There is a lot riding on a student's course selection. Not only do students' course choices in middle and high school affect their chances of being accepted by preferred colleges or universities, but the far reaching implications of course selection influences their academic achievement, desired area of specialization, and potentially their career development. Once a student pursues a curricular area in more detail by enrolling in rigorous classes, the student begins to develop expertise in that academic area and has less time to devote the same level of intensity to other subjects, which may be of equal interest to the student.

How do schools differentiate curriculum in terms of academic difficulty? Tracking refers to the practice of placing students of similar abilities into the same class. Research indicates that an estimated 95% of American high schools and middle schools utilize some type of academic tracking (Schweiker-Marra & Pula, 2005). Tracking allows schools to offer a more rigorous and academically challenging course (often referred to as an honors of Advanced Placement course) in addition to a course which is typically geared toward low to high average achieving students (often referred to as an academic course). The practice of placing students into tracks can vary at the school level, between districts, and as a function of the curricular area.

Not only does this game create heightened levels of stress for students but parents frequently report that the stress of course selection becomes magnified for them throughout their children's adolescent years. Mary, a parent of a 7th grader, comments,"I am at a loss as to how to help Jane pick her courses. I want Jane to enroll in the most challenging courses so that top colleges will consider her application, but not at the cost of stressing her out and consuming every moment of her free time so that she can cram for her exams."

Many parents, like Mary, feel overwhelmed when it comes to helping their college bound children choose middle school and high school courses. Below I have provided some advice to help ease the process.

TIPS TO HELP PARENTS AND STUDENTS PICK APPROPRIATE COURSES:

1. Review your child's previous report cards- If your child is considering enrolling in an honors math course, but did not meet with success in previous years, chances are that she will not experience academic success if she maintains enrollment in the honors math course this year. Unless some extenuating circumstances prohibited your child from obtaining academic success last year or the content area is drastically different (i.e. algebra versus geometry), you can expect your child to achieve at a comparable level to the grades achieved the previous year.

2. Consult your child's current teachers when making decisions for next year- Your child's current teachers know their students' ability and potential. Your child's teachers know their content area and most likely know the curriculum that your child will be exposed to next year. Therefore, your child's current teachers are invaluable resources when it comes to helping you decide what types of classes are best suited to your child's needs.

3. Consider your child's level of self-efficacy- Does your child feel that he controls how he does on a test? Does your child feel that she can achieve her goals when she tries her hardest? An old adage states that ‘hard work beats talent until talent starts working'. Students with high levels of self-efficacy can accomplish extraordinary things once they become invested in achieving their goals. If excelling in an honors course is your child's personal goal and he has heightened levels of self-efficacy surrounding his academic abilities in that given curricular domain, then it could be advantageous to enroll your child in that particular honors course.

4. Take into account your schedule and resources- Students whose parents are invested in their academics tend to do better in school. Helping your child study, reviewing her homework, proof reading her writing assignments, and even financing tutoring services are some ways that you can help your child achieve success in school. If your child is taking a challenging course load, it may be helpful for you to consider what resources you can provide to her.

5. Ask your child what his long term goals include- What does your child want to be when he grows up? What type of colleges does he want to attend? What majors are most appealing to your child? If your child is interested in becoming a doctor, then enrolling in an Advanced Placement (AP) art history course as an elective may not be a wise choice. Instead, your child should consider taking some honors or AP courses within the science department. It may be beneficial to look at the course requirements for colleges which are of interest to your child in order to get a general idea of what they are looking for on an applicant's course transcript.

6. Consider the overall child- Remember one word: BALANCE! It's important to consider the overall picture when picking courses for your child. Is it really feasible for your child to take the most advanced course load possible while playing on the soccer team, writing for the school paper, acting in the school play, serving on student council, tutoring younger students, and attending weekly religious services? As a parent you will need to help your child prioritize her academic and extracurricular demands but do remember the word BALANCE and that after all, she is still a kid.

References Cited
Schweiker-Marra, K., & Pula, J. J. (2005). Effects of a homogeneous low-tracked program on academic performance of at-risk students. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 71(2), 34-42.