I will be studying abroad for my first semester of junior year at an American school next semester so I will be able to take classes that I would be able to take in America, there. Because I will only be there for a semester (the length of the program) I will be taking the course and have it be 1 credit rather than .5 credits for a semester class thus I can only take 3 classes outside of the general studies that the school requires (honors regional history class, honors language class, PE = required classes). I will only be taking 2 APs and 1 Honors level math (highest I can go) outside of the required classes and will be able to take my SAT and possibly SAT subject tests.
For my second semester, I got the opportunity through a scholarship to study abroad and attend a local high school with a homestay in either France or Italy (stuck between the two, and want to learn one of the romantic UN languages i.e. French). But I will not be able to take APs or AP tests and will take classes that may not be transferrable back to the US, even though I will have already finished my required credits. However, I can choose to stay in the same country as my first semester for the second semester and thus have the ability to take 3 APs and the honors level math class and also take AP tests. Or I can study in a completely other country and attend local high school, not take AP tests, but it be a very unique country.
I am not sure how this would affect college admission officers decisions (especially more selective colleges such as Georgetown), but my counselor said that spending my second semester at a school and learning the language would be looked upon greatly and that my first semester rigor shows this is not a vacation. I do then plan on coming back to the US and taking an extremely difficult course load senior year, either way, and doing something comprehensive with my summer. The program in the first foreign country ends in the end of May if I choose to go for a second semester, whereas the France/Italy/other country program ends in July, which limits the amount of time I have to do something significant with my summer, but it can be done (risky).
I know I can study abroad in college but an unfortunate event led study abroad my junior year to be my only option.
Are you saying you have a choice and the 2nd sem could be at the same American hs?
We have no background on you, but generally, a study year away is fine. I can hardly imagine them thinking this is a vacation or frivolous. You have space on the CA to show other hs attended and can explain. Some of how your actual course tally will look will depend on the possible college major you’re thinking about. Be sure you end up with that balance. At the American school, see how you can be involved in ECs. Is the second semester a competitive scholarship?
What are you doing this summer? If it’s something good, I wouldn’t worry so much about coming back next July. But you can look ahead to what might be available next summer, including vol work, in August (the sort where you roll up your sleeves and put in the hours.)
Yes, I do have a choice and the second semester could be at a different American high school but in the same country.
I plan on majoring in international relations and the courses taught at the school are relatively focused on this, but I do plan on taking APs that relate to this. ECs aren’t available because the classes are rigorous, long, and the semester students change each semester so continuity is difficult. The second semester college for other program is very competitive, almost fully paid. At the local school in France/Italy/etc., I would be enrolled in classes there but they would not be rigorous especially, however I will fully immersed in learning the language.
This summer I am volunteering at a youth camp, interning, and have a part time job working at a market. The summer before, I went on a summer language immersion program (full ride) to finish up learning mandarin.
Great. You can use Additional Info to briefly explain the EC situation. I asked if the scholarship is competitive (as opposed, eg, to need based,) because that would be a positive. And you do sound sufficiently busy, for now. It’s hard, since you’re not giving much detail yet (eg, what’s the internship.) But clearly you’re thinking. See if you can preview the app and any supps, so you get an idea how you present yourself, in various sections. A lot will hang on that. But I think you’re going in the right directions. I don’t think the 2nd semester needs to be rigorous, if you structure the rest well. But am only going on what you have said. Best wishes.