Depressed about my decision to take foreign language over summer

Applying to College
1

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I have been meaning to tell people about this who can help me, I really need it…

Ever since I came to high school, I have been absolutely terrible at my foreign language. No amount of studying, preparing, or stressing ever aloud me to do better in my Spanish class. I received a C every single semester from freshman year to the end of my sophomore year. This has devastated my GPA, completely putting a taint over my other grades and accomplishments, making all my time in effort in my other classes look pointless.(I get half and half A’s and B’s in my other classes, with AP classes mixed in)

Now, past me was like “i need to drop this class, it is terrible.” So i read up online with people saying “oh dont only have two years of a foreign language, Its terrible for admission and will lower your chances of getting in!” So i was like “alright I will take my third year of spanish over summer.” I take the class and, woopdidoo, i got a C for a 10 credit class, so basically 2 Cs added to my transcript. Past me was like “alright got it out of the way, It WoNt CoUnT ToWaRdS My GpA” foolish boy… Well turns out it does, figured that out pretty much late junior year and Im a senior applying to colleges atm. I madea mistake.

Fast forward to today and Im applying to colleges. Now listen here, im not applying to the best schools, TOP tier, but somewhat competitive ones. Such as the University of californias and other competetive Common app ones and Cal State, like Slo. Lets just focus on the UC’s right now. They calculate your GPA based off your 10th and 11th grades PLUS summer courses. Now my gpa these years INCLUDING the summer year would be a 3.48, bad bro… and the thing is it would be way better if you just took out the summer course. A 3.6. (10th grade a 3.4 both semesters 11th a 4.0 and 3.6)

now I would like my chances if I was just taking The GPA into acount without my summer course. It looks decent, and gives me a good chance with some UC’s. But that summer course is killing me. I just figured out recently that taking 3 years of a language is recommended in which it means you wont have to take it in college but 2 years is fine anyway and wont affect your chances of getting in, you just have to take one more year in college. I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT PART IN A HEART BEAT because now! my gpa is way lower, looks like im a kid not fit for school, and has this laziness to spanish when in reality no matter how damn hard I try in that class I fail the tests and quizes cant understand the langauge and has the hardest time learning it.

Now I want to major in computer science and have taken AP computer science my junior year in place for Spanish and performed well in the class, really helping my GPA. I want to know if colleges look at the fact I have been getting C’s in My Foreign language literally ever semester, yet my other grades are pretty darn good.I hope they think I have taken multiple AP courses and got A’s in those as well and clearly shows an interest in other fields. Will they think differently or judge me differently looking at such a stark difference in my grades with an A and B student always getting the only C’s on his transcript in Spanish? Also will they take my summer class serious as well? They will add it to my GPA but I hope they see that Spanish is not what I am academically. It has been the bane of my academic career and I hope future colleges look at my application with understatement.

Please anyone give me your thoughts, this is keeping my up at night.

2

UC’s and Cal States require 2 years of a Foreign Language but 3 years is recommended. You will be at a disadvantage by not taking 3 years depending upon which UC’s you plan to apply. The more competitive the school, the more you need to exceed beyond the minimum course requirements.

Your summer course is an a-g course so it will have the same impact as any other a-g course you have taken during the school year.

UC’s are very GPA focused so your C’s will impact your chances.

Cal States admit only based on GPA and test scores (exception SLO). A lower GPA can be compensated with a higher ACT or SAT test score.

First you need to calculate your UC/CSU Capped Weighted GPA using grades from your a-g courses taken the summer before Sophomore year to the summer before Senior year. The following calculator gives you 3 GPA’s so if you could list all of them it would be helpful to CC posters and will show how the C’s in FL impact your GPA.

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Although UC’s are GPA focused, your test scores, HS course rigor, personal insight essays and EC’s will all be considered in your application review so beyond the GPA, there are other areas in which you can shine.

All the Cal states (except SLO) admit by Eligibility index and major.

EI= (CSU/UC capped weighted GPA x800) + (SAT Math + EBRW) or (CSU/UC GPA x200) + (ACT composite x10)

You are then ranked based on your EI and major.

SLO is an exception when it comes to Cal State admissions. They use 9-11th grades for the a-g courses and cap their honors points to 8 semesters of UC approved AP/IB and DE courses taken 10-11th grades. Basically, use the Rogerhub calculator and add in your 9th grades.

SLO admits based on MCA points and the emphasis is on GPA, Test scores and HS course rigor. They do give points for EC’s. I can send you a PM on how to calculate.

All this said, CS is highly competitive at the top Cal States and UC’s. Posters need to know your CSU/UC capped weighted GPA, Test scores, HS course rigor and EC’s to help you figure out a balanced list of schools in which to apply.

What done is done, but you will be able to get a good education regardless of your FL class, you just need to be flexible.

3

I think in the long run you will be better off that you completed the 3rd FL. Kicking the can down the street into your college GPA likely wasn’t going to be much better. How do you think you would have done in a third semester college class after taking off 2 years of studying? You may have had to start over in Spanish 1. What do you think that would do to your college GPA? It was is not just about getting into college, you also have to get out.

4

The way you’re talking to yourself is all wrong. Telling yourself you can’t do it, you’re terrible at it, you won’t get in to college because of it… all that is building up to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Instead tell yourself you’ve got this, you’re up to the challenge, etc. Whatever works. Think positive.

If getting into a competitive school is important to you, you need to seek out help from the teacher or get a tutor the moment you realize you are performing below your own expectations. Don’t wait until that “C” shows up on your final grade.

5

The past is the past, you can’t change it. Keep moving forward. Do your very best and keep doing that. A 3.48 GPA is not a bad GPA by the way.

6

Another thing is to look for colleges that don’t have an emphasis on foriegn language and don’t require you to take it in college.

7

Also, look at WUE schools thzt lay not be as competitive as CA universities for CS.

8

You probably should have stopped but, you can’t un-ring a bell. You need to spend a lot more time focused on the opportunities of tomorrow rather than rel-living something you might have done differently. You are correct, a 3.5ish GPA is going to rule out almost all of the UCs - and CPSLO. But, now for the good news - there are plenty of good schools that will be happy to have you with those stats. For CS, i’d look at Chico, East Bay, Sac, Northridge and SF. Perhaps UCM too.

The WUE program mentioned above is another great option. A few to highlight, UNR, Boise State, UofUtah and just for kicks Uof Hawaii

https://wuesavingsfinder.wiche.edu/search-results.php
there’s the full list.

As 50+ year resident of CA, I will let you in on a little secret; I know a LOT more successful people who went to middle of the road colleges than elite schools. Your future is what you make of it.
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