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College preparation: Recommended course of study

Regardless of the college or university you apply to, you will want to do everything you can to prepare yourself for the rigors of a college curriculum. The best way to prepare is to take the most challenging schedule possible for your ability level while in high school. If your high school offers Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, honors, accelerated, or advanced courses, you should take advantage of them. This is not to say you should take higher level courses only to have that notation on your transcript. You should be taking the courses that are most appropriate to your skill level.

Most admission offices will be looking for a solid background in English, mathematics, social studies, lab sciences, and foreign languages. Each institution will have slightly different specific requirements, but in general, the more courses in each of these subject areas (and the higher the level of courses), the more prepared you will be for your college career. If you are interested in specific subject areas (e.g. theater, music, business, etc.), you should feel free to take courses in these areas. However, courses in these subject areas should not replace the core academic areas listed above, only supplement them.

Your senior year course selection is also an important component in determining admission. Keep in mind that because your senior year is your last preparatory year before going off to college, you will want to have the most challenging schedule possible. While you may have worked hard throughout your high school career, most colleges and universities will expect you to maintain (if not increase) the level of rigor in your senior year program. Taking fewer academic courses or decreasing the level of the courses (e.g. dropping advanced courses) in the senior year will only make the transition to college more difficult for you. It might also make your application less attractive to admission committees.

Northwestern is fortunate to have extremely talented applicants. Students will typically have five academic courses each year while in high school, for a total of 20 academic solids. Students successfully admitted to Northwestern will have taken the most academically rigorous schedule available, and have a challenging senior year program.

Preparing for College

  • Take the most challenging courses
  • Courses should be taken in core academic areas
  • Senior year courses are important