If a school requires 2 academic electives - how exactly do they determine that? For instance if three years of science is required, will the 4th year be considered the academic elective? Does Journalism qualify? My D really wants to complete 4 years of Drama and also started journalism, and now all of a sudden I am wondering if she will get at least all of the required classes in. At the moment, she wants to go into journalism or communications or advertising - depending on what certain schools offer. Thanks.
Yes an extra science course would be an elective. The primary thing is to make she takes all the courses she needs for a diploma. Then she needs to make sure she meets the recommendations of colleges she is likely to apply to. That will vary, but for selective colleges it will generally be 4 years of English, 3-4 years of history, 3-4 years of science, 4 years of math, 3-4 years of a foreign language and at least one arts course. The exact mix, and level of courses will depend on the student.
Thank you. Do you think journalism would be considered an academic elective? Also wondering that for a 2nd teacher recommendation as well.
Additional courses in subjects like science or history beyond the minimum required or expected would count as academic electives.
For how journalism and visual and performing art are treated, you may want to ask the possible colleges of interest directly if it is not clear on their web sites. At least some colleges do treat one or both categories of courses as academic courses, but it is possible that other college do not.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1995563-faq-high-school-college-prep-base-curriculum.html can give an idea of the high school base college prep curriculum around which the student may add additional electives of interest.