My job is to identify trends in college admissions. Like how the large, Southern, public universities with Early Action programs are becoming the hottest ticket in town right now. Or the fact that a growing number of colleges are reinstating standardized tests.
But what about the trends of the most successful applicants? What do they have in their applications that others do not?
Gosh, I might have stumbled upon my next book idea. In the meantime, given that so many students are picking classes for the next school year, I wanted to pass along something I have observed about course selection over the past 25 years of reading and evaluating applications. The most highly competitive applicants are taking the most challenging curriculum in high school in all five core subjects for all four years of high school. Yet, every single day, I get pushback from some highly capable students. They ask, "Do I really need to take this class if I am going to be a (fill in the blank) major?" Or, "Can I just take regular or honors level in this subject?" Or even, "I know plenty of students who got into (fill in the blank with a college's name) and they didn't take that class, so why do I need to?"
The truth is that admissions officers at elite colleges (sometimes called "highly selective colleges") are often looking for the smallest little thing to nit-pick or use against a student. A slightly lower AP score. Not writing an "optional" essay. And, yes, not taking a class that almost every admitted student takes.
So instead of taking yourself out of the running even before you apply, put yourself in the running by taking the classes that colleges expect, especially if you are applying to those highly selective colleges. If I were to identify the most common classes that show up on the most competitive students' transcripts, it would come down to these five classics:
1. AP US History (or the equivalent)
Whether you want to be a humanities major or not, this is one of those classes that teaches you how to analyze, write, and come up with sound and well-supported arguments. Affectionately called, "APUSH," it is most commonly offered to high school juniors, although a small number of high schools offer it during other grades. Almost every applicant to a highly selective college should take it. Almost every admitted student to a highly selective college will take it in high school.
2. AP Calculus AB—preferably AP Calculus BC (or its equivalent)
AP Calculus AB used to be the gold standard. In fact, years ago when I first started working in college admissions, it was rare to see a student take AP Calculus BC. Nowadays, most of my students getting into the highly selective colleges have AP Calculus BC by senior year of high school—even many of the humanities majors. AP Calculus BC is a super tough class for any student, though. It shouldn't be taken lightly. However, if you got an A in AP Precalculus (or the equivalent), you should be in a better position to do well in this class. Regular or Honors Calculus or taking AP Statistics instead of a calculus class will make getting admitted to highly selective colleges much more difficult, no matter the major listed on the application.
3. Physics
Physics isn't just for future physics and engineering majors! It's just as important as taking a full year of biology and a full year of chemistry. Do not skip this important science class in high school. And, while you are at it, make sure to take a fourth lab science your senior year as well. If a student is applying as a physics or engineering major, I want them taking as much physics in high school as possible, ideally, AP Physics 1 and 2, or even better, AP Physics C. These higher level physics classes are the best preparation for engineering programs.
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4. AP Language and AP Literature (or the equivalent)
Yes, those humanities students will not bat an eyelash when signing up for these typically junior and senior year English classes. But oftentimes, my STEM students balk and ask if they really need to take these classes. And the truth is that most highly competitive STEM students take these classes too. English is a fundamental subject. Every four-year college in the United States will require at least one English or writing course. AP Language and AP Literature will help you make that transition to college-level writing.
5. World Language or Ancient Language through Senior Year
The most asked question I get from students is if they really need to take language through senior year—especially if they took it starting in middle school. My answer never changes, though. It's always "yes." Because almost every college has a language requirement, admissions officers are looking for the student to have the most exposure to one single language. Language proficiency will help students when they get to college. Before that, it will help them stay competitive in the admissions process.
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Sure, there are exceptions of students getting admitted to highly selective colleges who didn't take these five classes in high school. But if there's one trend that almost every admitted student to highly selective colleges will have in their applications, it is these five classes.
Take them if you can handle them. Take them if you are applying to highly selective colleges. Take them no matter what others do if you want to be the most competitive applicant there is.
