Looking for advice on foreign language situation

<p>This forum seems to help out a lot of people, so I figured that I woud ask the question that has been keeping me up for weeks with the hopes of getting some advice!</p>

<p>Now for some information to just give you an idea of my academics/ECs-</p>

<p>First of all, I am a high school junior who wishes to attend Syracuse University when I graduate. I recently moved from a large public high school in New York to a small private prep school in North Carolina. My overall GPA in New York was 90 on a 100 scale, taking the hardest courses offered but only one AP course (it was the only one offered). I did a few extra curriculars, playing on the varsity tennis team starting in 9th grade, participating in Model UN 10th, and playing the violin and string bass in 10th grade in a local string group. Not as many as I could have, but I was new to that school as well and didn’t know much about what it had to offer. As for summer activities, in after 9th grade I spent one month with the Multinational Force and Observers (Peacekeepers) in the Sinai Desert in Egypt, and in the summer after 10th grade I went to an aerospace program at the University of North Dakota.</p>

<p>Here is my situation-</p>

<p>I took three years of french at my school in New York, French 1-3 starting in the 8th grade. My new school in North Carolina offered French when I enrolled, but then dropped its French courses due to lack of demand. I asked if I could take just a french course at a local high school, but the administration told me I should take French 201 for high school credit at a local college. It seemed like a good idea at the time, so I enrolled in the course.</p>

<p>However, it soon appeared that there would be a problem with the french class, as it would require me to miss a class three days a week and arrive at the following class 10-15 mins late (out of a 50 min class period). Also, after talking with my sister (who currently attends SU), she said that she had taken French 201 at Syracuse after having 5 years of french in high school and dropped the class because it was too hard. </p>

<p>I decided that the scheduling problems, combined with the difficult nature of the course, would negatively affect my other classes and my overall GPA, so I dropped the french course. In its place I am taking another science, and Latin I. </p>

<p>My questions-</p>

<li><p>Do you think that Syracuse would understand my situation and would be a little more lenient on the 4-5 years of a foreign language that they normally like to see on a transcript?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you believe that my other credentials, combined with a good SAT sore (I hope), would give me a shot at Syracuse, which admits 59% of applicants?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you know of any alternative ways that I could take some kind of french course that wouldn’t be hard enough to negatively affect my GPA and that would allow for a flexible schedule?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Any advice is appreciated, as this has (as I said earlier) been worrying me and keeping me up for weeks! Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>What about sticking with French, but taking it over the summer, and then possibly self-studying AP French next year?</p>

<p>That is a wonderful idea; I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier. Thanks...</p>

<p>Now for a couple more questions (sorry everyone!!)</p>

<p>I know that colleges like to see you rise to leadership in whatever extra-curricular activities you do, and not to switch around a whole lot, but that is very hard to do when you move every couple of years. I was one of the frontrunners to be captain of the varsity tennis team this year until I moved, and now I am starting over in a new team in a new enviornment. I was planning on running cross country, but I got down here too late to be on the team. Also, I was active in Model UN and my local string group in New York, but my new school is much smaller and doesn't have any of those activities. I signed up for Mock Trial, but we might not have enough people to do it.</p>

<p>Do you think that they will give me a fair shake on the ECs given my situation?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

<p>What about starting a new club at your school that you already know a lot about, i.e Model UN. You could meet a lot of new people and it would show how passionate you are about it and your leadership skills. Maybe you could join track in the spring if you are good at running. You just need to get involved.</p>

<p>But definitely explain to colleges about your situation.</p>

<p>The schools you are applying to will understand that your ECs changed as a result of the move. Often times schools don't offer the same things, or they are at a different level than at your previous school. Therefore, many admissions officers expect a slight change in ECs when a student moves from one environment to a radically different one. Every interview I have had has touched on that (I didn't switch schools, but I took a month off because I was very sick with a staph infection and had a difficult time transitioning back). You might even want to touch upon it in your personal statement/essay :)</p>

<p>Great, thanks so much to both of you for your advice!</p>