The Basic Requirements
In order to get into college, there are specific curriculum requirements you must meet. At a minimum, most colleges require:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of math, including algebra II and geometry
- 3 years of history or social science
- 2 years of laboratory science
- 2 years of a foreign language
Curriculum
Colleges want to see that you've challenged yourself. Most competitive schools would prefer a B in a college-level history class than an A in a regular one. But the key is to know yourself. Don't take on too much. If your grades are stronger in certain subject areas, then that's where you should take higher-level classes. For example, if you're an ace at Spanish, consider taking the Advanced Placement (AP) course. At the end of the school year, if you score high enough on the AP test, you could place out of a semester of a college language requirement. But if language is not your strong suit, just do your best at your grade level.
Achievement
Colleges are interested in your class rank and grade point average (GPA). Striving to make the honor roll at your high school is always a good move. But, if you rank at the top of your class, and didn't take tough courses, colleges will take note of that. They want to make sure you've got what it takes to succeed in college.
Recovery
Don't stress over a couple of bad grades or low test scores. You haven't ruined your chances to get into college. You may have just hit a stumbling block. This is something you can fix.
If you can make improvements on your own, that's great. But if not, talk to your parents, teachers or your guidance counselors about getting some help. Colleges would much rather see improvements on your transcript than consistently low grades.
You may be able to work with volunteer tutors or private tutors recommended by your school. You can also get help with your grades and/or standardized test scores through several nationwide educational and tutoring services.
