Dropping Latin?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm considering dropping Latin my senior year.</p>

<p>I've been studying French for four years and will definitely be in AP French next year. In sophomore year, I added Latin, thinking it'd be fun and expand my vocabulary, and I loved the course a lot. Unfortunately, since I started later, I'll only get to Latin III by senior year.</p>

<p>So, do you think selective colleges will frown on me dropping Latin senior year?</p>

2

<p>not at all.</p>

3

<p>I personally would keep Latin, as taking it sets you apart from many other applicants with only Spanish or French on their applications.</p>

4

<p>No one will care if you drop Latin. But if you love it, why not do it? And lots of the top schools have Classics Depts that are desperately in need of students, so if you could plausibly make the case that you plan to major in this area, it will help you.</p>

5

<p>What class would you take in place of Latin? Honestly, unless you were going to take AP Calculus or something instead of Latin, I would just stick to Latin. Taking it up your sophomore year and then dropping it two years later may look a little wishy washy.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for all the help! I’m having lots of trouble making this decision, since there are so many great courses I want to take.</p>

<p>

Could I already get that boost from having done it for 2 years?</p>

<p>

I’d probably be taking AP Physics instead of Latin. But I have consistently stuck with French for 4 years, so would that weigh it out?</p>

7

<p>If taking Latin senior year would absolutely require not taking a fourth year of science, then drop the Latin. However, keep on with Latin if you can, as the language is tremendously useful to know, taking Latin does distinguish you as an applicant, and taking two languages distinguishes you, too.</p>

8

<p>

Latin enrollments at most top universities are hardly lacking. One doesn’t need to major in Classics to study Latin, and many prospective students (particularly those at private high schools) have studied the language.</p>

<p>Even Berkeley only produces about 1 or 2 Latin majors a year at the most, and clearly universities aren’t terribly concerned about this. One’s choice of major within Arts & Sciences almost always has absolutely no effect on the admissions decision.</p>

9

<p>Latin’s the best. Stick with it. The third year is when things start to get interesting. First year is really basic, second year is all is ea id and what not, but in the third year you actually get to do real translation.</p>