So basically my journalism teacher told me last week that next year (senior year) I was going to be promoted to one of the three editors in chief of our school newspaper. My schools paper has been awarded Gold by Columbia Press for the past several years and is generally a big thing at our school. Problem is, I’m going to have to take 2 journalism classes next year because of the position, which means I have to drop AP French to make room for journalism. I’ve taken French all 3 years of high school so far and I’m in AP French 5 now. In your opinion, would it be better to give up French or the journalism position next year? Thanks!
If you are in AP French now, why would taking AP French again next year be of any value?
Two journalism classes? That’s a ridiculous requirement.
It really depends on where you are thinking of applying.
Some schools require/recommend 4 years of a foreign language. Others, less.
I think NYU only asks for 3 for example. If, say, NYU were your first choice, you might be better off with the EC. Up to you, basically.
But if your top choice is, say, Harvard, you will have to take AP Lang, because Harvard recommends (i.e. requires) four years of a foreign language.
I would take the language. I consider foreign language to be a core subject and core subjects should be taken all four years. Some adcoms agree with me, others are more flexible.
Definitely take the journalism position. It is more of a usp for you than a language class that you have already done for three years. I think whatever French you have taken till now, should be sufficient for college but editor in chief will make you sound very impressive.
OP is already now in AP French, presumably the highest level French course in the high school.
See I totally understand where you’re coming from because up until last week I had my mine set on taking AP French 6 next year. My top school is Northwestern and they recommend 3 years of language so basically im fine but it would be good to take it next year as well. But now given this huge editor opportunity I have no clue what to do 
AP French is considered 4th year of french. Also in the other section of college applications, you can say if a core class would not fit into your schedule because of a conflict.
Ok, it looks like your high school goes up to level 6 in French, with both level 5 and 6 designated as AP. Both are higher than the level 4+ normally expected by the most selective colleges. It does seem that there is some value in learning additional French in level 6, though how much that can be is hard to tell, without some external testing (e.g. AP test scores – what kind of AP test scores do students completing level 5 and 6 typically get?).
Usually students at my school receive 4’s or 5’s on the AP Exam!
Do the students who take the AP exam after French 5 usually score 5, or do students need to take French 6 to have a good chance of scoring 5?
An AP score of 5 or equivalent skill on a college’s French placement test will probably place the student into fourth or fifth semester college French courses.
The other question is, do you want to continue improving your French language skill beyond the AP score of 5 level, or is that level sufficient for your future academic and professional purposes?
Assuming you have met the recommended years of language for the schools to which you are applying, you can go with the Editor-in-Chief position. It will be a good learning experience. But don’t give up on the French - check out French conversation groups in your area, on-line, self-paced French courses, a pass/fair course at the local community college - anything to keep your language skills up.
The other option is to take a course you are less interested in on-line and keep the French. D had to do her advanced math on-line (Stanford and Johns Hopkins offer on-line courses) due to a conflict with an external EC that was very important to her. The highly selective schools to which she applied did not penalize her for it if being admitted counts as ‘no penalty.’
Even if a college recommends 4 yrs of foreign language, since you will have completed through French 5, you should be fine for the requirement. Lots of kids will take 4 yrs, but only get through French 4, so you with be ahead of them. The newspaper ec, sounds great and will be appealing to colleges and can help you stand out. If you are really worried about it, can you do some type of independent study in French?
Can you take the AP French test at the end of the year? If you can, then you’d be fine. AP French is considered level 4/5, so you’d be good for any college in the US.
I’d advise you take AP French in May, and the Editor in Chief position next year.
My friend actually had a schedule confliction this year and had to take an online course for French 5. However, the online course my school usually takes are extremely difficult and my teacher told her she had no control over her grade on this course since its outside of the classroom. I can only imagine what a similar online course for AP French 6 will be like! 
I do suppose as another option I could take some outside online course that my school has no control over and do that independently. Then in the “other info” section on college apps I could explain as to why I didn’t take French my senior year. Do you think that would be okay?
I will look into some of these online courses! Thanks for your help!
Pretty sure it will be ok without explanation for college admission if you stop at (AP) French 5 after this year (with a 5 on the AP test) without taking (AP) French 6, since level 5 or AP is higher than the usually-desired level 4. A possible exception would be if French is highly relevant to your academic and career path as expressed in your essays and intended major.
Do you live in an area with French speakers? If so, perhaps they can be opportunities to practice outside of school.
How relevant is journalism to your intended academic and career path, as you will express in your essays?