How Many English Classes to Graduate?

Current junior here. I'm planning out my senior year schedule and I'm a little confused about the English requirements. How many English classes do we actually need to graduate and stay competitive for college admissions? Is there such a thing as taking too many or too few?

Hi there! Navigating your senior year schedule can be a bit puzzling, so it's great that you're thinking ahead. Typically, to graduate from high school, students need to complete four years of English—one for each year of high school.

That said, staying competitive for college admissions, especially at highly competitive schools, often means not just meeting the minimum graduation requirements, but exceeding them when possible. While you obviously can't take more than four years of English, since you only spend four years in high school, taking extra credits, such as in elective classes, can help bolster your application, especially if you see yourself potentially majoring in English.

Now, regarding whether there's such a thing as too many English classes—while you can't necessarily take 'too many' English classes, your schedule should be balanced. If you have a particular interest in English and want to take additional literature or writing electives, that can be a great way to show your passion and develop a more focused academic profile, as noted above. But if you're thinking about applying as a physics major, and have 6 English courses compared to just 1 physics course, that might create a disjointed-feeling application.

Best of luck with your senior year schedule, and remember that if you're still feeling confused, your high school guidance counselor, and potentially your English teachers as well, can offer you more personalized advice if you reach out to them!