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Stanford University, another prestigious and highly selective university, wants to three or more years of history/social studies. The university wants these courses to include a meaningful essay writing requirement so that applicants are prepared for the rigors of university humanities and social science classes.
Here are some specific recommendations for high school social studies coursework from several different institutions: Carleton College, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country, requires three or more years of social science. The college does not specify what courses it prefers students to take under the label of "social science."
Because social studies is an area in which most schools only require two or three years of study, you have an opportunity to present yourself as a well-rounded and dedicated student by taking additional courses. This is particularly true if you are applying for a college program in history, civics, or any of the liberal arts.
Take four years of social studies. Take AP classes when possible during your first three years. During your senior year, take an AP social studies elective, if possible. AP electives include Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Psychology, US Government and Politics, and Comparative Government and Politics.
High School social studies typically consist of three years of required credits along with additionally offered electives. Following is an overview of these required courses along with electives one might find at a typical high school.
The most powerful world history curriculum is one which builds connections between world cultures. World history follows a progression as follows: Prehistory and Early Man. First civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China) Greece and Rome. Medieval China and Japan.
Emphasis is placed on interpretation, synthesis, and analysis of governmental policies and institutions. Economics: In Economics students learn key economic concepts such as scarcity, supply and demand, and major economic theories.
In this curriculum example, we begin with a brief review of exploration and discovery before jumping into the colonial era. One of the main purposes of the American History course is to highlight the root causes and interconnections of many events that arose throughout America's past. Connections are highlighted along with the dynamics of group interaction, the building of a national identity, the rise of social movements, and the growth of federal institutions.
The majority of colleges require 4 years of English, 3 years of math, 3 years of science, 2.5 years of social studies, and 2 years of Foreign Language. After talking to many counselors, I found that they recommend taking 4 years of both math and science especially if you want to be a STEM major while in college.
In my freshman year of high school, I took 6 classes. The majority of them were honors classes and one was an AP class. I recommend that all freshmen take at least one class in one of the four content areas: math, English, science, and social studies.
As a high school freshman, you should only take 7 classes at the maximum. Two of those classes should be easy classes that give minimal amounts of homework each week. Easy classes include P.E. and an elective which will ensure that you are not overwhelmed with the course load.
During your freshman year, you should focus on getting used to the rigor of high school. Therefore, you should only take one AP class, specifically in social studies. AP social studies classes are some of the easiest AP classes, so taking these classes helps ease you into AP courses and exams.
When you are selecting electives, you should choose classes to further explore your interest or help you learn a skill that will be useful in your future career.
Take math at the highest level offered by your school, such as at an honors or AP level. There are three AP Math classes: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, and Statistics. There are four IB Math classes that cover roughly the same material but vary in difficulty and speed. Take pre-calculus and calculus, if possible.
Most high schools require students to complete a certain number of credits in order to graduate . Core requirements (such as those listed above) usually do not fill all these credits, so extra space in your schedule can be used to take electives. Electives can be regular, honors, or AP level.
Physical Education. Many high schools require students to complete one-four years of physical education. This may be waived if you participate in a school sport.
There are seven IB science classes: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Design Technology, Environmental Systems and Societies, Sports, Education and Health Science. You can also take more career-focused classes if your school offers them, such as job shadowing at a hospital.
These courses include psychology, sociology, geography, economics, political science, international studies and women’s studies.
Strategically planning your course load for your first year of college can help you establish a strong foundation for the rest of your college career. Instead of randomly choosing classes, you may want to get some of the general college requirements taken care of so you can focus on specialized courses when you declare your degree.
An advisor can also guide you through the admissions process and keep an eye on your progress so you don’t miss valuable classes or information.
Most colleges require an English class as part of their graduation requirements . During your first year, you may want to cross this course off your list. Although each college offers different courses, generally you can find English composition, literature or interdisciplinary writing courses available to freshmen.
Attending foreign language classes later in your college career may require you to take a refresher course to relearn the information that you forgot over time. Foreign language is often a requirement to receive your degree, so you might as well get it out of the way.