Year after year, students go through the same difficult process of deciding which courses to take the next year.
In February, students begin to make their way to the counseling office for their annual counselor meeting. During their appointment, students discuss their four-year plan for high school and request courses for the following year.
Carlmont offers its students a wide variety of classes. With over 100 different course offerings, students are bound to find classes that suit their needs and passions; however, they must also take into consideration the specific credits needed in order to graduate from high school.
Once they have met these requirements, students look to fulfill other priorities
“Obviously high school graduation requirements are important and my first priority,” said Lucy Gibbs, a senior. “But often, the A-G requirements encompass most of the graduation requirements and they allowed me to keep my college options open.”
The fulfillment of the A-G requirements is necessary to be admitted into colleges like the Universities of California and California State Universities.
“When I pick my classes I think about what will give me the best advantage in a collegiate setting as well as what would give me the best advantage on my college applications,” said Abby Brendza, a junior.
This is a common thought process among students, as many focus on their academic future in college rather than in high school.
While the majority of students plan to focus on fulfilling the A-G requirements, a little over a third of students prioritize classes that will provide them with an enjoyable experience, according to a small survey conducted at Carlmont.
“I wanted to take classes that I would enjoy being in, but also ones that would push me academically in places that I felt made sense for me as an individual,” said Rachael Taube, a senior.
Some students have decided to focus less on the restrictions of these requirements and let their interests and passions guide them through high school. In fact, the graduation requirements are not as restrictive as initially seen and can be easily fulfilled within four years with a counselor’s guidance.
“I know I will eventually get all my requirements, so I’m trying to use these four years to help me and feed my interests,” freshman Mark Castro said.
In contrast, those who focus on their educational path into college may take more classes to improve their chances of college admission.
The question of whether or not to prioritize certain classes for the benefits that accompany them or simply for enjoyment is, in the end, the choice of the individual.
