Reply to UVA Admission and "other electives"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My 10th grade son is interested in attending UVA to major in computer science.  He is on track to take 9 AP courses with Honors for his social studies classes (and Multivariable Calc).  He will not pursue language other than his required 3 years.  He currently makes all As.  Any thoughts on whether he needs to take "hard" electives for his other classes, or if he can get away with an "easy" one or two.  For instance, he is interested in taking Sports Psychology.  Or maybe Oceanography.  Or maybe Forensics, Debate, Film Studies, Sports Marketing, etc.

Just some sort of easy, interesting, random class (one in 11th and one in 12th) to balance out his other challenging courses.

What say you, DCUM?

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He should take 4 years of a foreign language.[/quote]

One doesn’t need 4 years of foreign language if apply to uva engineering.  The student does need to demonstrate strong interest and academic record in STEM classes.  UVA will be happy to see that free spot go to AP CS or some sort of engineering class if offered by the high school.

But if the kid forgoes that 4th foreign language class during senior year and take underwater basket weaving instead, then the chance of getting into UVA engineering is not great.

DS was accepted EA last year.  He took AP CS as a sophomore. That was the highest CS class his school offered.   By senior year, he opted out of the foreign language and history classes during senior year.  Instead he went for the AP Physics II, an advanced robotics honors and Multi.  He got into other excellent CS programs without that fourth foreign language and history.[/quote]

OP isn't asking about "other excellent CS programs."  OP is asking about UVA.  And UVA expressly recommends four years of foreign language.  Also, your kid didn't take a foreign language in the senior year; OP's kid wants to drop it a year earlier than that.

All of these anecdotes about UVA not meaning what it says isn't helpful. [/quote]

Did you have a kid who went through the admission cycle recently? Just wondering

We had met w UVA admissions regarding the plan to drop the foreign language and history to make room for more STEM when DS was a junior. So this is not just another anecdote.  Engineering apps are not read w the college apps.  The course requirements are indeed different.  OP can take these advices or leave them.

The part about other excellent CS programs is meant to give OP an idea that UVA’s stance with regards to the 4th foreign language is consistent with other engineering programs.  So this is not some switch and bait tactic.
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