<p>i'm a little crazy this fall. for some reason i feel competent enough to take so much classes this term. in addition to the usual 3 classes of my major i'm enrolling in 3 foreign languages (all upper division). one, latin, i'm skipping the intro. now, will universities frown at this? all my language classes are skipped.</p>
<p>what do you mean your language classes are "skipped"? I really doubt anyone cares as long as you don't do poorly in what you're actually going to college for.</p>
<p>Six classes won't be easy, but i've heard of plenty people doing it.</p>
<p>I also don't understand what you mean "my language classes are skipped." Are you saying that for all three language classes, you skipped introductory levels? Either way, if you're competent enough in those three languages to do well at the upper level, by all means go for it.</p>
<p>OP - you're looking to get into grad school eventually right?</p>
<p>Unless those extra language classes are directly relevant (e.g. a modern research language) to your intended field, I would suggest you DO NOT take extras for the sake of "challenge" or because you feel like it. Graduate ad. coms. are not interested in breadth of study - they want the specific things mentioned on the websites IN DEPTH.</p>
<p>Here's an example from Classics that just came up on another list (paraphrased - there were more details):</p>
<p>Q. What language prep do you need to be competitive for PhD programs?</p>
<p>A. (from a respected prof. at a top 5 program) Minimum of 3 years in both Greek and Latin, "research knowledge" of German. The burden then shifts to the writing sample to show the applicant can USE those languages and make a cogent argument.</p>
<p>So if you can take a class that will produce a good writing sample (i.e. an upper division Latin or Greek class that has a research component) THAT is what you want to take. </p>
<p>(Incidentally, this explains why I struck out last year. With only 2 years of Greek, my complete application likely wasn't even looked at. I never got past the basic qualification screening.)</p>
<p>In any case, undergrad is going to be your last chance to have some fun in and out of school before the grad school marathon. Don't waste it.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>yes of course I intend to grad school. </p>
<p>so for classics, you mean a writing sample that's very much formatted like edward gibbon is ideal: with the footnotes in greek, latin, french...and that reminds me, why german and not french for "research language"? </p>
<p>what u seem to sugest, i think, is that to apply to phD prgm you need to do all the things you mentioned. how can an undergrad do all that AND do the general ed and possibly a minor? surely, MA's expectations are less stringent?</p>
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<p>Dear god NO. By your junior year you should be writing academic papers as though they would be publishable. However, the old fashioned "long format" footnotes are out of style these days - padding your work with that of others is considered poor form. The current style is to include lengthy quotes ONLY from primary sources and only where absolutely necessary to support your argument. Anything else, just cite - unlike the 19th and early 20th century, large academic libraries are now common so there is no need for extensive quotations. Next time you're in the library, look over the current issue of AJP - that's the style you'll want to emulate.</p>
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<p>why german and not french </p>
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<p>In Classics, at least, German carries considerably more "weight" for historic reasons. That said, If you already have French in the bag, there's no real reason to add German as an undergrad.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately its not a suggestion. PhD programs (in Classics) want to see that level of preparation coming in. Masters programs seem to want the ancient languages at least 3 yr./2 yr. and may let the modern language slide (or ask that you take a summer intensive reading course before starting). What's worse, by all indications admissions will continue to get more competitive. Yesterday we had a presentation on Classical Archaeology admissions. The PhD program here, we were told, gets about 90-100 applications and admits 2. </p>
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<p>how can an undergrad do all that</p>
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<p>Its definitely doable, though realistically you'll have to come in with (typically) Latin at the upper level. You use as many gen-ed requirements as possible to take lower level courses in classics and history so you have room "in major" for the real meat as well as the second ancient language. Then you use electives for your modern language. There is no reason for a minor if you intend to go to grad school - there is just too much to get done in your major field. </p>
<p>Here at Penn a very high percentage of the kids come in with Latin and French or German at the upper level already and there are more than a few coming in with some Greek. They're the ones getting direct admission to PhD programs. For those of use who came in without that advantage post-bac programs are the answer.</p>
<p>This question is always amusing. You know your abilities best. If you can handle it and it isn't much of a compromise, go for it.</p>
<p>It depends more on the TYPE of crses ur taking--not the total #. 6 bird crses with a low workload will prove to be much less of an obstacle than 5 crses that have above-average difficulty.</p>
<p>I am taking 5 crses this sem and 6 next sem. I'm taking 6 next sem because I was forced into it by my dept although 5 crses is a full course load. I've known other students who've taken 6 both sems becuz of dept requirements and a few who have taken 7 crses out of personal choice! They all survived. Some averaged abt 5hrs of sleep a day but wutevs.</p>
<p>Only if your GPA won't drop.</p>
<p>i think i'm too late for classics: 3 yrs of greek and latin..by golly!..i would have to do the post-bac to meet those requirements. </p>
<p>my minor is french. I hope this will strengthen my chances in any hummanities major.</p>
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<p>i would have to do the post-bac </p>
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<p>It's never too late! I'm 54 and have lived to tell the tale - you're not alone! And to tell the truth, the atmosphere in the post-bac classes is just wonderful. Even compared to upper level Latin and Greek here at Penn, everyone is MUCH more focused, much more collegial, it would be more than worthwhile even if it weren't virtually required. Everyone is prepared EVERY day, groups get together outside of class for drinks (since we're all over 21 after all). We have lunch time get togethers and talk about Greek particles...</p>
<p>-I hope this will strengthen my chances </p>
<p>Ignore this next paragraph if by "hope" you mean "my departmental advisor told me it would be a wonderful addition to my CV".</p>
<p>Don't hope - KNOW. Meet with the professors who will be writing your LORs and find out for sure. In some fields where there are very high expectations (like Classics) a minor could be seen as indicating a lack of focus. Remember, for modern research languages you only need "reading knowledge". This is often the equivalent of the first year sequence with a bit less emphasis on conversation and culture and a bit more on specialized vocabulary.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>