It's that time of year when many high school students, grades 9-11, are selecting classes for the next school year. Some started the process as early as December, as was the case at my school.
The obvious courses, the academics, are sure to be present on the registration card. Taking four years of English is pretty standard, as well as continuing with math, even if four credits will be earned before the senior year. Most districts require a three credit minimum of science and social studies, each, with specifics relative to the title and curriculum. I recommend that college-bound students select a sufficient number of "lab sciences," since that can be a requirement at many colleges. And while looking ahead and checking admission requirements, don't omit the foreign language recommendation. Some colleges will waive FL for admission with an alternate option. However, remember to inquire about the FL college graduation requirement. Each year during the registration process, it's wise to research a college's "required list of admission credits," followed by the "recommended list of credits."
Now, what about electives? Many districts have graduation requirements that include electives; such as, health, physical education, fine arts, and technology. Electives provide students an opportunity to explore areas of skill and learning that may not be considered, or pursued, other than in a classroom environment. Once discovered, the student gains the opportunity to advance to higher ability levels, further enhancing skill and passion for an interest unbeknownest earlier.
Several factors can enhance a learning curve. A person's creative ability can be an asset in many elective and academic subjects. We tend to limit creativity to art classes, but its significance flows to other subjects, as well. Career-wise, successful engineers, musicians, authors, chefs, and architects, among others, rely on their creative juices to help produce a "state-of-the-art product."
As expected, admissions committees are interested in a student's academic profile, rigor of course selections, SAT/ACT scores, leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, character, and other related criteria. Though not always expressed publicly by college staff, many like to know their prospective collegians have extended their curiosity of learning to disciplines other than the academics.
Listed below are electives worthy of consideration at registration time, and explore others at your school:
- basic art, studio art, ceramics, art appreciation/history, photography, printmaking, commercial art
- concert/symphonic/jazz band, orchestra, guitar, chorus, music appreciation/history, music theory, piano
- theatre/drama, stage design, play directing, media production (radio/television), oral communication
- yearbook/newspaper journalism, SAT prep, advanced composition
- cooking (culture and cuisine/culinary essentials), hospitality/restaurant/ tourism management
- accounting, financial planning, entrepreneurship, business management, banking and credit
- website development, computer programming
- JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp)
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