He has taken 2 years of Spanish, which is what is required to graduate. Upon researching it looks like many colleges he’s interested in either recommend or require 3 years of a foreign language. He can’t fit Spanish III in his schedule next year and the school doesn’t offer it in the summer so he found a course through an accredited online virtual high school for the summer. He showed the course description to his counselor, who told him they don’t accept outside courses from other schools.
So, I’m wondering if he doesn’t need it to graduate and it doesn’t matter much if it is factored in his GPA, can he just take it without his school’s approval and submit that class on another transcript sent with his college applications when it’s time to apply?
My kids took college classes that were not on their HS transcript. They reported all classes on applications and needed to submit all transcripts.
At one point, I looked at online HS classes as an option. Some would not issue a separate transcript and therefore required HS cooperation. If the school in question will issue it’s own transcript, then I don’t think it’s problem.
Absolutely he can. My son did something similar. His high school doesn’t allow students to take more than one math class at a time, and he wanted to take Statistics in addition to his other math. So he signed up for an online course at a local 4-year college that allowed kids to enroll if there were extra spaces available. The class did not count towards his high school diploma, but he included it on all of his college applications (and sent a transcript from the college to the university at which he eventually enrolled.)
@thumper1 He wants to do either premed or engineering so he’s filling any extra class periods with advanced math or science.
Thank you, everyone for your input. I didn’t think that not getting school approval would be an issue, I just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss something crucial ?
What math and science is he adding beyond the usual ones? Not all high school math and science electives will be that useful for a college-bound student.
High school computer science classes are often pretty worthless and I don’t think they are viewed as high rigor by most colleges. I could be wrong as my view of it is a few years old.
One option to consider option might be to do an online CS course during the summer and Spanish III at high school. There are excellent CS related courses available online, and the subject lends itself to online and self-paced learning better than a third year level language course.
This way it wouldn’t matter if the course was “accepted” for credit or not, it would simply be something your son is doing because he’s interested in the subject. Taking intro CS for credit at a community college would be another option.
Our public school took our online courses for credit. We had them approved first. In fact, we convinced the school to join The Virtual HIgh School the following year so that 25 kids could take classes each semester. I don’t know why your school won’t accept the credits.
No school can prohibit a student from taking outside classes. They can reserve the rights to what is reported on their transcript. They can prohibit missing school time. Colleges can and will look at education beyond the HS a student is enrolled in. Excellent idea to expand upon your son’s capabilities. btw- in a heavily Catholic area most kids went to the good WI public schools- they offered better academics and those who wanted it still got plenty of their religious way of life.
Why NOT take two sciences, (and adding math classes) at one time? No different than taking any other subjects such as two that include writing assignments. I get so tired of people who treat STEM as though it is more difficult than other subjects. A student who enjoys and is good at science and math will thrive with more of that. It would be torture to substitute nonfavored subjects because some people think they can’t enjoy as much STEM as possible.
It is a good idea to take more Spanish to be more competitive for many colleges. UW-Madison requires two years but notes that most will have had four as I recall. Finding a way to make his school year enjoyable and still get foreign language credits is great.
@itsmegina , google search Sara Harberson February 19, 2019 Facebook live post about “Classes and Curriculum.” At one point during the video she addresses how many years of foreign language you really need.
Short version: take Spanish at school as part of DS’s core curriculum. Add in a CS course online or at a local CC.
STEM majors at most colleges, esp ABET Engineering, do not require foreign language as part of the college graduation requirement.
My oldest was an Engineering major and behind is freshman year because he did not have comp sci experience.
I recommend taking a summer community college language course or CLEP exam. My daughter’s friend did 2 years HS Spanish and a semester of CC Spanish in order to apply to colleges. She is currently a junior at Pitt.
I also recommend reaching out to colleges he wishes to apply and speak with admissions. Pitt admissions blessed DDs friend’s plan before she began her course.
His high school can’t prevent him from taking the class. But if the colleges won’t count anything that’s not on his high school transcript, it won’t do what you want it to.
Agree…engineering majors usually do not need a foreign language to graduate from college.
BUT…my engineering major kid decided to pick up a double major in biology…and that was in the college of arts and sciences and foreign language WAS required in college for that degree.
You just never know what the future will hold.
Plus, her college recommended four years of FL and required three for admission. That wasn’t an issue as she took Spanish 3 in high school.
I’m in the better safe than sorry category. I don’t know any college that required or even recommends a HS co outer science class for admissions consideration…but I know plenty that require or recommend three years of foreign language.
I’d take the foreign language in high school…and do the computer science one on the side.
This might not work in your particular situation, but for other people following this thread there are some colleges that will accept an 8th grade foreign language, if it’s the same language that is studied in high school.
Engineering college parts of a university may not require as much foreign language BUT- one first has to get admitted to the university as a whole. Students are competing for spots at UW regardless of intended major.
A BS at UW only requires 3 years (college semesters) of one foreign language while a BA requires 4 of one or 3 of one plus to of a second to graduate in L&S. Therefore, for that school, taking 4 years worth (middle school can count) of a foreign language in HS means meeting any college foreign language requirements unless for a specific (likely foreign language) major. One less requirement in college.
It seems a good idea to do at least the 3rd year of HS Spanish to meet some schools’ requirements and to be more competitive in the admissions process, regardless of proposed major. It also is a good thing to learn another language.