What high school classes do you have to take to go to a good college?
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Well, first if you know the college you want to go to, go to their web page and look at their requirements. That will tell you what exact classes they want you to have. All colleges are different. The basic classes that colleges like to see are, chemistry, high algebra, trigonometry, a repeat class like biology 1 and biology 2 (don't switch classes), and at least two years of a foreign language would be good, too. Don't forget to get some community service hours, and some after school clubs. They love that stuff.
Take all the basics, math, science, English and history. Depending on your choice of major, you might even take a couple more classes than listed above, like some calculus classes. Get involved with the school as well, join a club or two. They really do love that stuff.
There is usually a section on the application where you can check all the clubs you've joined and activities you've been in. They'll want to know if you lettered, were on the student council or if you did marching band. Even if you aren't on a varsity team, joining a sport helps. It shows your dedication and shows that you are more than just a brain. They do want smart people, but it is more impressive if you do more than just schoolwork.
Most schools want to get as many diverse people into their schools. So the more you're good at (or not good at but do anyways), they better chance you'll have.
And try to get at least a 3.0 for your GPA, if not higher. That'll help too!
If you are looking to get into a competitive private school, such as an ivy league or the next best thing, you should take the most rigorous curriculum your school offers. You may also want to enroll in post secondary options if you can. But don't take this at the risk of ruining your GPA. Some college classes can be difficult and a C or D in those classes will not look good regardless of the level of difficulty. Most importantly, don't slack off your senior year. Continue to take core classes (science, history, English, math) and continue in foreign language studies.