March 3, 2023
By Ava Gonzalez
Staff Writer
Choosing electives can be stressful and confusing. Here are some useful tips to help you better navigate the elective selection process and make scheduling for next year easier.
1. Start thinking about your college major. Prospective colleges look at the classes you have taken in high school, so if you have experience in your major and show you are actually interested in the field, you become a more desirable candidate. Not to mention, having taken these classes, you’ll have experience and be more likely to excel in your college coursework. When applying for jobs, you can even add the elective to your resume, which can give you an advantage compared to other applicants.
2. Take courses that fulfill your graduation requirements. Take a look at the high school website’s course requirements page. In order to graduate, you will need to take at least two years of a language, one year of visual or performing arts, one year of a 21st century life and careers class, half a year of personal finance and half a year of public speaking, among other requirements. If you are an underclassman, try to take these required courses before your junior and senior years so you will not need to worry about them as an upperclassman.
3. Strive to have a balanced schedule. While it is important to try your best and challenge yourself, do not overwhelm yourself with a schedule that is too rigorous. Taking too many advanced placement and honor classes can be stressful, so when choosing electives, pick those that will intrigue you without making you feel overwhelmed. This will help you stay motivated and not burn out early in the school year.
4. Try something new. Having the freedom to choose electives allows students to branch out and gain exposure to new skills and subjects. This can help you discover what you are actually interested in and can even introduce you to a potential course of study for your college career. In high school, you have the chance to make mistakes and take risks. Don’t miss out on a class you may love just because fear, uncertainty, and unfamiliarity are holding you back.
5. Get advice from upperclassmen, but make your own decisions. While advice from upperclassmen is great, keep in mind that everyone is different. If you were excited about taking a class but an upperclassman discourages you because of the workload or the teacher, remember to consider your own work ethic. You may excel in a class that someone else dislikes. It is all about perception and the mindset you go in with. Demonstrating a sincere interest and trying your best will take you far.
6. Look at the application requirements of the colleges to which you will be applying. While LHS requires two years of a language, most prestigious colleges require at least three years. The same goes for math. At LHS, only three years are required, but many colleges prefer to see a student take four years of math in high school. Therefore, do some research to make sure your schedule aligns with the classes your prospective college requires.
7. Enhance your test-taking abilities. LHS offers a Junior Preparation: Math and Senior Preparation: Math course. These electives can help students prepare for required state tests and the SAT. Not only will these courses elevate your test scores, but they can help struggling students reach the scores they need to pass and graduate high school. Since these courses are offered pass/fail, just need to focus on trying their best, which promotes learning.
8. Consult with your guidance counselor or trusted teachers for recommendations about which class to take. Your guidance counselor and teachers are here to support you and offer their input to help you plan for the upcoming school year. Just email these trusted adults to set up a time when you can meet in person.
9. Consider your GPA. While you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew, choosing honors and AP electives can boost your GPA and improve your class rank. This included classes like Accounting Honors, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, Introduction to Education Honors Dual Enrollment, Journalism IV Honors: Dual Enrollment, Option II Honors Band, Portfolio Art Honors and Studio Art Honors.
10. Take course selection seriously. Your schedule will be determined based on your course selection form, so make sure you feel confident about the electives you chose. Seats are limited in LHS’ most popular classes, so if you do not submit your course selection form on time, there is no guarantee that the classes you want will still have space.
By following these 10 tips, you’ll maximize your chances of being happy and successful in your classes. It may seem far away, but the upcoming school year will be here before you know it, so there is no time like the present to begin thinking about your 2023-2024 course schedule.
