It’s that time of year again… class registration! This typically seems to be a difficult part for high school students because they are unsure of what classes they should take and how difficult these classes should be. Yorba Linda High School offers a variety of classes, ranging from our business and culinary programs to our rigorous AP classes, and it can be quite difficult to make a decision. It’s important to make the right choice for yourself to optimize your time in high school and get the credit you need.

Some students feel inclined to try to take every AP or honors class possible, but they find themselves struggling to keep up (including me). You should not feel pressured to take difficult classes if you just aren’t interested in the subject or don’t think it is the right pace for you. It is better to take classes that you can succeed in and apply yourself in! You don’t need to know what your future career might be yet, so it could also be helpful to take a variety of classes to figure out your strengths and interests. Your grades are important so set yourself up for success! It’s better to have a good GPA with all A’s (realistically a few high B’s), than being a B or C student in honors and AP classes.

Don’t worry though! Here are some suggestions if you are unsure of what to take:

For incoming freshmen! Although there are a limited number of AP classes offered for freshmen, a lot of students are inclined into taking AP Human Geography or AP Computer Science Principles (or A if they have previous knowledge). Both are very difficult courses and require careful attention. The transition from middle school to high school AP is very difficult, but if you believe you can strive or use these classes, it can be the right fit for you! Some students can benefit from AP Human Geography if they are looking into an urban studies career or political science and government, whereas AP Computer Science can be helpful in engineering, design, and technological careers. However, keep in mind that there is not pressure to take these classes because these are rigorous courses and are still available for students in any grade. Classes like Health and Careers are still great and helpful classes you can take instead during the school year. Some other options for students is the business or culinary program. If you want to go into that specific career or just find it interesting, it is a great program to look into! These programs are not offered at other PYLUSD schools, so you can always take advantage of that opportunity. You can also take one of the many art courses at our school. You can start in fundamental art and continue the course as you move up the levels. Additionally, science is not a required class for your freshman year, but there is a two-year requirement for sciences, so keep that in mind when making your choice. You can also choose a language you want to take. We offer Spanish, Japanese, French, Chinese, and German. If you are looking to get the biliteracy seal when you graduate, it’s important to start freshman year! Choosing a language may be hard, but all 5 are taught by great teachers, so just make your choice by what you feel like you may use in the future or what you are interested in learning. Lastly, you can choose the rest of your classes that pertain to your level (ex: Algebra 1 or Geometry). Language has a 4-year requirement, and if you plan to take AP Lang and Lit, it is recommended to start in honors. It is just the first year, it’s best to start your transition from middle to high school in a way that is best for you.

For incoming sophomores! There is a great variety of classes you can choose from. For AP courses, a lot of students will take AP European History or Computer Science. Some students who took chemistry during their freshman year could also take another AP science (usually AP Chemistry). AP European History can be helpful for those who are looking into going into political science and government careers. Since history is a requirement for sophomores, you can always take world history in the school year if you don’t think AP European History is the right fit for you. Another alternative is doing world history over the summer and doing a different elective of your choice. For example, if you’re looking to continue the culinary program, some students will take world history over the summer. For the rest of your classes, you can continue your math, language, and language arts courses. Lastly, you can choose which science you want to take. If you didn’t do biology freshman year, you can take that, but if you already did, you can make the choice between physics and chemistry. Both are heavily math-based courses, so it’s best to choose based on your interests. Chemistry is best if you are interested in going into the medical field, whereas physics can be helpful in the engineering field.

For incoming juniors! Junior year…a year a lot of people consider being the “toughest year.” This is when many students start racking up more AP classes because there are many more available to them. They can continue their math pace and choose an honors or non-honors level that is best for them. If you are able to go at a fast pace and answer questions that may not have been directly taught in class, honors are the right fit. Along with language arts, you can make the choice between AP Lang or Language Arts 3. If you are strong in writing and are able to do independent readings and analyze texts, AP Lang could be the right fit. Then, you can make the choice if you want to continue doing a language and science. Colleges recommend three years for both courses, but it is ultimately your choice. A lot of your choices should also reflect your future career, so it won’t make sense to do AP Chemistry if you want to be an art major. Speaking of art, our school offers a variety of art courses. You can do one of the art levels (fundamentals, advanced, or AP), ceramics, film appreciation, etc. Lastly, you can choose between AP US History (APUSH)  or US History. If you are interested in history or took AP European History the previous year, APUSH is perfect for you. If not, you will have to take US History. A lot of juniors tend to overload their schedule, so it’s important to find the right balance for you.

For incoming seniors! Last year of high school… It’s important to also enjoy your last year but still do well. A lot of seniors will be busy filling out college applications, so a lot of people take it lighter for their last year. If you are in the culinary or business program, a lot of students choose to finish it out for their senior year. Another thing is students can finish out their art credits in the numerous variety of courses offered. Seniors are also recommended to take 4 years of math, so you should continue your current math course (or choose to take stats or business math instead.) There are a variety of classes that seniors can take. As I said before, it’s important to take classes you’re interested in and will succeed in.