High School Strategy That Fits You, Not the Mold
Understand Your Goals Before You Create Your Schedule
High-achieving, college-bound high school students are often encouraged to follow a college prep formula in their class schedule that maximizes honors and AP classes. Students are striving for a competitive GPA, and they are motivated to earn college credit before graduation. This method may work for some students, but it is not a magic formula. Your high school journey can be far more nuanced while still supporting your higher education goals.
The first step to mapping your high school schedule is determining your long-term goals. Do you have a college major or career path in mind? While this is not a requirement, it’s an important first assessment. Take a look at our post on finding your Why and download the Roadmap to College Admissions Success to help you determine your direction.
Once you have a clear idea of your future path, explore your high school’s options to create a schedule that supports your overall goals. Everyone will have different needs, so don’t be tempted to do exactly what your peers are doing. Evaluate classes based on your interests and career goals. There may be electives that will give you a great foundation for advanced college courses, even if they are not honors or AP level classes.
Solid Strategies Result in a Manageable Course Load
Unfortunately, too many high school students believe that the best strategy for how to get into college requires carrying a burnout level schedule. This simply isn’t the case. High school is a time to take academics seriously, but it’s also a time for you to explore and discover your interests. Your schedule needs to be balanced so that you can perform at the level that gets you into your college of choice.
Designing a strategic high school schedule means creating a course load that works to your benefit. Some ways to achieve this include:
Taking electives that are in alignment with your career goals.
Selecting AP classes that are outside your major and most likely to be accepted by your top college choices.
Selectively opting for standard or honors weight core classes when necessary to allow for greater focus on or success in advanced courses in your field of interest.
Exploring options for acceleration and focused study through summer coursework, community college courses, or dual enrollment programs.
Contrary to what many people without a background in education will tell you, it is not necessary to produce a high school transcript that shows exclusively honors and AP classes. By carrying an overly burdensome schedule in high school, you run the risk of exhausting yourself before you even make it to the college admissions process. You absolutely deserve to enjoy your high school life, take classes that you find interesting, and make time for non-academic activities without sacrificing your grades. Admissions officers are always looking for well-rounded students who show independence of thought, and that can absolutely be evident in your transcript.
If you are struggling to choose the right high school classes while preparing for college, follow us on Instagram for helpful tips to maximize your schedule without burning out completely. For more information about our college planning and application strategy services, contact Hollenback Consulting for a complimentary 30-minute strategy session.