A Guide to High School Courses and University Major

　　"Should I do Higher Level Maths or Standard?" "I can't decide between AP Psychology and Chemistry...What should I do?" "Should I do the humanities diploma or the science/maths diploma?" Students in different high school programs with different university goals all have the same question: "What courses are better for me for getting into university?" My best answer, which often frustrates them, is IT DEPENDS.
　　In helping students to make this decision, counselors ask two important starter questions: WHERE are you likely to study, and WHAT are you likely to study? These are complex issues and may take weeks of discussion(and meeting with parents) to explore financing, career prospects, and immigrating issues before moving towards a decision about what subjects to study in the final two or three years of high school.
　　First, it depends on which national system or country you are likely to study in. Secondly, it depends on your choice of university subject.
　　Most students have to make some kind of defining subject decision in the end of an School in China. Students aiming for an American university have more flexibility in their high school courses if they are aiming for Engineering. It might also depend on whether or not you are applying to the UK, to the UK and Europe, to UK and North America, or North America alone.
　　Here are some general rules:
　　If you want ENGINEERING to be an option, even if you are not sure, you need to take physics and the highest level of math for the maximum number of years available at your high school.
　　If you want MEDICINE to be an option, be sure to take the highest level of biology, chemistry, and math available to you. And just as important, participate in some volunteer or research activity that puts you into a clinical environment or in service to the sick. Remember, in the USA, medicine is a post-baccalaureate course (you need a four year Bachelor degree first) and in other parts of the world it is a post-secondary course.
　　If you want ARCHITECURE to be an option, you need to recognize that this field covers both ART and ARCHITECURE skills. Some university programs are oriented more towards one or the other but both require minimum drawing, visual, physics and mathematical skills. Most require a portfolio and a summer study or special course in architecture is recommended. Be ready to prepare an art portfolio as well as a passing grade in physics!
　　If you want ART to be an option, you need to be able to at least draw-taking classes or exams through your school are not required, you can do this in private lessons.99% of art programs require students to spend the first one or two years of study in a foundational art courses where you touch various aspects of art: drawing, painting, and 3-D.The majority of selective art programs require a portfolio of no less than 8 pieces, typically 12-15 which have been digitally formatted and submitted online.
　　If you want BUSINESS to be an option, a passion for earning money or working with the public is not sufficient! Business is a highly quantitative course. The most selective colleges and universities in the world require the highest level of math study available for admission (introductory calculus at a minimum-IB Math Studies is not always sufficient.) Once enrolled in a university course, you can expect to take Quantitative Analysis, Statistics, Accounting, and Finance.
　　ECONOMICS is not business management! It is a highly theoretical and quantitative social science which examines decisions that people, businesses, and governments make about supply and demand. Business generally concerns itself with the practical applications of economic theory and decisions. If you enjoy math, research, and problem solving, you will enjoy economics.
　　If you want LAW to be an option, it is generally understood that a student love to read and write to be successful in Law. English, History, Philosophy are the foundational courses for Law. Taking as many of those courses in high school at the highest level available would be a undergraduate courses in Law in the UK. Remember, in the USA, Law is a post-baccalaureate course and in other parts of the world it is a post-secondary course.
　　For most other subjects, it is important to use common sense and prepare for the narrowest Law is a career requiring various licenses and certifications. Typically a Bachelor of Laws is not sufficient to practice, requirements to various courses that might be of interest. Try to cover as many of the basic requirements in high school for the university courses which are most limiting. For example, if there is ANY chance at all that you might want a science, engineering, or architecture course, be sure to enroll in physics. If you later decide to apply to a social science or humanities course at university, having physics or math won't hurt!
　　In general, the US admits students with a greater variety of high school backgrounds to just about any course of study. This is because in the course of earning a four-year liberal arts bachelor degree, there is plenty of flexibility and opportunity for filing in gaps and changing subjects. In the UK, Europe, Australia, and other parts of the world, there is far less flexibility and students simply must choose earlier in their academic life what they want to study and then focus more narrowly and in depth at university.
　　If you find that you have not prepared sufficiently in high school for the university course you eventually want to study, all hope is not lost! There are a number of ways to compensate for this. First, you can do a self-study, summer study, or credit-by-exam in missing subjects. You can do a FOUNDATION YEAR in the UK or a year at a community college in the US.
　　How does a US university admission officer look at applications from students whose high school courses do not closely match their university choice?
　　Once again, IT DEPENDS!
　　In US taking courses in high school that closely match your intended area of study at university can be a plus in American university admissions but it is far from a guarantee. For example, taking journalism and yearbook courses may seem like a way to guarantee admission to a communications degree but proven success in traditional English Composition or Literature as well as history or social studies or other academic 'core courses' will likely serve you better. Also, students who take a rigorous combination of academic courses throughout high school and then SUPPLEMENT their courses with interesting co-curricular or extracurricular activities such as school newspaper, sport, art club, community service, or summer camps, summer study or college level work in their special area of interest are the most convincing applicants of all.
　　In the US, most university, admit their undergraduates to general liberal arts study. That is, students are admitted to the university and not the subject. The Liberal Arts includes every subject except for the professional courses such as engineering, architecture or business. It includes physics, art history, economics, psychology, mathematics, French literature, international relations, and biology to name a few!
　　In UK, there is a much stronger need for the Secondary school program and exams to be aligned with the choice of university subject in UK universities. Thankfully, the UK universities tend to be very clear upfront as to what prerequisite courses are needed to enter a university course. There is little flexibility in the states requirements.