My son, Max, is going to be a high school freshman this year. We are only weeks away from the start of the school year. Max is a typical boy. He likes sports and hanging out with his friends.
School, on the other hand, is a necessary evil for him. Anything I recommend to him needs to be absolutely essential. If not, he just won't listen. If your kid is similar to Max, here are the three things they need to do right from the start of high school:
1. Take all five core subjects starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade.
The five core subjects are English, math, history/social studies, science, and a foreign/ancient language. I call this my 5-4 Plan—all five subjects for all four years of high school. And every college prefers this!
However, there are exceptions to this rule. Some high schools (often parochial high schools) do not offer a history/social studies class for freshmen. If that is the case, don't worry about your child not having this class in 9th grade; just make sure they have it in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. At Max's school, English and history are a combined class so he will only have four core classes. If the high school clearly lists its unique curriculum or course limitations on the school profile, there's nothing to worry about. And for those students with a language exemption, fill that slot with another core class. Double up in history, for example, or whatever subject the student excels at.
2. Seek out challenges, but also know when to seek out help.
Taking rigorous classes shows commitment and a willingness to stretch oneself. But when the class becomes a struggle, the student's grades and confidence can be negatively impacted. The moment a class feels too hard, I recommend three options:
- First, the student can reach out to the teacher for extra help or guidance on whether or not the class is a good fit for them.
- Second, if the family's budget permits it, get a tutor.
- Third, if #1 and #2 are not working, be aware of the add/drop period at the high school.
RELATED READING: My Advice for 8th Grade Families Choosing Classes
3. Step out of your comfort zone by joining at least one activity that you've never done before.
Pray for me on this one with Max. He is a swimmer. He swims almost every day, all year long. He is tired and doesn't have any interest in doing anything else. But he needs to. Even the most talented and recruitable athletes need to be doing something else besides their sport.
Admissions officers want to be assured that if the student doesn't end up playing that sport in college that they contribute to campus in some other way. So, Max turned down my idea of being an admissions tour guide (my heart broke a bit). He turned down joining the theater productions too (my heart broke more). But my husband, a former editor-in-chief of his high school's newspaper, is trying his hardest to get Max to join the school newspaper. Fingers crossed. Taking other suggestions, by the way, too!
READ MORE: Wondering How to Help Your Child for College Admissions? Just Show Up
To be honest, I had "10 Things" in the original version of this blog. Then I pared it down to "5 Things." Reality set in. I settled on "3 Things." Knowing my son, I don't have much wiggle room. If I give him too many recommendations, he'll refuse all of them. I am focusing on just a few things instead.
Max teaches me "things" every day. I always try to do too much. That makes me exhausted and utterly overworked. Max, on the other hand, focuses on what's absolutely essential. He doesn't want to get bogged down with unnecessary filler. It's not a bad approach to 9th grade, high school, and life. In fact, it can make high school manageable for kids like Max and frankly kids who were like me growing up. Less is more. Thanks, Max.
