<p>I would like some advice from the parents, please.
I am a rising senior who is planning to apply to the ivies and other top schools. I have a conflict in my schedule this year, where I have to make a decision between my music class and my foreign language. I have been taking both classes three years and would prefer not to give either up, but, unfortunately, I have no choice. I don't want to give up the foreign language because I know it does not look good to give up an academic course. But I am also reluctant to give up music because I am very involved in my school's music department. What are your opinions? Which class do you think I should choose?</p>
<p>How do you plan on presenting yourself? As someone passionate about music? Then keep up with music. As someone who is interested in international relations or literature? Then continue the foreign language study. It depends on your college plans and on how you want to describe yourself and your interests, both academic and extra-curricular.</p>
<p>Is there some way you can continue to be involved in music, but as an EC? If so, that would be ideal.</p>
<p>S had a similar conflict. He could not schedule the Wind Symphony class that he wanted. Worse, he could not participate in Jazz Band EC if he was not enrolled in a symphonic music course. He and the Music Director worked out a plan where he took the Freshman Symphonic Band class (as a Senior!) for the conflicting semester. He enjoyed it, served as a bit of an assistant to the director, was a role model to the kids just starting out in a high school orchestra. Perhaps you can find a similar way to have your cake and eat it.</p>
<p>To me it sounds like you are only taking the foreign language to look good to colleges but are taking the music because you truly enjoy it. If this is the case, take the music class...if the ivies don't want you because you <strong>gasp</strong> only have 3 years of foreign language, do you really want them? What kind of school says that you should give up something you love to take something that makes you fit in with the crowd?</p>
<p>My son had the exact same problem last year. We were very upset with the conflict because he was actively involved in music throughout high school (area all-state violist each year, first chair, etc.), and while he was not presenting himself specifically as a "music kid", music was (is) a big part of his identity. At the same time, he could not imagine dropping Spanish...he was to take AP, and really wanted to continue. As it happened, there were a bunch of students like himself with the same problem..at our school, many of the musicians were among the group that pursued language throughout high school, took the same AP classes, and had similar overall schedules. Anyway, after multiple complaints to the principal, it was decided that these students could take an "independent orchestra study", whereby the orchestra teacher would make himself available during another period to provide the music and do some modified version of the teaching he did for the main orchestra. To be honest, the kids who did it mostly practiced the music without much instruction, but it enabled them to perform with the orchestra and be in the select ensembles that met after school. So, we were grateful for the compromise. The course was on their transcript, and received the same credits/grades as the regular orchestra. So, after this experience, I recommend that you see if there are others in the same boat, and try to lobby for an alternative that allows you to continue with both.</p>