Will online courses be considered less rigorous by selective colleges? A 8th grader needs to submit 9th grade course schedules now and would like to have some advices. He will take either Spanish or Biology online because of scheduling conflicts. Which course is better to be online?
He wants to do well on AP Spanish in 11th grade and potentially pursue CS/Engineering in college. Will definitely take AP Physics down the road, maybe AP Chemistry too, but not AP Biology.
To me, learning a language online sounds a lot harder than learning it in person…
Neither. If an online course is a must as a freshman, it really shouldn’t be a core course
I am not sure I understand the need for the online classes.
Languages and lab sciences are not the best options for an online experience.
Is foreign language a core course? It is elective at our high school.
The high school only has 6 periods. He is a band kid so band takes a period. Theatre is his newly found passion after he is having a small role at the high school spring musical performance. To be on stage, he is required to take an acting class. He will take math, ELA and social studies in person. Needs to pick either biology or Spanish online.
I agree with other answers.
Spanish, or any language, is something that you do not learn by just listening and reading. You also need to speak the language. I have consistently recommended that to learn a language not only is it valuable to have an in-person class, but you also want to use the language outside of class.
Biology is often a lab course. You learn things in class. You study. You go into a lab and you try things out.
Both are as others have said core academic courses.
I do not particularly like the idea of taking either of these on-line.
OP: You have not provided enough information to enable readers to respond in a responsible manner. Need more information about the specifics of the online courses. Are the courses live & interactive or just taped on-demand courses ?
Online courses can range from poor to outstanding. Currently, I am reviewing several online options which are superior to most in person/in class options in a particular highly specialized field.
Survey courses which are taped and on-demand can be fine in many situations, but non-flexible, interactive online courses allow for real time interaction.
Language lab can be done online, but not sure as to whether science labs can be done online. OP, are labs involved in either course ?
For college admissions purposes, yes. How the HS categorizes is immaterial.
Putting aside the fact that taking 2 arts classes at the expense of a core subject may not be the best move in the long run, since I don’t want to rehash your other threads, I’d do social studies online over a lab science or foreign language.
I note some folks asked for details and context. If it’s helpful, here are the OP’s previous threads which contain tons of discussion
I am not sure that I understand this school, but I would take biology and Spanish in person and do an acting class as an EC…if possible and affordable.
AP Government will be his 9th grade social studies. Not sure the online version will prepare him well or not for the AP exam.
The acting class will take one of the six periods.
Yes but by doing this you/he are making a choice to take a core class online. I would not do that.
He’s making choices. Or you’re making choices for him. You can’t have it all. Nothing will be ideal in your scenario, but IMO the online version of AP gov is better than the other 2 options.
He insists to have both band and acting and doesn’t care which class online.
Then…he is making a choice to take a class in an EC over a core class. Therefore, the answer to the question you are asking should not really matter (to him).
Has he spoken to his guidance counselor?
Spanish online for a year didn’t sound that bad to me. He can catch up in the next year before taking AP Spanish in junior.
Biology online seemed also alright. Since he doesn’t have much interest there and won’t do more biology afterwards. To complete it is to satisfy the graduation requirements and college guidelines.