<p>Hey everyone, I have a few questions that have been bugging me for a while. Any advice you can give would be awesome. Oh, and I'm a HS junior.</p>
<p>First, the major that I intend to pursue (Metal and Jewelry Arts) is fairly unique and not that many schools have it. How should I go about finding schools that offer this? Even further, what are some signs of a strong program in this area? What should I look for? I have already decided that I do not want to attend an art school because I have other academic pursuits that I want to continue with (for example, Japanese). Does anyone have any suggestions for non-art schools that have good art programs? </p>
<p>Second, my family moved to a different state the summer between my freshman and sophomore years. This affected me in many ways, some good, and some bad. My previous school was much easier than the one I currently attend and therefore my grades there were mostly As. At my school now, my grades are more in the B+/A- range with a couple of C+s last year. I?m sure that part of that was due to emotional issues connected with the move, but I?m afraid that my slip in grades will negatively affect a school?s decision. Do colleges look at the difficulty of a school when considering applicants? A B+ at my current school could easily be an A at my previous one. This year I?m doing a little better ? in the first trimester, my grades were A, A, A-, A-, B+, B+, B, B. If I continue at this level, do you think I?ll be ok?</p>
<p>Third, the move not only affected my grades, but my activities as well. In my freshman year, I was on the varsity ski team at my school, won the most improved player award, and would have done extremely well, had I continued at that school. In the location I am now, it is pretty much impossible to have a ski team and I haven?t been able to do much recreational skiing either. Will my apparent discontinuation of the sport look bad in admissions counselors? eyes? This is not the only instance of this. For example, my previous school did not have any clubs, but at the one I attend now, I am a member of three clubs, one of which I started and am now the head of. Will it look bad on my application that I do not have any activities that I have done consistently all four years of high school? </p>
<p>Last, on the subject of courses. In my school, you have to be recommended for AP classes in order to take them and you are pretty much stuck in whatever class you are placed in (unless you want to move down). I have not been recommended for any AP classes yet, though I do take all honors level courses. I do intend to take AP Art, AP Spanish, and any other AP classes that I can next year and hopefully take an AP test (English) at the end of this year. But I?m worried about the fact that I haven?t taken any AP courses yet, even though my school offers them. Another issue that concerns me is the fact that my old school does not offer honors level courses in foreign languages, so when I came to my school here, I was behind. I had to switch down to the college-prep level Spanish class, but it soon became clear that I belonged in the honors class. Since it was too late to switch back, I stayed in the college prep class for the remainder of the year and am now in honors. Would the fact that I took the college prep course when I could clearly do well in the honors level be seen as taking the ?easy way out? and reflect negatively on me as an applicant? </p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>