Being a freshman is an excellent starting point for determining which classes you should begin taking in high school as a Freshman to have a successful future. Taking appropriate courses will help you get into the college of your dreams. It may appear tempting to alleviate high school academics, but this can be a mistake.
It is different for each student; each one will have their interests and passions. To find out which will work best for you, you must first explore all of the classes to find your niche, the things you keep in your mind while choosing the courses.
While every freshman enters a new phase of life, high school might have a whole bunch of things ready on the bucket list. However, which classes to take often becomes the least talked about subject. Hence, in this blog, we will talk about a few of the classes a freshman can take based on their interest and future goals.
What Classes Should I Take for Freshman Year?
As a freshman, you should begin with the fundamentals. A minimum of four credits would be required. These classes include math, science, English, and Social Science. You can also enroll in courses that interest you, but most college-bound students take at least one foreign language. It will help you when applying to colleges, as many now insist that you have one credit in a foreign language. We listed some of the best classes that will help to grow your career and college admission process in the future: –
1. English
Let us begin with one of the introductory classes every high school student should take: English. To get into top universities, you must perform well on SATs and other exams that test your English knowledge.
Focusing on literature, writing, or research courses will help you gain a broad perspective on various topics. It is necessary to have an eloquent vocabulary not only for college but also for success in life. Anywhere we go in life, English will save us.
2. Social Science
Social science is one of the most important classes to take in high school. It is necessary to understand history and also how the world has progressed. Learning biassed nonsense about history online will not help them later in life.
Furthermore, whether it’s a social gathering or any other type of social setting, topics in social science can help you easily network with people, which will be very useful in the future. Students should not only focus on the fundamentals but also on topics such as American history, world history, and government or economics courses.
3. Mathematics
Students have a widespread misconception that math is not helpful in later life. It is essential to understand that subjects such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, and even calculus are required for a high school student.
These mathematics subjects will benefit them in the SATs and other competitive exams, but every student should learn math to develop critical thinking skills. Studying math from a young age will also help you prepare for your entrance exams.
4. Science
You can’t believe they put all the advantages under the ‘Science’ radar. If you want to be a scientist or are interested in science, take more science classes. Furthermore, it is an excellent way to improve your thinking process by translating theory into practice.
Topics such as earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics will provide students with a well-rounded exposure to various scientific concepts. It will assist them in discovering their interests and allow them to specialize in a specific science subject in college.
5. Foreign Language
People consider learning a foreign language to be a luxury. It is essential to understand that knowing one or two foreign languages is not an option because it will benefit them in the future and help improve their cognitive ability to grasp subjects.
Studying a foreign language should include more than memorizing a few phrases. Students must learn the norms and rules of grammar and linguistics in greater depth because they will be of great assistance in the future. Many college majors, in fact, now involve foreign language studies.
Wait, Freshman!
What classes should first-year students avoid taking?
First-year students should only take AP courses during their first year of high school. While it could be tempting to get ahead, getting an AP course necessitates a significant amount of dedication and commitment, which may be disputed with other daily activities. First-year students should also avoid dual enrollment courses their first year. The student can lay a solid foundation before moving on to more complex and time-consuming procedures.
Deciding Factors: What should I remember before determining my freshman year classes?
As a freshman in high school, you must begin selecting classes that will impact your high school career. While selecting categories may appear confusing at first, and you may be unsure where to start, with some assistance, you will be able to determine which courses are best for you. Read further to learn not only how to choose your high school courses but also how to look at your education and high school experience year by year to prepare for lifelong learning success.
1. There is no such thing as a correct or incorrect course load.
Every student will experience a different course load and selection process, just as each individual has various interests, hobbies, and educational goals. For example, if you intend to major in engineering in college, you may be more interested in a specialized, math-heavy course load throughout your freshman year of high school.
Alternatively, you may still need to decide what you want to do and prefer a schedule of non-specialized classes. Following one of these two paths would result in significantly different course loads.
Alternatively, your extracurriculars and other out-of-school undertakings may influence your course selection. When deciding how many AP-level classes to take, think about how much time you can devote to homework after school. You might only be capable of taking part in the course load of APs if you hold many demanding and time-consuming commitments outside your academics.
Furthermore, your course load will vary from year to year throughout high school. While taking various classes to understand what interests you is a good idea, by your junior or senior year, you should be taking courses that reflect your interest or skill in a particular field of study.
2. Your school will determine your course load.
Course loads differ from school to school. Yours may have different “tracks” for classes, such as honors versus regular, seven classes versus six categories, or humanities versus STEM-focused. If your school offers these or similar options, meet with your guidance counselor to ensure that you understand all of your options (both what the track means for you now and how it will affect your class choices later in high school) and to determine which one is best for your needs and goals.
If your school allows you to drop classes during a grace period (for example, there may be no punishment for dropping or switching a course within the first three weeks of the school year), it is generally better to start with many more types and then drop one if it isn’t working out.
It is because it is much simpler to drop a class than to join one late, and some teachers will not even let you enter a class after it has begun. You should embrace courses with various difficulty levels similarly: start with the most complex level and only drop if it becomes too difficult.
3. Important Self-Assessment Questions
It would help if you thought of your education as a constantly changing process that requires regular review. As a result, at the beginning and the end of each school year (and, if you’re feeling brave, in the middle), you should assess what is and isn’t working to inform your class selections better.
You should ask yourself the following questions about each class: What did I take away from this class? What new questions do I have as a result of this class, and what type can I take next to get answers? Am I covering a diverse range of subjects and pushing myself to learn new things, or am I learning the same thing again and again? What I’ve discovered? What I’m learning now is preparing me for more advanced classes and the future.
If you want to take a class that doesn’t appear to be the “right” kind of class for a college application, you should still take it. If you are concerned about how this choice will be perceived, you could always explain it on your application, and colleges generally value intention and kindness about your classes.
Final Words
We concluded this exciting and informative article. Lastly, it is critical to select high school courses that are difficult and rigorous and will showcase to colleges that you worked extremely hard in high school. At the same time, it is critical to select classes that interest you and encourage you to learn more.
Make sure you cover many topics in your studies and avoid becoming overly specialized. It is the ideal time to gain extensive knowledge about various topics. Consider your education and time in high school to be unfolding and ever-changing. Every year, you will most likely have a fresh outlook on what you want to achieve with your high school experience, so reflect frequently and remain open to change.
We hope you got your best memories this Freshman Year! This article gives you complete knowledge about what classes you should take in your freshman year and what you must keep in mind while selecting classes. We hope you gather some important information from this article.
Having a 10+ years of experience in teaching little budding learners, I am now working as a soft skills and IELTS trainers. Having spent my share of time with high schoolers, I understand their fears about the future. At the same time, my experience has helped me foster plenty of strategies that can make their 4 years of high school blissful. Furthermore, I have worked intensely on helping these young adults bloom into successful adults by training them for their dream colleges. Through my blogs, I intend to help parents, educators and students in making these years joyful and prosperous.