<p>The high school my brother's going to is going through a couple of changes. They're implementing an "academy" system where students are divided up into different "academies," like math and science, communications, leadership, business, and a few more I can't think of right now. He's mostly interested in being part of the math and science academy.</p>
<p>However, because of the requirements of the math and science academy, there isn't a lot of room for electives. My brother has been playing violin for a while, since third grade, and it's something he really enjoys, so he wants to be in the school orchestra. But if someone is in the math and science academy and is also in the school orchestra, they can only take a foreign language online. My brother want to learn a foreign language, but this seems like a pretty bad way to learn a foreign language (how are you going to learn how to speak?). Plus, we'd have to pay for it if a levy doesn't get passed later on.</p>
<p>If he decides to not be in the orchestra then there are only three years of foreign language offered anyways, with no AP or even a fourth level because of budget cuts. And if he decides to not be in the math and science academy, I don't think he'll be able to take the AP classes offered math and science, which is pretty bad since that's what he's interested in, and he's smart enough to handle everything. Also, he's taking Geometry as an eighth grader, so no APs in math means that he'll only have two years of math in high school, which also seems really bad.</p>
<p>So yea, does anyone have any advice? Are there any online foreign language classes that are any good? Or what would an application without foreign language look like if he decides to not take one / we can't afford it.</p>
<p>Taking an online foreign language class is not something I would advise. Check to see if your brother’s high school has a concurrent enrollment program with a local community college or state university. It might be known in your area as “PSEO” or “dual credit.” Some school districts allow students to take classes and get reimbursed for paying tuition at the end of the semester. The disadvantages of doing this are the costs of tuition and inconveniences in transportation, etc. I took Spanish classes at a public university near my school after I exhausted the available courses.</p>
<p>Often, school orchestras are of lower quality than regional youth orchestras. Your brother might benefit by finding out about a youth orchestra in his area. Tentatively, he could forgo the school orchestra and add a very useful extracurricular to his list. A potential issue would be that some youth orchestras require enrollment in school music programs as a prerequisite. Participation in a local youth orchestra in place of the school orchestra could free up the time your brother needs for a foreign language class at school.</p>
<p>Colleges always like to see as much foreign language experience as possible. If there are simply no other options, the best route may be to ask his guidance counselor to add a special note regarding the scarcity of language classes at your brother’s school. He may also want to add a note in the “Additional Information” section if he’s especially worried. Generally colleges will understand why a student is lacking courses in certain areas after seeing the counselor-submitted school profile.</p>
<p>Applying to selective colleges with less than 3 years of language is problematic. In practice some recommend proficiency at level 4 (i.e. 4 full years of one language). You may want to do a search of the topic in CC since this has been discussed in the past.</p>
<p>Something would have to give so he can meet this recommended curriculum. Best by far is for him to take the language classes at school --and not online or through a CC.</p>
<p>I think for all the regional orchestras in our area, it’s a requirement that you participate in your school’s orchestra if it exists.</p>
<p>We looked up stuff for foreign language PSEO, and I’m not sure how years work. If that means taking three courses a year of a language for three years on a quarter system, that means that he’d end up with a minor in a language just do get to the requirement. I know that for PSEO classes, the high school counts each quarter of a 5-unit class as 0.67 credits towards high school graduation, so this still means 5 quarters of Spanish to get three years, which seems like a lot but is more doable. And as a reference, a 4 or a 5 on the AP Spanish test will give credit for only 4 quarters of Spanish.</p>
<p>Does anyone else have any ideas?</p>
<p>If your brother is skilled enough, perhaps he could be in the school orchestra without taking the class. My daughter is very fortunate to be self-motivated and have an understanding chamber ensemble director. She couldn’t fit the class in her schedule, so she is taking it independent study.</p>
<p>Also, has your brother spoken to the guidance counselor about this? It is possible that the GC would have some ideas or some influence on this new program. It would seem that surely your brother isn’t the only math/science student who would like to be involved in fine arts and take a foreign language.</p>