Students should review their course of study throughout their four years of high school to ensure they are well prepared and qualified to attend college, and to make their future college application as strong as possible.
Colleges and universities vary greatly in their entrance requirements, and these may differ from those specified in the Falmouth High School Graduation Requirements. Many technical programs, community colleges and even some four-year colleges offer open admission, requiring only a high school diploma for entrance with no specification as to courses taken. Students may take a series of qualifying exams for placement into college courses.
Conversely, the most selective four-year schools look at both grades and rigor of the program (the level of challenge in the course work), and evaluate students’ transcripts based on both these factors. The transcript is only one part of the student’s application and many other factors are weighed, including extracurricular activities, the personal statement (essay), teacher and counselor recommendation letters, personal qualities and the interview (if available). However, the transcript typically is the most important piece of the application. Most colleges’ admissions requirements fall somewhere between open admission and the most selective schools. The following is a general guideline to college admission requirements:
| English |
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Virtually all colleges and universities require four years of English. The more selective schools look for Honors or AP courses.
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| Mathematics |
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Three years of mathematics, including algebra I & II and geometry, is the minimum required by all four-year colleges, and many want a fourth year of math. Programs in areas such as engineering, business and computer science typically require a fourth year of math. College-bound students are strongly encouraged to take four years of mathematics. The more selective schools look for four years of math, and give more weight to calculus and other advanced classes, as well as honors and AP courses.
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| Science |
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Two years of laboratory science (beyond freshman science) are the minimum required by most four-year colleges, and many want three lab sciences (typically biology, chemistry and physics). The more selective schools want at least three years of lab science, and will look for Honors and AP courses.
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| Social Science |
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Most colleges look for two to three years of social sciences, with the more selective schools looking for four years of study and Honors and AP courses.
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| Languages |
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Two years of a foreign language – preferably the same language – are required by most four-year colleges. Three years of foreign language are preferred (with more weight given to three years of study of the same language). The more selective schools like to see four years of foreign language study (again, preferably the same language), and look for Honors and/or advanced and AP courses. |
