The Road to a Top College: Standout Classes in High School

Lest you think your high school curriculum doesn’t matter, rest assured that it does. And it may very well forget your future in terms of what colleges decide you’re ready for.

“Choosing the right high school courses isn’t just about meeting graduation requirements—it’s about creating a narrative that reflects your intellectual curiosity, academic growth, and alignment with your goals,” said Wafa Muflahi, partner at Command Education, a top admissions university. consulting company based in New York City.

For example, one of Muflah’s students, a future engineering major, chose to take AP Physics, Calculus BC and a dual-enrollment class in robotics while in high school. Through Muflahi, these choices not only challenged her academically, but also demonstrated a clear trajectory towards her passion for problem solving.

“Admissions officers are attracted to students who thoughtfully curate their academic journey, reflecting depth and breadth,” she added.

Here’s expert information on what to do—and common course mistakes to avoid—to impress college admissions officers.

Give preference to five-core

This is English, mathematics, science, social science and a foreign language.

“Colleges — especially selective ones — want to see students challenge themselves, so choosing 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 majors. “For a language other than English, it is better to take many years of one language than a few years of many languages. In the sciences, all students must take a full year of biology, chemistry and physics,” he continued.

Focus on the “why” not the “what”

As Cindy Chanin, founder and principal of Rainbow Education Consulting & Tutoring in Los Angeles, California, says, your course load isn’t so much about what you take, but why you take certain classes.

“So many students feel tremendous pressure to take as many AP / IB / honors as they can fit into their already busy schedules. If the course load has diminishing returns, it’s better to take fewer required courses and devote time and energy to passion projects [and] entrepreneurial endeavors,” she said.

According to Chanin, there should be a level of authenticity present in your choice 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 need to find courses that you can immerse yourself in and reflect “your truest interests.”

In that regard, Chanin emphasized that it’s helpful when the courses you take in school match the narrative you’re curating outside of the classroom, as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of authenticity. “Not everything has to be perfectly outlined and drawn, but it’s helpful to pay attention to the overall arc of your transcript,” she said.

Challenge yourself

Go beyond your flexibility, learner. “Many gifted students don’t realize how important it is to challenge themselves in high school, thinking that acing the easier courses will best position them for college admissions,” Dr. Cohen said. “When colleges evaluate the degree to which a student has challenged themselves in high school, they do so by understanding the opportunities offered (or lack thereof) within the school,” he said, elaborating that if a student’s school there are no 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, said she often sees students who want to lighten their load for their senior year in order to have a great time. “This is not a good idea. Colleges want to see serious students who continue to challenge themselves. Admissions officers review that schedule senior year,” she said.

However, do not overdo it, no year. “Students often try to take as many difficult courses as they can, even if their grades may suffer. Push yourself, but don’t overwhelm yourself,” said Jake Beckman, founding partner, SLB Education Consultants, in Scarsdale, NY.

Complement your course with independent study

Create your dream course, and admissions professionals will be pleased, as it “demonstrates that you as a student think outside the box and take initiative,” Chanin said.

Similarly, Muflahi underlined the importance of showing consistency and depth in a given area. “One of my students, a history major, focused her high school coursework on the humanities by taking AP World History, AP US History, and advanced writing electives. She also pursued independent research project on the roles of women in the Civil Rights Movement, which she used to secure a summer research internship at a local university,” said Muflahi. “This sustained focus demonstrated the depth and her intellectual readiness for specialized college programs. Admissions officers look for this kind of sustained commitment to a student’s field of passion,” she added.

Muflahi also mentored a student passionate about environmental science who balanced a challenging workload of AP Biology, AP Environmental Science and honors math while maintaining a strong GPA. “Admissions officers appreciated his ability to excel in demanding courses related 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 an amateur rock-climbing student client she worked with who reported an independent study with the science department about the physics of rock climbing. “He had a blast curating this course with his faculty members, and those efforts paid off—Brown University certainly considered him and his application,” she said.

That’s 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 classes that are prerequisites 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 okay to take courses related to your future major. “If they’re applying for a business degree, try to reach at least calculus level in math. If you’re applying for engineering, aim to take calculus and AP Physics C if it’s possible and offered at your school,” she said. “For nursing, make sure you have biology and chemistry. In other words, there are core classes that require several degrees,” she added, suggesting individuals (cough: parents reading this) check the websites of colleges of interest to help guide high school planning decisions.

Beckman said lining up your coursework with potential college majors can be fruitful. “This not only shows your dedication, but 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 really want to pursue classics, taking certain courses can also prevent you from wasting hours of collegiate study devoted to a degree that abandon.

Perhaps all of this is best summed up in four simple words: “Prioritize rigor and balance,” Muflahi said. With the right college admissions team, teachers, and preparation, it’s definitely within your reach.

Have a future doctor at home? Consider this quick 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, Muflahi said. Such programs can typically save students a year of education, she added.

Of course, getting into these elite programs is not easy. As Muflahi pointed out, these programs are among the most competitive, often requiring a perfect or near-perfect GPA, strong standardized test scores and an early focus on health care-related activities.

Read: Your child should start preparing for this track sooner rather than later. For example, one of Muflah’s students who was accepted into a combined BA/MD program started planning in high school. The student took excellent science courses in 8th grade, which allowed her to enroll in AP Biology and AP Chemistry as a freshman and sophomore, and by her senior year of high school, she had completed anatomy classes and physiology with dual enrollment at a local community college. “Her extracurricular activities included volunteering at a hospital, caring for a pediatrician and starting a health science club at her school,” Muflahi said.

Preparing to apply for a combined BA/MD program also involves 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, Muflahi recalled. “This combination of academic rigor, practical experience and personal knowledge made him stand out in the competitive pack.”

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 the summer can also help.

Aim high with standardized testing: Aim for high scores on AP exams in science and math from your sophomore or junior year to demonstrate mastery. The same goes for a high score on the SAT or ACT.

Pursue extracurriculars in the health arena: Look for research opportunities, hospital internships, or leadership roles in health-focused clubs. Volunteering at clinics or undergoing doctoring starting in middle school or early high school shows dedication.