Tam Warner Minton, MS
What should you take during your high school career in order to be ready for (and acceptable to) college? Most colleges and universities have a minimum number of <strong>required</strong> courses that each student should take. The State of Texas minimum graduation requirements do not always match the minimum requirements of many colleges and universitities. Make sure your four year plan includes a <strong>minimum </strong>of the following: <!–more–>
4 years of English (some schools do not accept ESL or Special Education as substitutes for four years of English). 3-4 years of Math. Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry are absolutely required. Pre-Algebra rarely counts. 4 years History/Social Studies (US History, World History, World Geography, one semester of Economics, one semester of Government.) 3-4 years of a Lab Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Some colleges do not accept IPC, Physical Science, oceanography as lab sciences.) 3-4 years Foreign Language (3 years of the same language) 1 year of Fine Art includes choir, theater, band, art, speech, debate, drama, etc 1 ½ years of PE or an off campus sport, or a waiver Colleges and universities differ on their requirements, so be sure to check the schools you are interested in before you blow off a year of science, math or foreign language!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES! Workshops, seminars, camps, travel programs, Honors courses, AP classes….do as much as you can to challenge yourself! Colleges will go for the student who has opted for challenge. Don’t spend your summers laying around the pool. Get a job, travel, do community service, take courses, do something interesting! Colleges want interesting and vibrant students, not couch potatoes!
