<p>I began to hate spanish with every living cell starting.... now. I don't see any point in taking spanish 4 next year, except that it might look bad for college applications. Almost all colleges, including Ivy's, accept students with 3 years of foreign language, right? Even so, would not taking spanish 3 reflect negatively on my academic persistence? Don't just tell me to take what I like. I really don't want to take spanish 4, but at the same time I really want to get admitted to MIT or somewhere like that.</p>
<p>Take it. I too hate it with a burning passion. I am forced to take the cursed AP spanish next year, just for colleges.</p>
<p>You don't need to. You can take a class you enjoy more--or do better in a class you like. Don't suffer if you know you're going to be dropping Spanish shortly after high school. It's not worth it.</p>
<p>Don't take it. My son did and it was miserable and one of the only classes he didn't get an A in -- it meant he couldn't take AP English because of a schedule conflict. My daughter polled her friends at her Ivy League school and very few of them took a fourth year of a foreign language.</p>
<p>Just curious, why don't you like Spanish? Perhaps it is your teacher- maybe that will change next year? Is it because you don't feel successful in the class? Maybe a few tutoring sessions would help?</p>
<p>I think, not just with respect to college admissions, but in the bigger picture, learning a foreign language is very important. I like to imagine a solid knowledge of Spanish will be very helpful for you. Plus, your ability to learn a language decreases every year you get older. </p>
<p>Recomiendo que la tome......... </p>
<p>But, that's just my opinion.</p>
<p>Needed for admission, not really. Different issue:</p>
<p>Many colleges have some language requirement on the college level. Many of those have ways you might complete the requirement before starting college. Some have placement tests you can take, some accept a certain minimum SAT II score, and then there are some who will allow you to meet college requirement by what you completed in high school. An example: UIUC: its Arts & Sciences college requires 4 semesters of language on the college level to graduate from college. However, that requirement is waived if you completed the 4th year of a language in high school (it treats each year of high school language as one semester college level). So you might want to check with colleges to which you intend to apply to see what they require and what waiver rules apply and factor in whether that fourth year might allow you to escape taking language on the college level.</p>
<p>The following advice is from the Harvard Undergraduate Admissions website:</p>
<p>"We believe that you should prepare for college by mastering certain subjects and skills. You should demonstrate your proficiency in the areas described below by taking Achievement² and Advanced Placement tests.</p>
<p>In summary, we recommend:</p>
<p>the study of English for four years: close and extensive reading of the classics of the world's literature;
four years of a single foreign language;
the study of history for at least two, and preferably three years: American History, European History, and one additional advanced history course;
the study of mathematics for four years, including the particular topics described;
the study of science for four years: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level;
frequent practice in the writing of expository prose.
Various important secondary school subjects, such as art and music, are not specifically mentioned in our recommendations. The omission of these subjects should not be interpreted as a value judgment. We are concerned only with secondary school subjects for which we have data that suggest they are specific prerequisites for college work."</p>
<p>And from Princeton's website:</p>
<p>"Although the applicant’s course program is but one of several elements taken into consideration by the admission committee, English, foreign languages, and mathematics are so necessary to intellectual growth and attainment that sustained study of each in secondary school is expected. The following program is desirable: English, four years with continued practice in writing; foreign languages, four years of one language (rather than two years each of two languages), preferably continued through the final year of secondary school; mathematics, four years of college preparatory mathematics, also preferably continued through the final year of secondary school.</p>
<p>In addition to these studies, the following are important components of strong preparation for work in the University: two years of laboratory science, two years of history (including that of a country or area in addition to the United States), some study of art and music, and, if possible, a second foreign language. Students seeking a B.S.E. degree should have a strong record in the natural sciences and in mathematics."</p>
<p>MIT says:</p>
<p>"A strong academic foundation in high school both improves your odds of getting into MIT and will help you make the most of the Institute when you're here. We recommend that your high school years include the following:</p>
<p>One year of high school physics
One year of high school chemistry
One year of high school biology
Math, through calculus
Two years of a foreign language
Four years of English
Two years of history and/or social sciences"</p>
<p>Interesting that they ask for only 2 years of foreign language. They are the exception, however.</p>
<p>Ignore at your peril.</p>
<p>There are colleges that will waive the college Foreign Language requirement if a student took 4 years of the same language in high school and has a certain grade. I know parts of UMD- CP will and I think William and Mary.</p>
<p>My daughter really regrets not taking that 4th year.</p>
<p>Yes, and those schools (Harvard and Princeton) have taken students without the fourth year. The chances are that if you hate the class and aren't good at languages that you won't place high enough to get out of the college requirement. I think languages ability is like musical ability - some people have an affinity for it and some don't. But if you really have your heart set on a school that does say four years on its website, then you should probably do it because if you don't get in, you'll wonder if that was the deciding factor.</p>
<p>It depends. My son is not one of those people mimk6 is talking about who has a natural affinity for languages. He's gotten all A's in Spanish, but not because he's a natural talent. He's just pretty disciplined about studying and, honestly, the classes he's been in haven't been that hard. Still he's a senior in Spanish 3, and he got accepted to a super selective school. This college doesn't have a language requirement of its own, so while I think the 3 years he's taken in high school will prove to be valuable to him in the future, I would bet good money they will be his last foreign language classes.</p>
<p>You just need to look at the specifics of the colleges you're applying to, and especially look to the greatest strengths in you application and amplify those. I'm more a proponent of focusing on the stuff you love and do well, and invest in <em>that</em>, rather then trying to address every little reason they might have not to accept you.</p>
<p>Just my opinion, though.</p>