<p>Hi there,</p>
<p>I am actively considering taking high school Latin, Philosophy, and Classical Studies courses online. The reason is not simply to impress schools I would like to attend. It is my interest in these subjects, currently alien to me. However, I am in doubt over what level I should study these subjects till in high school (AP Latin, perhaps?). If taking these subjects to the highest level possible in high school is an advantage, I might choose to pursue them further. Nevertheless, I am pretty sure I'll take them in college if my high school schedule gets too full.</p>
<p>wait, what grade are you in now?</p>
<p>Am a Sophomore. Will be a junior in August.</p>
<p>Are these subjects not offered in your school? I strongly recommend Latin (it’s my favorite subject) and it helps you understand english grammar and is just awesome in general. Philosophy, maybe you’d be better off studying through books and independent reading rather than a whole course. What do you mean by classical studies? Any latin textbook will inevitably mention roman history and culture.</p>
<p>Philosophy isn’t going to help you one bit. More Philosphy, Political Science and Psychology majors in most arts and sciences schools than the rest of the disciplines combined. The best courses to take to get into the most selective colleges are the most difficult. Colleges like to see all 3 sciences represented, with an AP level achieved4 years of English with AP if offered, 4 years of math with AP calc if offered, and 4 years of foreign language with AP. If it’s in Latin, and you show interest in other Classics activities and research, so much the better, as classics departments do tend to be undersubscribed.</p>
<p>Though I’d like to study the Classics, a major in the field isn’t really for me. A major in Government is what I’m looking at.</p>
<p>
Oh, I wouldn’t say that. The number of majors isn’t as relevant for most administrative purposes as the number of students enrolled in courses, and classics departments tend to do reasonably well. Most colleges have at least 20 or so students in the introductory language courses and 5-10 (or even 15) in the upper-level courses, which is a perfectly reasonable amount of students given the nature of the courses. Any more students, in fact, would likely be problematic. Classical studies courses typically enroll 20-30 students, though some lecture classes at publics can have upwards of 80 students. </p>
<p>Additionally, there’s the unpleasant reality that there simply aren’t that many good classics departments. Most students seriously interested in classics apply to a lot of the same schools. Adding to that, many students applying to top schools - which includes a highly disproportionate number of students from private high schools - have taken Latin. To be frank, I lost track of the number of prospective students visiting the classics booth during admitted students days proudly mentioning a few years of high school Latin; I was never terribly impressed, and I doubt admissions officers are either.</p>
<p>thank you warblersrule. i am so tired of people making blanket statements…especially when many are made by people (and i’m not saying this of cptofthehouse) who have never sat on an admissions committee, never been a guidance counselor or an independent admissions counselor.</p>
<p>lisa</p>