So I've been debating between taking more college prep classes vs. honors courses. I know honors are generally seen as more rigorous, but I don't want to overwhelm myself. From the perspective of college admissions, would honors make a huge difference, or can I still be a competitive applicant by excelling in college prep courses, assuming I also have strong extracurriculars?
When it comes to college admissions, especially at competitive schools, course rigor is a significant factor in the application review process. While you certainly don't want to overwhelm yourself, selecting honors courses when you're able can definitely strengthen your academic profile. Excelling in honors classes demonstrates that you're ready for the challenge of college-level work. College prep classes are fine, but they might not showcase your full potential in the same way. However, don't discount your extracurricular involvement—those are also an integral part of your application. Think about balance: challenge yourself academically in the areas that interest you most or align with potential majors, and make sure you can manage the workload without it coming at the expense of your extracurricular commitments or well-being.
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