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Choosing High School Classes
Learn how to approach choosing classes throughout high school to prepare for college.
During high school, the classes you take and the grades you earn can demonstrate your readiness for a rigorous academic environment at a top college. Additionally, admissions officers at top colleges want to see how you challenge yourself within the context of what's available to you. Exploring the academic opportunities available to you can help you prepare for college and develop your academic goals.
As you choose what classes to take throughout high school, ask yourself these questions:
- Am I taking at least one class in all core subjects each year (if available all four years)? (Core subjects include Math, Science, History/Social Studies, English, and Foreign Language)
- Am I taking the most rigorous classes available to me?
- Are there additional academic opportunities I could explore that I would be able to balance? (Examples include local community college courses, independent research, or self-studying a new language)
How transcripts are reviewed
Academic information submitted as part of a college application is reviewed within the context of the student's high school through a variety of materials such as the student's transcript, a School Profile, and a School Report.
Transcripts provide information about the student's individual high school career. When reviewing this information, admissions officers will try to answer this question:
- Did the student take challenging classes in core subjects and excel in them?
Take a look at the three sample descriptions of transcripts, which reflect coursework through 12th grade, and their analysis below:
- Grades are consistently in the A range.
- Has taken four AP classes , but more than ten AP classes (at least two in each core subject) are available at school.
- Rigor of classes drops from junior to senior year (three AP classes in junior year and one in
senior year).
Although the student has straight A’s, their classes do not appear to be the most challenging available at the school across all core subjects, and coursework rigor has declined over the years.
- Grades dip to low B’s second semester of sophomore year when the student experiences a death in the family, but grades consistently improved since then.
- Has taken at least one class in all core subjects each year.
- Has taken all Honors classes offered (there are no AP/IB classes offered), beginning in junior year.
Although a dip in grades can stand out to an admissions officer, the two other bullet points show the student is challenging themselves within their environment and has recovered their grades from one difficult semester with extenuating circumstances.
- Grades improve steadily over four years.
- Has taken some IB classes , but is not pursuing the IB Diploma (although it is available).
- Has only taken the minimum requirement of science and social studies classes so that they could have a free period during senior year.
In this transcript, the steady improvement (an upward trend) in grades is notable; however, the last two bullet points could indicate that the student may not be challenging themselves within the context of their school.
While your grades and coursework rigor are very important, please note that your application and transcript are reviewed holistically and within the context of your school's opportunities. Read the FAQs below for more information.
Course load FAQs
Students may have extenuating circumstances, such as working a part-time job to support family, caring for an ill family member, or experiencing other personal circumstances. Be sure to explain these in the additional information sections of your application. You may also explain academic situations such as school course limitations or scheduling conflicts. Review our Additional Information Guide to navigate answering additional information prompts within the QuestBridge application.
We review QuestBridge program applications within the context of the opportunities that are available to you at your high school. This is why we strongly recommend you submit a School Profile when applying to either the College Prep Scholars Program or the National College Match, so that we can best understand your school's context. We encourage you to explain scheduling conflicts or other issues in the additional information sections of your application.
Please note that it may be possible to connect with school administrators to explore creative solutions related to your coursework. If you're not able to pursue your desired coursework at your high school, you may consider taking courses at a local community college.
Beyond the immediate options of your high school, we encourage you to explore other options that are available in your community. A local high school, college, or even your state may offer more courses in the summer, whether online or in-person. You can also self-learn from free online courses.
A required fee for an advanced course is often associated with the official exams, and not the course itself. Fee waivers are available for AP exams and IB exams. Talk to your teacher or counselor and explain your economic situation, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Community colleges usually offer discounted rates for high school students.