By Haley Jensen
Staff Reporter
            A crucial step in preparing for college is making sure to take the right classes in high school. At Tracy High, the registration process covers several weeks. This ensures that students select the classes that best suit their needs and prepare them for their goals.
            Instead of going into each English class, this year counselors gave presentations in room D210. The junior presentation took place on Feb. 12; the sophomore presentation was on Feb. 13, and the freshmen presentation happened on Feb. 15.
            “We did it this way so that we would have more time for the collection process,” head counselor Jessica Escobedo said. “This gives us more time to talk to students one on one, which is more important.”
            The purpose of discussing classes personally with a counselor is to ensure that students are properly placed before submitting their forms.
            “Class selection is hard because after three years I have kind of exhausted my options,” Junior Mikaela Cole said. “Next year I’m planning to take International Baccalaureate (IB) History and English, as well as finally taking the required art class.”
            Forms will be collected from juniors on Feb. 19 and 20, from sophomores on Feb. 21 and 22, and from freshmen on Feb. 25, 26, and 27. 
            “As a counselor, I recommend that students think carefully about what classes they choose,” Escobedo said. “Students need to look at the big picture. During the one-on-one meeting we look at what classes you’re in currently and how you’re performing.”
            Over the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to change classes during the year. Switching classes after schedules have been made is not possible.
            “We are unable to accommodate changes,” Escobedo said. “Once the master schedule is made, there will no schedule changes, unless there are errors. We hire teachers based off of that information.”
            If an error has been made on a schedule, counselors recommend that students contact them as soon as possible. On the day that students pick up their schedules, counselors are on campus to deal with any mistakes.
            For example, if you signed up for IB English but were placed in College Prep (CP) English, this mistake can be easily fixed if students address it promptly.
            There are no new major course additions; however there was a change to the sophomore level Agricultural Science (Ag/Sci) class. Instead of Earth Science, the class has now changed to Physics.
            “The Ag/Sci program wanted to get A-G course approval for a lab science. They hope Physics will fulfill that requirement.” Escobedo said.
            The University of California and California State University systems have a list of high school courses they require that students take in order to get into the universities. A-G refers to the seven subject areas that the courses fall under.
            “It’s pretty unbelievable that I’m registering for classes for my senior year,” Cole said. “Being at Tracy High since my freshman year as an Ag/Sci student, a lot of my classes have been planned for me.”