Course selection: How to stand out academically in high school [webinar recap]

High school can be hard enough to navigate without the stress of course selection. Considering interests, abilities, and college majors – along with what classes friends are taking – can make any teenager’s head spin. That’s why Xello teamed up with Collegewise in a recent webinar to discuss course selections, tips, and tricks to best prepare for applications and admissions.

The webinar featured Ian Parker, a Former Master Tutor at The Princeton Review & Collegewise Counselor. Throughout his career as an educator and tutor, Ian has found that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to college. As a Master Tutor at The Princeton Review and instructor with the Fullerton and Long Beach school districts, he has discussed with families the value of conducting comprehensive analysis and collecting data to assess each student’s needs, goals, and interests when making academic decisions.

Watch the webinar here

Key takeaways

1. High school course selection tells a student’s story

High school course selections carry more weight than you think. 

While many students focus on their GPA or awards, course selection helps college admissions officers understand who the student is and who they want to be. Ian Parker explains that this concept is a part of the holistic admission process, or when admissions looks at the entire student to see how they’ll fit into their college community. 

More selective colleges have an opportunity to identify a student’s story by analyzing their course selection and their performance within those classes. 

Parker explains that admissions do so by looking at a transcript and asking:

• Can the student take – and pass – the classes required for their major or specific school?
• Is the student comfortable (and do they enjoy) taking on challenges? 
• Is the student curious about the world around them and themselves?

He also points out that beyond core courses, electives help tell a student’s story and are an opportunity to explore interests and tell their unique story. He states, “So much of selective admissions is, ‘Are you an interesting human being?’ And yes, you can totally double down on really tough, really academic courses within five core subjects. But I want students to be thinking about all the other kids at their high school who are doing the exact same thing.”

2. Graduation requirements aren’t the same as college application requirements

When it comes to course selection, students and educators focus on meeting graduation requirements, but oftentimes, those minimum requirements aren’t enough to get into college. 

This is where research of potential colleges and majors is key. Parker suggests that students create an ideal four-year college plan, then keep track of both graduation and potential college application requirements.

Many students he works with get the “check-the-box” courses out of the way, such as Health or Art, if they’re not looking to pursue those careers in the future. That way, students can embed their schedule with courses they’re interested in or ones that are needed for their intended majors. 

Because there’s a lot of information out there, Parker gives a “crash course” on what students should consider:

• Math: Parker says that “most colleges would like a minimum of three years of math. More selective colleges though will additionally be looking for things like pre-calculus to get ready for a college-level calc class.” He also notes that these math concepts are often found on the ACT and SAT, which will help studied students achieve higher scores (and therefore increase their holistic application).
• Science: Most states require two years, but Parker encourages taking a third. Specifically, he notes that beyond Biology and Chemistry, Physics is important for students interested in Science, Engineering, or Computer Science college majors. He suggests students ask themselves, “Is science going to be a part of my future? And if so, how should I prepare for that science?”
• English: Parker admits that high school students give English the least amount of thought, but that shouldn’t be the case. He believes communication and writing skills are incredibly important, even for non-English majors, since many professions require you to collaborate and communicate with others. He also reminds listeners that strong writing skills are essential when writing a college essay and helps students better communicate their values and plans after high school. 
• World Languages: Parker says that “people tend to cruise right past language as fast as possible – and sometimes, that’s okay.” That’s because some colleges don’t have any language requirements, while others may require four years in high school. He suggests that high school students consider whether they want to continue communicating in more than one language post-graduation, especially if they’re interested in jobs where it’s needed.

Another tip he gives is to become a regular in the school counselor office. Because counselors are a wealth of information, and also have numerous resources and college contacts, they’re  great advisors for course selections and what college admissions recommend. Simply put, Parker says, “Your school counselor should be your best friend.”

3. Never forget that what you enjoy doing matters

Enjoyment in a subject can lead to better performance, and it’s therefore important for students to consider personal interests when choosing courses.

Parker advises students to embrace their individuality and not get tied up in having it all figured out. He explains: “So much of my job involves getting students to see the possibilities that are inherent within their choices and not just the negativity. There is no one right path through high school. I guarantee there is not.”

He also points out that there isn’t a perfect path in college, especially since 30% of students change their major at least once. Why? Because, Parker explains, “They’re not considering their interests, they’re not considering their passions, and they’re not considering what makes them happy.”

Sometimes, that happiness is also about workload and balance. Parker reminds students that when they feel spread thin or bogged down by a class, joy in other areas of their life may diminish. That’s why he suggests students ask themselves how much they can handle when scheduling classes. 

He says, “It’s okay to want to take extra AP courses, but one important question is that if you take this course, will you be able to succeed without ignoring other courses and hobbies that make you happy?”

How Xello helps

Xello’s course planning tools let educators, parents and students work together to provide every student with a clear roadmap to graduation and their post-secondary pathway.  For the 2025/2026 school year, Xello Course Planner will be expanding from four years (grade 8-12) to six years (grade 6-12) to better support students. Upcoming updates will also empower educators with streamlined processes and ability to provide a better course planning experience to students.  

 Xello’s college planning tools guide students through every step of their future-readiness journey — from discovery to application, financial planning, and beyond. 

With Xello, students can:

• Understand which majors best suit their interests 
• Determine best-fit colleges according to location, size, majors, and more
• Send, track, and manage college and financial aid applications
• Find grants, work-studies, and loans to support financial planning

And because school counselors, students, and families all have access to Xello resources and features, the college planning process becomes a collaborative journey where students feel supported every step of the way. 

Interested in learning more? Contact one of our Education Specialists to see Xello Course Planner in action.