Taking the Right Classes

It is not enough to simply attend a quality American boarding school -or any other school for that matter. You must take the right classes. Top universities are interested in many things indicating the kind of student an applicant is, and that student’s dedication to his own education is one of the things they admire. A 4.0 GPA is nice, but it may mean nothing at all if the student achieved his GPA by taking classes that were not challenging.

For example, Student A takes advanced classes including AP and honors courses in English, Science and Math, but gets the occasional B despite his best efforts. Student B qualified for the higher classes, but elected to take very basic or the minimum required English, Science and Math courses. Student B should have excellent grades as the material in his classes is so simple, but colleges aren’t interested in students doing the minimum. They want students who push themselves.

The Ideal Class Schedule

It would impossible to say what the ideal schedule would be for every student. Of the best 500 universities in the world, there are ideal schools for any number of potential professions including the arts, history, business and the sciences. What may be an ideal school for one student would not even be on the list for another.

To pull together the ideal schedule for college preparation, parents and counselors should help students map out their ideal course schedule for admissions as recommended by their ideal university before beginning work at the high school level. For many children in American boarding schools, this may mean mapping things out as early as sixth grade.

Keep in mind that the minimum admission requirements are exactly that – the minimum. Push your student and help him excel at not only the minimum courses, but at electives that contribute to his overall knowledge on applicable topics as well. High school courses are stepping stones to higher education. Picking the right steps will take your child the farthest.