<p>According to the collegeboard site, Brown requires 3 years of foreign language and recommends four. I only have two years of Spanish because I wanted to fit it programming junior year then AP Computer Science senior year to my schedule, which I wouldn't be able to do without dropping Spanish. I'm planning on majoring in CS so I feel the drop made sense. Does this mean I can't even apply? That would be pretty frustrating as otherwise my GPA/SATs are excellent and my ECs are pretty good.</p>
<p>How many classes are you planning to take senior year? Just add spanish 3 to it.</p>
<p>If Brown "recommends" 4, you're not going to get in with 3 even, 2 especially.</p>
<p>Just take an online course or Rosetta Stone that crap.</p>
<p>It's probably worth it to try and take spanish this upcoming year. Dropping a language is a bad sign and colleges don't like to see it.</p>
<p>Well I took Acc. Spanish 3 my sophomore year and got an A in that. I also was one of the top students in the class both years and had to take some test where I scored well and reached "Intermediate" level. My senior schedule is already full, as the gym requirement leaves me only half a year open (which I'm using for a study.)</p>
<p>on Brown's website it says it recommends 3 years of a single foreign language</p>
<p>"on Brown's website it says it recommends 3 years of a single foreign language"</p>
<p>Cool, thanks. I guess that means I'll still apply - I know the chances of getting in aren't that high, but I don't mind if I don't get in anyway. I just wanted to make sure there was still a chance.</p>
<p>My son is going to get into some pretty prestigious schools on the basis of his math skills. I an not going to go into details, because then he would be identifiable, so just trust me...</p>
<p>He absolutely cannot do languages. This is not uncommon among the highly nerdy (unless they grew up speaking another language). I have found that if you are truly great at something, you could get a free pass on the languages. When I spoke to someone at one of the Ivies (not brown), she said it is not insurmountable, but he will need to learn a language at college. When I asked what that meant, she laughed and said it meant he would have to take a first year course. He could do that. Harvery Mudd also told me it would be ok.</p>
<p>I know another kid who applied to 9 top schools including several ivies, Standford, MIT, Caltech and a couple of others. He had less luck with languages than my son, and got accepted at all schools. </p>
<p>Back to nerds and languages - neither MIT or Caltech require language to get in or graduate. They know. So do the other Adcomms.</p>
<p>^I think this is demonstrative of GREAT talent in other areas making up for less than great talent in others. Your son sounds very accomplished, I don't know if the OP is comparably qualified.</p>
<p>Well places like MIT and Caltech don't even try to hide the fact that they don't care about foreign languages. Places that focus entirely on math/science usually of course look first for proper qualifications in math and science, while expertise in a language would simply be a bonus. </p>
<p>The reason I would like to apply to places like Brown and not just schools with "technology" in the name is I still enjoy english and history classes and I don't want to become an engineer with no writing or communication skills (Yeah, I'll still give MIT a shot for the heck of it and I'll apply to RPI since I'm guaranteed a scholarship there from an award). So while I'd like to continue in computer science, I still would like a place that doesn't focus on just math-related subjects. Anyway, I feel that I have a shot at getting into Brown if this doesn't hurt me too much, and thanks for the replies.</p>
<p>SES - I agree, but I also think that foreign language may be one of the more negotiable 'requirements'. Some very able kids simply cannot get through four years of language. One can be a challenge. I am actually thinking of some very bright kids with some sort of learning difference - aspergers come to mind, but there are others. I doubt very much you even need to evoke some sort of accomodation. I dont think they need to have great talents, just be a bit better in some area to compensate.</p>
<p>Of course, in the case of the OT, it is more a time issue, but I did want people to realize that language is not set in concrete.</p>
<p>was in Providence Monday. Adcom was clear that they " really prefer" FOUR years of language, and that's what the vast majority of acceptees have...so, if you don't have four, your app will stand out (but in a negative way).</p>