. Kohen said it’s generally best to take four years of all five core subjects. “For the language other than English, it’s better to take multiple years of one language than a few years of multiple languages. In the sciences, all students should take one full year of biology, chemistry and physics,” he continued.
Focus on the “why” not the “what”
As Cindy Chanin, founder and director of Rainbow Education Consulting & Tutoring in Los Angeles, Calif., put it, your course load is not about what you take so much as it is about why you take certain classes.
“So many students feel inordinate pressure to take as many APs / IBs / honors as they can cram into their already busy schedules. If the course load is having diminishing returns, you are better off taking fewer demanding courses and allocating time and energy towards passion projects [and] entrepreneurial endeavors,” she said.
According to Chanin, there needs to be a level of authenticity present 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 an easy A!” she said, adding that you should find courses that you can immerse yourself in and reflect your “earnest interests.”
Along those lines, Chanin stressed that it is helpful when the courses you take at school align with the narrative you are curating outside the classroom, as long as this doesn’t come at the expense of authenticity. “Not everything has to be perfectly delineated and plotted, but it is useful to pay attention to the overall arc of your transcript,” she said.
Challenge yourself
Reach beyond your flexibility, pupils. “A lot of capable students don’t realize how important it is to challenge themselves in high school, thinking that earning As in easier courses will best position them for college admission,” said Dr. Kohen. “When colleges evaluate the extent to which a student has challenged themselves in high school, they do so with an understanding of the opportunities offered (or lack thereof) within the school,” he said, elaborating that if a student’s school lacks advanced course offerings, colleges will not penalize the student for not taking such courses.
Go the distance
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, shared that she often sees students who want to lighten their load for senior year to have a grand old time. “That’s not a good idea. Colleges want to see serious students who continue to challenge themselves. Admission officers scrutinize that senior year schedule,” she said.
Still, don’t go overboard, any year. “Students often try to take as many tough courses as they can, even if their grades might suffer. Push yourself, but don’t overload yourself,” said Jake Beckman, founding partner, SLB Education Consultants, in Scarsdale, NY.
Supplement your coursework with independent study
Create your own dream course and admissions’ pros will be delighted, since it “demonstrates you as a student thinking outside the box and taking initiative,” said Chanin.
Similarly, Muflahi underscored the importance of showing consistency and depth in a particular field. “One of my students, an aspiring history major, focused her high school coursework on the humanities by taking AP World History, AP U.S. History, and advanced writing electives. She also independently pursued 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,” said Muflahi. “This consistent focus demonstrated her intellectual depth and readiness for specialized programs in college. Admissions officers look for this kind of sustained commitment to a student’s area of passion,” she added.
Muflahi also counseled a student passionate about environmental science who balanced a challenging load of AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, and honors math while maintaining a strong GPA. “Admissions officers appreciated his ability to excel in demanding courses relevant to his interests,” she said, further reflecting that strategic course selection helps students stand out without compromising their mental health or overall performance.
Chanin meanwhile shared the example of a rock-climbing aficionado student client she worked with who declared an independent study with the science department around the physics of rock climbing. “He had a blast curating this course with his faculty members, and those efforts paid off — Brown University certainly took note of him and his application,” she said.
This is why Chanin likes to remind people that our evolution as human beings can be reflected in the choices we make, both on and beyond the academic transcript.
Think ahead
Take the classes that are pre-requirements 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 A-OK to pursue courses pertinent to your prospective major. “If they are applying to major in business, try to at least reach the calculus level in math. If applying for engineering, aim to take calculus and AP Physics C, if possible and offered in your school,” she said. “For nursing, make sure you have biology and chemistry. In other words, there are core classes that certain majors require,” she expanded, suggesting individuals (cough: parents reading this) scour the websites of colleges of interest to help guide high school planning decisions.
Beckman said that lining up your coursework with potential college majors may prove fruitful. “Not only does this show your commitment, but it also allows you to explore subjects in depth to confirm your interests.” By taking, say, Greek in high school and realizing that you don’t actually want to pursue classics, dabbling in certain courses can also prevent you from wasting hours of collegiate study devoted towards a major you abandon.
Perhaps all of this is summed up best in four simple words: “Prioritize rigor and balance,” said Muflahi. With the right college admissions team, teachers, and preparation, it’s definitely within your reach.
Got a future doctor in the house? Consider this fast-track approach
Seven-year BA/MD programs like Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education, offer a direct path from undergraduate studies to medical school, said Muflahi. Such programs can typically save students a year of education, she added.
Of course, getting into these elite programs isn’t easy. As Muflahi emphasized, these programs are among the most competitive, often requiring a perfect or near-perfect GPA, strong standardized test scores, and an early focus on healthcare-related activities.
Read: Your kid should start prepping for this track sooner rather than later. For instance, one of Muflahi students who was accepted into a combined BA/MD program began planning in middle school. The pupil 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 junior year of high school, she had completed dual-enrollment anatomy and physiology classes at a local community college. “Her extracurriculars included volunteering at a hospital, shadowing a pediatrician, and founding a health science club at her school,” said Muflahi.
Preparing to apply for a combined BA/MD program also entails 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 a chronic illness inspired her interest in pediatric medicine, recalled Muflahi. “This combination of academic rigor, hands-on experience, and personal insight made her stand out in the competitive pool.”
If your child expresses interest in these programs, Muflahi said to consider the following three-pronged approach:
Ace 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 summers can also help.
Aim high with standardized testing: Aim for high scores on AP exams in science and math by their sophomore or junior year to demonstrate mastery. The same goes for scoring highly on the SAT or ACT.
Pursue extracurriculars in the health arena: Look for research opportunities, internships at hospitals, or leadership roles in health-focused clubs. Volunteering at clinics or shadowing doctors starting in middle school or early high school shows commitment.