How To Choose Courses. The Power Of The Right Course Selection

How to choose courses. Folks, it is time to discuss the power of the right Course Selection. This really ties into our theme for the year really well. A lot of the stress is caused by pressure from “outside forces” to take as many AP classes as you can or just throw in that extra year of foreign languages because it “looks better”.

Let’s get into how you can make course selection a breeze. Also what colleges look for. Hopefully, this will also make your life a breeze.

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Rules To Choosing Your Course Properly

How To Choose Courses Rule #1: Only take a class if you know you’ll get an A in it.

No, not an A-. An A, which is 95 percent or better. If you don’t know for sure that you’ll get an A, you are letting yourself think that the worst you’ll get is a B. This is the exact kind of mindset that leads to B’s, C’s, and even worse.

This is especially relevant to weighted and honors coursework. Remember, it’s not about getting B’s in an Honors or AP class. It’s about getting A’s because that’s what the top colleges, like the UC’s and the Ivies, are looking for. It is a MYTH that getting a B in an Honors or AP class is like getting an A in a Regular class. This is pure fiction when it concerns college admissions, where getting an A is an A, and a B is a B. Period. Believe us: we’d rather see A’s than B’s.

So… how am I supposed to know if I can get an A in this class?

There are a few things that you can base your predictions on. The first one (and probably the most obvious one) is historical coursework. If you’ve gotten B’s in non-weighted math coursework, DO NOT take advanced math coursework. That’s just setting yourself up for failure!

Next, is your understanding of the teachers teaching the class. If you’ve heard that the teacher is notorious for losing graded work or handing out only 2 A’s per class per year, it’s probably not a good idea to take the class. Even if it demonstrates interest towards a major. A pro-tip is to not base your predictions on how someone else did in the class. A lot of students like to say, “well, my friend told me the class was easy.” Well, you are not your friend. Ironically, I also find that students too often compare themselves with “friends” who are more academically capable than themselves. This should not be the standard on how to choose courses. Stop comparing yourself with someone who’s completely different from you in terms of intelligence, study habits, interests, and background.

Parents: Your child is not your nephew or family friend’s son or neighbor’s daughter. Your child is infinitely unique, so stop comparing! Even if they’re twins!

How To Choose Courses Rule #2: Only take a class if you’re genuinely interested in it

Of course, this is aside from required coursework. What you decide to take should be in line with what you’re most interested in learning. This is especially true for weighted honors and AP coursework.

Another pro tip is if you take an AP course in a subject you have no interest in, chances are you won’t get an A in the class and will have less time on all your other classes. Too often students end up taking 3x longer than an average class just to get a B, sometimes even a C just to pass. Take this into account, especially when some of your other classes are more relevant to your major anyway.

How To Choose Courses Conclusion

Don’t take a class unless you know you’ll get an A in it.
Take a weighted class only if you’re genuinely interested in it.

Colleges are looking for genuine learners who have challenged themselves based on available weighted coursework. So how to choose courses has to center around that. However, top colleges dislike students over-challenge themselves – getting mostly B’s and some C’s, who are not genuine in learning but rather fall for the trap of taking more AP’s rather than less.

We hope that this provides some valuable insight into how to release some of the stress you may have while making your college application profile even stronger.

We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

See you soon!

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

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