What high school classes does the University of Chicago look for in applicants?

UChicago wants to see a very rigorous high school program across the five core academic areas, not just a few advanced classes in one subject. In practice, the strongest applicants usually take the most challenging courses available to them, such as honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment, especially in core subjects.

English matters a lot because UChicago is intensely reading and writing focused, so four strong years is important. Math is also significant even for non-STEM applicants, and science should include lab-based courses when possible. Social studies and history help show analytical reading and discussion skills, which fit UChicago’s academic style.

Foreign language is worth taking seriously.

What helps most is balance plus rigor. A schedule with advanced English, math through at least precalculus or calculus when appropriate, solid lab sciences like biology, chemistry, and physics, and continued history and language study will usually read as stronger than a schedule with gaps in core areas. If electives are available, courses like philosophy, advanced writing, economics, computer science, or research-based seminars can also complement UChicago’s intellectual culture, but they do not replace the core academic foundation.

The key is to take the hardest well-rounded schedule your school realistically offers and that you can do well in. UChicago reads transcripts in context, so it cares whether you challenged yourself relative to your school’s options, not whether your classes match some single fixed formula.