Selecting your courses

Part 2

The following subjects and classes are standard fare for success in high school and beyond, whether you plan to attend a four year or a two year college.

 

English (language arts)

Take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help you improve your writing skills, reading comprehension and vocabulary.

Math

You need algebra and geometry to succeed on college entrance exams and in college math classes—and in many careers. Take them early on. That way, you’ll be able to enroll in advanced science and math in high school, and show colleges you’re ready for higher-level work Most colleges look for students who have taken three years of math in high school, the more competitive ones require or recommend four years. Each school has its own program, but some of the courses typically offered are:

Algebra  1

Algebra 2

Geometry

Trigonometry

Calculus