Do you have to take 4 years of social science classes?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi guys!

I’m currently a freshmen in high school. I really want to attend a top-15 university. While looking through an old thread, I found this:

I’m not scheduled for any social science classes this year. I don’t think my school even offers any social science classes until Sophmore year (I’m not 100% sure about this though. I’m going to talk to my guidance counselor about this). Will this significantly hurt my chances?

Do selective universities really want to see 4 years of social science classes?

2

Also, let’s just say that I take a social science class next semester. Are selective universities ok with 3.5 years of social sciences?

3

As long as your schedule is rigorous, you can deviate a bit from the norm.
Oftentimes students forgo a 4th year of math, science or social studies to double up in a different subject so you’re not the only one, and since it’s normal to not have social science as a freshman at your school, you probably will not be penalized for taking only 3 years.
If you want to take a social science next semester, that’s your choice, but I don’t think that’s necessary.

4

Don’t worry. My school doesn’t offer Social Studies as a freshman, so you should be fine.

What my school does is:
None for Freshmen.
World History/AP for Sophomores.
U.S. History/AP for Juniors.
A semester of Microeconomics/AP and a semester of U.S. Government/AP for Seniors.

As long as your school has a similar schedule as this, you should be totally fine. A lot of students from my school go on to attend Ivy Leagues and UCs, so 3 years of Social Studies most likely won’t negatively affect you.

5

A lot of colleges will release information about their course requirements, such as:

MIT (recommended):
One year of high school physics
One year of high school chemistry
One year of high school biology
Math, through calculus
Two years of a foreign language
Four years of English
Two years of history and/or social sciences

Source:http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool

Harvard (recommended):
The study of English for four years: close and extensive reading of the classics of the world’s literature
Four years of a single foreign language
The study of history for at least two, and preferably three years: American history, European history, and one additional advanced history course
The study of mathematics for four years, including the particular topics described
The study of science for four years: physics, chemistry, and biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level
Frequent practice in the writing of expository prose

Source: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/choosing-courses

Stanford (recommended):
English: four years, with significant emphasis on writing and literature.
Mathematics: four years, with significant emphasis on fundamental mathematical skills (algebra; trigonometry; plane, solid, and analytic geometry).
History/Social Studies: three or more years. Such courses should include the writing of essays.
Science: three or more years of laboratory science (including biology, chemistry and physics).
Foreign Language: three or more years of the same foreign language. Your study of a foreign language ought to include the development of four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension.

Source: http://admission.stanford.edu/basics/selection/prepare.html

In general, highly selective colleges and universities recommend, but not require, high school classes. However, it’s beneficial to take extra classes (5 years of a FL, if possible, an extra science, 3 years of SS classes when only 2 are recommended) when possible. As long as you’re meeting the recommendations with high rigor and a high GPA, the academic part is largely covered.

All of the links I found are just a Google search away; just search “(school) high school requirements.”

Hope this helps!

6

Are you taking a history class? (I think “social science” is kind of a strange way for them to describe this requirement, since they mostly mean history and government. I don’t think they have psychology, economics, sociology, etc. in mind, although I could be wrong.)