In the increasingly competitive world of college admissions, parents and students often wonder how soon they should start preparing for college applications. Obviously, we don’t recommend that you start prepping for the SAT or ACT in the 5th grade (we’ve been asked!), but there are many things you can do early on in your high school career that can set you up for success later.

So much is made of the work that must be done in Junior and Senior year for college applications. And of course, that work (college essays, test scores, capstone projects) does have a heavy impact on college application outcomes. But let’s talk about the silent heavy-hitter that is course selection.

When done strategically, your course selection can contribute to a 4-year-long narrative that outlines your academic strengths, your commitment, and your intellectual curiosity: traits admissions officers find incredibly appealing. When neglected, your transcript and course selection can be a real missed opportunity. Grades and in-school academic performance are known to be the most important component of a college application. But excellent grades in highly challenging courses certainly look more appealing than excellent grades in “easier” courses. The secret sauce of a great transcript is not just a perfect GPA: it’s the combination of a strong GPA alongside evidence that you pushed yourself every step of the way.

So let’s talk about course offerings!

The list is organized by subject, and exact course names may vary from school to school, but in general it is best practice to go to your guidance counselor early and often so you can find the best course parallels based on this list. Keep in mind that it’s completely valid (and often preferable) to pick just a few subjects that are in your wheelhouse and explore the most challenging courses your school has to offer in those subjects. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t challenge yourself at all in other subjects–just try to do it in a way that still keeps that GPA up.