You’ve all seen the signs around the high school, the videos on the announcements, and your sharply dressed friends returning from their day. But what really is VANTAGE? Besides an opportunity to hear an English accent for a few hours, it really does have a lot to offer.

First, here is a little background on the program. Essentially, VANTAGE is dedicated to providing advanced professional studies to juniors and seniors looking for a more specialized high school experience. You work in a professional setting, often times alongside some of the most successful business people in the Metro area to learn the curriculum.

As far as the curriculum goes, currently there are three programs being offered. The first is Business Analytics, where students take AP Statistics as well as IB Business. In this program, students listen to guest speakers in analytic based fields as well as work on different project teams with companies such as Target. The second course is Global Business. In this program, students take IB Business, AP Economics, as well as English and Advanced Research. Following the common theme, students often times learn the curriculum through lectures by local business professionals. As well as the standard curriculum, Global Business students work with companies on different project teams like Children’s Fairview Hospital and Medica. Finally, Healthcare and Sports Science takes AP Psychology, IB Sports and Health Sciences, and Sports Physiology.

As well as these current courses, the VANTAGE program will be introducing a few new ones for the upcoming school year. The courses are as follows:

• Food Science, where students have the opportunity to take AP Statistics and Advanced topics in foods science.

• Graphic and Product Design, offering credit in Marketing I and II, as well as Graphic and Product design.

• Minnetonka Broadcast Channel in which they will be teaching Broadcast and Video Production, and Communication Theory Practice.

• Project Based Engineering, offering Calculus and Physics.

• Psychology of Learning, providing courses in AP Psychology and Introduction to Education.

While as a current VANTAGE student I may have some bias, it really is a worthwhile experience. It’s a learning experience like no other, where you can take advantage of opportunities offered nowhere else in our state in an incredibly cool and modern workplace. Plus you get to hang out with Mr. Pears.