I am a sophomore and have taken two years of Spanish in high school. I have met my foreign language requirement to graduate high school and I was wondering if I should continue. I have a lot of respect for the language and culture, but I just wanted to know what you guys thought.
I heard that 3 or more years of foreign language is necessary for applying to any top school. I talked to my counselor and surprisingly, she said it doesn’t matter. She said that since I am planning on going into either technology, engineering, or math, colleges could care less if I have another year of Spanish or not. However, I have heard I should do it, because everyone else is, and I would be disadvantaged when comparing transcripts.
I just want to know if foreign languages are a big deal for colleges or not, and if there is truth to what I have been hearing. Does it really make me look more well-rounded? As much I as respect Spanish, I am not going to be fluent or be using it after high school at the level I am. If I want to be fluent, I would need a few more years and lot more application of it in real life. I don’t plan on having that skill, and instead want to focus on passing my AP Physics, AP Stats, running a few clubs, volunteer hours… Time is getting pretty tight and I got to make a few sacrifices.
Next year I will have AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Stats, and AP Lang. I could try taking it in the summer, but I already am taking two classes and have an internship. If taking Spanish doesn’t mean much to my transcript, it may be one less thing for me to worry about. If it is necessary, I’ll find a way to fit it in.
If you’re thinking “top colleges,” you should be looking at their recommendations for courses and how many years. It’ll be on their web sites. The more competitive the colleges, the more you need to meet their expectations. (Not just your high school’s.)
If you are planning to major in math, engineering, computers, and/or sciences, then check with universities that excel in those subjects in terms of requirements for students majoring in those subjects. This might vary from what would be expected for a liberal arts major.
My older daughter got into a top / famous university outside of the US with only two years of Spanish. She also was (and still is) majoring in a science.
I have found that having weak ability to sort of almost speak a second language is a little bit useful rarely, but not enough that I would stress over it. You seem quite busy with other subjects.
Selective colleges generally expect three at a minimum. If you’re talking top 25, level 4 or AP is expected (unless your high school doesn’t offer these classes.)
Don’t take AP stats, it’s not a core class. If you’d taken it for fun, take it senior year but do plan on taking statistics in college.
So take Spanish 3 instead if ap stats, do well in all your classes, and you’re good to go.
Check the recommended high school curriculum of the colleges you are interested in and not your high school graduation requirements. You list four classes you will take your junior year which are 1 Sci, 2 Math and 1 Eng. You don’t have a history class. Is this because it is one of the courses you are taking during the summer? As to your question as whether for lang is a big deal to colleges, it depends on the college so create a spreadsheet where you will include your notes and look up some of the schools you may be interested in.
A top school adcom can run down the transcript, looking for math, sci, Engl, history/SS, and foreign lang, each year. Agree, stats is a choice and you don’t want them questioning choices. You could take a stats course in summer or online or wait for college. It’s not a stem tip and doesn’t meet minimums. Get history and Span 3 in there. Know what the colleges want to see, not just what you think is enough.
The exception is kids who drive their math beyond hs courses, (eg, DE,) and run into a legit scheduling issue with the 4th year of FL. Even so, they are rare. (Or sometimes, when the kid reaches AP before sr year.) Your competition will have it all. When you hear of an exception, you have to realize it’s an exception. Some colleges outside the US (or some heavily stem oriented schools) may jump one into a major sooner, while the US top holistics like to see rounded prep.