Planning Your High School Courses

Planning for college can start as early as freshman year. Thankfully, Polk County High School and Polk County Early College has fantastic counselors and college liaisons who will help you plan out your classes to help make you a competitive college applicant if you let them know you plan to go to college.


This page will just give you more information on what colleges look for to take in college and what classes you have to take to get into college.

Minimum Requirements for UNC Public Schools

*Keep in mind that these are the minimum requirements just because you meet the minimum requirements that does not mean a college will accept you*

Four Units of English


Two Units of a Foreign Language


Four Units of Mathematics, in any of the following combinations:

  • algebra I and II, geometry, and one unit beyond algebra II,

  • algebra I and II, and two units beyond algebra II, or

  • integrated math I, II, and III, and one unit beyond integrated math III.

  • Colleges strongly encourage students to take at least one Math their senior year.


Three Units in science, including

  • at least one unit in a life or biological science (for example, biology),

  • at least one unit in physical sciences (for example, physical science, chemistry, physics), and

  • at least one laboratory course.


Two Units of Social Science


Minimum GPA Requirement: 2.5 Weighted GPA

Minimum Test Score: ACT (19) or SAT (1010)

How to set become a competitive applicant

Colleges will look at three main things on your college application:

  1. GPA

  2. Test Scores

  3. Extra circulars & Community Service

  4. Essays

GPA

It is important not only to keep your GPA high, mostly A's and B's but it is also important that you take a competitive courses. To do this you can take:

  • Honors

  • AP

  • ICC Dual Enrollment Courses

See your counselor if you are interested in taking some of these courses.


Keep in mind that colleges will see the GPA you have at the end of your Junior Year because you will apply to college in the Fall of your senior year. Click Here to See the Averages GPA of the students Colleges Accepted in 2020

Test Scores

This year most colleges are test optional due to COVID-19 Policies.


However, it is likely that test will be required for the class of 2023 and on. Keep in mind you do get to take the ACT for free in February-March of your Junior year.

Extra Circulars & Community Service

Colleges and Scholarships will look to see that you are a contributing member of your community. To demonstrate this here are a few things that you can do:

  • Join a Club at your High School

  • Join a Sport (Football, basketball, track, ect...)

  • Find a way to volunteer in your community (Big Brother/Sister, Soup Kitchen, volunteering at an animal shelter, joining a clean-up project, ect...)

  • Get a Part time Job

  • If you also have to watch/baby sit siblings or help care for family members, colleges will also consider this an extracurricular.


Colleges will understand that not every student will be able to do all of these things.

Essays

Many colleges will not release essay prompts until the beginning of August of your senior year. Take your time with these essay some colleges, like UNC Chapel Hill, will weigh your essay as heavily as your GPA.


For resources on essay writing Click Here


Keep in mind your English teachers are a great resource and will typically go over your college essay if you give them enough time to look over you essay, 1-2 weeks.