What high school courses should I take to be a strong George Mason University applicant?

To be a strong George Mason applicant, take the most rigorous core schedule you can handle well, especially in English, math, science, social science, and world language. George Mason places a lot of weight on your academic record and the strength of your coursework, so solid grades in challenging classes matter more than loading up on electives that do not support your preparation. For senior year, a schedule with continued core academics is usually better than backing off after junior year.

If your school offers honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment, taking some of those in your strongest subjects can help. For example, if you are applying to a STEM-related major, senior-year calculus or precalculus, along with physics or chemistry, is more compelling than stopping math early.

If you are interested in humanities or social sciences, advanced English, history, government, economics, or writing-intensive courses can strengthen your profile.

Electives should support your interests rather than replace core rigor. Relevant choices like computer science, statistics, journalism, psychology, art, or engineering courses can add value if they fit your academic direction.