Oh man, will I not be able to apply to the UC schools because of this?

<p>Yeah, so I'm applying out-of-state, and I noticed that one of the "a-g" requirements is a year of art. The problem is, my school does not offer a yearlong art class; rather, they offer a number of art courses for a semester (i.e - art studio, music comp., etc.) . I have 1.5 year's worth of art, but none of them are one class. Will I be unable to apply because of my school? Or will they overlook it since I'm OOS?</p>

<p>Also, another thing:</p>

<p>For the first two years of HS, due to a lot of super-seniors, some of us weren't put into a language class until junior year. I have a year's worth of Spanish, and I'll be getting 4 credits worth of chinese (basically two years) from a college class, but I don't get the grades for that until late December. Does this mean I can't apply? Should I make a note of it somewhere?</p>

<p>It's not a year-long art class that's required. It's a year of a visual/fine art. So you take two semesters of the art class, or some other art class, as long as it adds up to at least 1 year. You have met this requirement.</p>

<p>Are you taking your second year of Spanish (i.e. did you start Spanish junior year and are you continuing it senior year)? If so, then you've met the requirement, which is that you take two years of a foreign language by the time you graduate. Even if you didn't meet this requirement, though, you'd just explain it in the application that your school limits its students. You should also add that you're taking CC courses (and add the in-progress grades if you'd like, if you have them).</p>

<p>^^ Great. Thanks. I'm taking Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese now (long story).</p>

<p>Would Art Studio and Music Composition cover the art requirement, though?</p>

<p>My understanding is the art requirement is supposed to be in the same area: two drawing, two painting, two orchestra, two photog. This is discussed somewhere else in the CC forum but can't remember where. I commiserate. We're in another state, and many of our students find out too late that they don't have the arts requirement for CA. I believe there is a way to address this in the app. Look further on this board.</p>

<p>Hmm, I've been looking at the UC FAQ and it says a year-long course.</p>

<p>Regardless, should I just make mention of the fact that my school doesn't do year-long art courses and point out that I have a year of art anyways?</p>

<p>As I said, my understanding is UCs expect 2 semesters in the same area of fine arts. Painting I and Painting II, etc. For musicians this is pretty straightforward, because students often enroll in orchestra, band or choir every year. I don't know much about art classes, but the idea is that you should have participated in a sequence of classes in the same art discipline. I'm not sure what explanation is acceptable to UC, but I can tell you, this is a big issue at our high school, where our GC makes it very clear that if you have any interest in the UC's, you MUST fulfill the art requirement. That said, others on CC have alluded to ways to explain your lack on your transcript. They don't "just forget about it because you're not from California." You should ask UC admissions how to communicate about the art classes you HAVE taken.</p>

<p>I would write a letter to explain that ands include it in your app. A guy in the "admissions horror stories" thread just said that he was ineligible to apply because he never took the two semesters of art... I don't know if they were offered at his school though.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Hmm, I've been looking at the UC FAQ and it says a year-long course.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Believe me -- that isn't required. My high school didn't (and doesn't, to my knowledge) offer yearlong art courses, only semester ones, and I had no problem. I can see why you'd think that a yearlong one is required, since it says "A single yearlong approved arts course," but two semester ones seem fine.</p>

<p>
[quote]
As I said, my understanding is UCs expect 2 semesters in the same area of fine arts. Painting I and Painting II, etc.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'm not sure -- many schools offer only semester-long art classes and don't offer advanced levels. So it'd be only painting, drawing, mechanical drawing, ceramics, etc. but not painting II, drawing II, etc. To the OP: you should email UC and ask about this.</p>

<p>As a UCLA grad I always wondered why anyone would want to attend a UC undergrad from OOS. Paying so much more than 95% of the student body'd be such a bummer. Go to Occidental, get some aid, and you'll get more personalized att'n and bang for your buck.</p>

<p>From UC website

[quote]
f l Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) – 1 year required
A single yearlong approved arts course from a single VPA discipline: dance, drama/theater, music or visual art.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Now if your high school does not offer it then it maybe a different story. But all the kids at D's high school take a single yearlong art course.</p>

<p>It is. Those whose high schools only offer semester courses (and from what I've seen, a great many do), they must take two to meet the requirement.</p>

<p>another way to dodge this requirement is by standardized scores.
If you are able to get a certain UC score, you're immediately eligible for UC admissions, you won't need to fulfill the "A-G". This is what a UCSB rep told me. Its a bit harder for OOS thou to achieve the score...</p>

<p>I'm struggling with the art requirement course also. I took a semester in 10th grade, and now have to complete another semester in 12th grade to fulfill this req.
Hopefully I get accepted ED, so I can have a free period instead...</p>