How to Choose the Best Courses for Junior Year
How to Choose the Best Courses for Junior Year
I’m sure you’ve heard that 11th grade is the most important year of high school in terms of your college admissions chances. And while each class you take is important and you should always do your best, it is true that admissions officers place an emphasis on junior year because it is the last full year before you apply where you can demonstrate what you know and are passionate about.The jump from sophomore to junior year may feel big and significant, as you will soon be an upperclassman at school, venturing into taking more rigorous courses. Some of you may be taking AP classes for the first time, and others are about to start the IB curriculum.Choosing a strong course schedule can be a delicate art that sets the tone for the rest of your high school education. Colleges look closely at students’ transcripts, evaluating not only whether they earned good grades but also how they challenged themselves intellectually and explored their academic interests. Moreover, your classes can set the foundation for gaining a deeper sense of the specific subject you might explore in college. The process of choosing your courses differs from school to school. Some campuses have students take an exam to test into AP courses, others have limited honors offerings, and still others require parental consent.Regardless of your school’s system for course selection, it’s important to plan ahead so you can make wise decisions. In addition to speaking with your counselor at school, consider the following factors when deciding your junior year course schedule.
Research Admissions Requirements
While not all universities have specific course requirements for admissions, some do. Cornell, for example, states first-year applicants to the College of Arts and Sciences must have earned 16 units: 4 of English, 3 of math, 3 of science, and 3 of a foreign language. Students who do not meet these requirements need to submit a letter of explanation.You may not have a solid college list yet, but if you have schools that highly interest you, take time to review their website.Usually, the rule of thumb is to take 4 years of English, math, and science, and at least 3 years of science and a foreign language.Even if you aim to study something in the humanities, colleges want to know you challenge yourself with STEM; and even if you plan to be an engineer, it is just as important to excel in your English courses. Just like how colleges review students holistically, they also like to see that students master a breadth of subjects.Remember that the more selective a college is, the more rigorously they will scrutinize your choices. Be aware of what the colleges on your list require as well as suggest. You can always seek advice from an admissions officer from that school if there are courses you’re unsure are worth adding to your schedule.
Continue with Language
Many high schools have a foreign language requirement that some students are able to complete by sophomore year. However, to remain competitive at selective universities, a third year of foreign language is a strong choice regardless of whether it’s necessary to graduate.Mastering a second language is incredibly valuable in our increasingly globalized world. And for international students or those who already speak more than one language, using your language requirement in high school to add a new language to your arsenal or perfect an old one shows dedication to learning that will serve you well in this process.Equally important: stick to the language you started. Unless there’s a really specific reason, keep making progress in the language you began freshman year or before so that you reach advanced levels of study as an upperclass student.
Challenge Yourself with APs and Honors
You may have spent the last two years exploring your interests and may now have a sense of what you hope to study in the future. This is a good time to now more deeply explore your passions.Your honors, APs, and/or higher level IB courses should align with your expected declared academic interest. For some students, there may not be many choices for honors classes, but if you do have the choice, then you should definitely challenge yourself if possible in your areas of interest. Future econ majors should take advanced math courses, and business if available. Aspiring pre-med students and those interested in STEM careers should excel in biology, chemistry, physics, and math.Remember, you will be evaluated in this process based on the opportunities available to you in your high school and how you took advantage of them. If your school offers a ton of AP or honors classes, you will be expected to take all the ones that make sense given your interests and ability. If you attend a school that doesn’t offer APs at all, you won’t be penalized for that but you will need to show that you’re challenging yourself as much as possible within the curriculum.
Use Electives Wisely
Your electives say a lot about who you are as a student. Are you the kind that seeks extra challenges? Do you have a very specific interest that you hope to pursue as fully as possible? Is there an area beyond the core subjects that speaks to you?Don’t opt just for the easiest elective you can take. Certainly, if your overall course schedule is very difficult it may be worth taking something that sounds fun and won’t add a ton to your workload; but make sure it’s a class that makes sense for you. Not only will you get more out of it that way, you’ll help create a helpful narrative about your prowess as a student for the admissions officers who eventually read your file.By junior year, you should have some sense of the things you like to study, even if your interests aren’t fully defined. This is also a great time to make sure you’ve covered your bases on any lingering admissions requirements. For example, the University of California schools require an art credit; if you haven’t yet met that requirement, now is a great time to find the most interesting art class available to you.
Who are You as a Student?
Your transcript is more than a collection of letter or number grades. It tells a story about who you are as a student. Use that space wisely to tell the story that you want to tell.When you select your classes, think about your end goals. Think as well about the journey to get there. You want to push yourself as hard as possible but also maintain a balance so that you can be successful and still enjoy your extracurricular activities, relationships with friends and family, and stay mentally healthy.Don’t wait until the last minute in choosing your courses. Get a sense from older students and potential future teachers about the work that will be required in any given class and how you can maximize your chances of success. Use your college counselor as a resource to help you chart the best course for yourself moving forward. And consider working with an admissions expert who can help you think about your individual path.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us