Possibility of Appointment, and suggestions?

Noah said:
I do see it as one of the most prestigious academies
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You are missing the point, USAFA and every SA is on par with any Ivy college. Your competition will be kids trying to get accepted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT. Notre Dame, UVA, Stanford, Cornell will be on their plan B list too. UT Austin, USC, TAMU, NYU, Out of State maybe their safeties.
~ Again, those kids have 3 years+ for foreign language. 2 years IMPO equates to them having a hook. Marching Band is not a hook.

In essence you are applying to an Ivy. From an academic perspective. 2 years is not where I would want to stand from the curriculum rigor profile of your HS if 75% of students have 3 years.

I don't know what state you are from, and maybe it will be fine to have only 2 years, but on the whole, I would say that 2 years can hurt you not only from college acceptance, but AFROTC scholarship.
~ Unlike USAFA, it is national from start to finish. From Maine, you compete along with the kid from CA.
~~ The rate is the same as USAFFA, 16-18% for scholarship candidates.

I know that this might be disheartening, but you are a rising sophomore. You are n front of the 8 ball.

You can do it!

Talk to your GC and ask what classes do I need to take to be competitive for IVY level acceptance, or prestigious privates, like, Notre Dame, Cornell. Make me competitive for UNCCH and UVA as an OOS applicant.
 
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I wasn't trying to sound like I'm shutting out taking 3 years of a language, if that's what it sounded like.. I'm all for it, if I can get it changed.That eighth class may have been a foreign language.. Again, they were so scared of letting me see MY schedule, sorry.. Does anyone know a way of finding out where your school stands compared to others, besides maybe asking your guidance counselor? I know my high school is fourth in the county for academics, out of maybe 8-12.. But I'm curious about all of my state, or possibly the country. Maybe I'm bad at googling, but it wouldn't show anything for me.
 
Talk to you GC, they should be able to tell you where the school ranks in the state.
~ That can be a moot point.

I am still shocked that if your folks called them regarding this issue would say; Sorry we can't help!

I would be on the horn as a parent calling the county school administration complaining about how they will not disclose your 8th class.
 
I just don't know why they wouldn't let me see it.. I was concerned to know if they had fixed it, and all I got was a 'yes'. Maybe I have trust issues, but this isn't the place for that...

As for calling the school, I could. But that makes me question what is the difference in telling the student versus the parent..
 
You are 15. You are a minor.

That is the difference.

Discussing this without your parents approval can be an issue because YOU are a minor. They are your legal guardian, and speak for you as a MINOR.
~ IE Folks want you to stay with Marching Band, and not take foreign language. GC talks to you and you want foreign language. Changing it on your word without parental signatures means they gave a minor the right regarding their academic career in HS.

In essence, they bypassed your parents and allowed you to dictate your academic career as a HS student.
~ It is saying to me, I have no voice at all, my 15 year old holds the reins. I must still provide a roof over their head, feed them, etc. Heck, If I don't, I can be arrested for endangering a minor, when they are truant.
~~ That is how it works.

Just saying legally there is a reason.

No flaming me. I am just saying for my 3 kids when spring rolled around, the schedule for the following year had to be signed off by me or Bullet. My kids could not change the curriculum unless, we signed off again because our kids were minors.
~ I acknowledge it can be different state by state.
 
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Interesting, Pima (and slightly off topic) - at my kids' school there is literally no official parental involvement in setting the kids' class schedules. It's between the counselor and the student - no notifications, parental signatures required, or anything. Of course, being an involved parent, my daughter and I went through the course catalog and chose her classes prior to her meeting with the counselor, but that's not required or even common, I don't think. Many of her friends' parents don't even know what classes their kids are taking. It must be working - we're the #1 school district in the state, but apparently contrary to your experience.
 
I'd like to throw out some input when it comes to ECs and leadership opportunities. If band is your passion, I recommend you follow it. I was also a "band nerd" in high school- I was good at it and I liked it. My band program had many opportunities- jazz, concert, marching, pit orchestra. I took advantage of all of them as well as the leadership opportunities they provided. Because it was my main focus aside from academics, I did not have the same time to develop myself in my sport, but I never saw that as a weakness. This is one of the very few opportunities where YOU get to decide what you do. While there may be many times where you have to suck it up and get past the stuff you're not really interested in to get to the good stuff, this should certainly not be one of those times. When you enjoy what you are doing, you are more likely to pursue the mastery of it and be a better leader to others who share your same passion.
 
Jcc123 said:
Interesting, Pima (and slightly off topic) - at my kids' school there is literally no official parental involvement in setting the kids' class schedules. It's between the counselor and the student - no notifications, parental signatures required, or anything. Of course, being an involved parent, my daughter and I went through the course catalog and chose her classes prior to her meeting with the counselor, but that's not required or even common, I don't think. Many of her friends' parents don't even know what classes their kids are taking. It must be working - we're the #1 school district in the state, but apparently contrary to your experience.
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At my kids schools (NC and VA), the kids came home and said Mom/Dad I need you to sign this for me.

Being military we moved from VA to NC back to VA within 3 years. Each time, we had to sign off their class schedule when we registered them as a new student. Like I said, we also had to sign off their GC/student course selection every spring.
~ I am not going to lie, I was on top of my #1, #2 child because I knew they were going to attend at least 2 HSs in 2 different states. #3 was the only one that attended 1 HS, so I was laid back, but still, his HS made me sign off his curriculum.

Back on topic, my point was/is, I highly doubt the school would not discuss this aspect if the folks called or showed up at the school.

He is 15. Sorry Noah, you just don't carry the weight/gravitas that your parents do.
 
Noah, my 2 cents:

I've got to agree with haleym. If music is your passion, then by all mean, follow it. Consider creating your own small band where you can play at senior centers, etc. This would showcase your ability to organize, coordinate and lead. Just a thought.

I realize that you don't think you're ready for cross country, but I recommend joining anyway. The coach will help condition you and get you on a plan that will make you a better runner without risking injury -- shin splints for one!

I agree that 3 foreign languages are optimum, but don't stress out if you can't change that schedule. You'll have enough stress when you actually apply. :) I know a few current cadets that had only 2 language classes, however, I would consider taking a foreign language class at a local community college over the summer, if they offer it.
 
Unless you are some kind of language whiz, I don't see any school allowing you to take French I in the fall, then FrII in the spring, unless you would then sign up for FrIII and FrIV the following year.

Really, if you have your sights on any upper tier school, your GC should know NOW, and have your parents make that call, tomorrow morning. Get the language in.

Now, you say your high school is ranked 4th of either 8 or 12. Well, that puts your school square in the middle so that makes it even more important that you take the most challenging courses available to you. Remember: this is YOUR EDUCATION for YOUR FUTURE. Do not let some GC determine your fate. (no offense to GCs... it's just that sometimes they forget that point)

And get on that sports team, NOW. The coach will get you into condition and you may be surprised at how much you love it!
 
fencersmother said:
Unless you are some kind of language whiz, I don't see any school allowing you to take French I in the fall, then FrII in the spring, unless you would then sign up for FrIII and FrIV the following year.

Really, if you have your sights on any upper tier school, your GC should know NOW, and have your parents make that call, tomorrow morning. Get the language in.

Now, you say your high school is ranked 4th of either 8 or 12. Well, that puts your school square in the middle so that makes it even more important that you take the most challenging courses available to you. Remember: this is YOUR EDUCATION for YOUR FUTURE. Do not let some GC determine your fate. (no offense to GCs... it's just that sometimes they forget that point)

And get on that sports team, NOW. The coach will get you into condition and you may be surprised at how much you love it!
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Will do. One question, what's the difference in taking two math classes, versus two languages?
 
To attend almost ANY 4-year college (of quality), you must have 2 yrs of a foreign language. Should you desire a top tier college, you would do well to have three years of a foreign (modern) language.

Math is not French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, German, Portuguese or any other language, though some consider it to be a language of its own.
 
fencersmother said:
To attend almost ANY 4-year college (of quality), you must have 2 yrs of a foreign language. Should you desire a top tier college, you would do well to have three years of a foreign (modern) language.

Math is not French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, German, Portuguese or any other language, though some consider it to be a language of its own.
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Well, I meant why would a school allow you to take 2 math classes in a year, but hesitate on allowing 2 foreign languages?
 
I don't know...
We were homeschoolers and didn't have these issues, but many others here have made valuable suggestions to you. Perhaps you should alert your parents to the scheduling conflicts.
 
fencersmother said:
To attend almost ANY 4-year college (of quality), you must have 2 yrs of a foreign language. Should you desire a top tier college, you would do well to have three years of a foreign (modern) language.

Math is not French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, German, Portuguese or any other language, though some consider it to be a language of its own.
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I don't think even Harvard requires 2 years of a foreign language. There is a difference between having to have something and something being very helpful. I will only have 1 year of a foreign language by graduation but I still have full ride offers from many schools and have been told that I am competitive for service academies.
 
frenzymando said:
I don't think even Harvard requires 2 years of a foreign language. There is a difference between having to have something and something being very helpful. I will only have 1 year of a foreign language by graduation but I still have full ride offers from many schools and have been told that I am competitive for service academies.
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I am curious, how do you have full ride offers for next year at this moment for the class of 2020?

Not saying you don't, but most colleges even for EA won't send out the merit packages until Nov. at the earliest.

Are your offers Merit, athletics, or Diversity based? There is a huge difference.

OBTW, you are correct there is a difference between the two aspects. I will tell you in VA. Don't even think about getting into UVA or VT with 1 year of foreign language. These 2 schools have over 30K applicants each annually for an incoming admissions class of 10K. It just isn't going to fly unless you are recruited by them.
~ I used UVA because it is considered a public Ivy. VT because it is an SMC.

I am not trying to be mean, I am just saying we need to think about all of our posters/lurkers. Painting a broad brush stroke that this is common to have 1 or 2 foreign languages upon graduation across the country is not helpful, if they are from a state where it is competitive just to get admitted into your state flagship school.
~ Nobody knows where Noah lives.
 
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Pima said:
frenzymando said:
I don't think even Harvard requires 2 years of a foreign language. There is a difference between having to have something and something being very helpful. I will only have 1 year of a foreign language by graduation but I still have full ride offers from many schools and have been told that I am competitive for service academies.
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I am curious, how do you have full ride offers for next year at this moment for the class of 2020?

Not saying you don't, but most colleges even for EA won't send out the merit packages until Nov. at the earliest.

Are your offers Merit, athletics, or Diversity based? There is a huge difference.
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I'll automatically qualify for full ride based off of my GPA and test scores at several colleges. I'm not sure if that's the same thing as an offer, but I qualify for them.
 
I'm not trying to say the OP shouldn't take foreign language classes; I regret not taking them and I think the OP should take them. However, I think it is a stretch to say you MUST have x years of foreign language.
 
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