<p>Does anyone have advice on how foreign language requirements are viewed by admissions at most competitive universities? My S will be starting high school this fall, and has taken Spanish for a few years, so he'd enroll in Spanish 3 in 9th grade. However, he's also very interested in taking a different language, like Chinese or Latin, rather than continue with Spanish. From a college admission perspective, would it be better for him to take Spanish 3, just to show on high school transcript that he attained that level, then move onto another language as sophomore? That way, he would have level 3 proficiency in at least 2 languages by the time he graduates. If he takes a new language, there would be no reflection of his years of Spanish on his high school transcript, and he has worked very hard over the past years (recently got a silver medal/ 89% on National Spanish Exam). Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>My son is very interested in languages and plans to continue with different languages in college starting next year. He did take spanish all 4 years while in high school. While he did well in spanish, he does not plan to pursue spanish in college. He will be attending Harvard in the fall. I don't know if taking a language all 4 yrs helped him or not. I also know of kids who did not take languages all 4 yrs in High school and they also got into very good schools. I think it's the "whole" package that will matter in the end. </p>
<p>Best of luck</p>
<p>I agree with guitars. It's the whole package, not any one little thing like Spanish 3 in 9th grade. Also, he could always mention his silver medal in the Nat'l Spanish Exam in some short answer question on his application, or he could have one of his letter of rec writers mention it, or he could just take an SAT Subject Test in Spanish to show his proficiency, and still move on to another language. I think it just depends on what he wants to do -- what he feels most enthusiastic about. In fact, enthusiasm in learning should guide most choices, in my opinion.</p>
<p>My son is mostly indifferent to learning foreign langages. He will have completed three years of high school Spanish, in which he got perfect grades, but never really invested much in. On the other hand, he's very motivated in social sciences, so he's taken classes at the high school, the local univ., and done independent study in an effort to pursue his interests in that area. He got into a highly selective college which he'll be attending in the fall. I doubt they even gave more than a few seconds consideration to his foreign language study. He did the minimum, he did it well, and he obviously invested his time and energy elsewhere.</p>
<p>So... I wouldn't worry much about strategizing the Spanish 3 in 9th grade thing. Your son's obviously strong language abilities will be very evident one way or another; take the class, or do 4 years of another language, work the Spanish Nat'l Exam into his application somehow, or just take the SAT Subject Test in Spanish. It will all work.</p>
<p>The experience my kids have had with foreign languages is that it's important to really like the teacher. Other than for Spanish, my kids' schools generally have just one teacher for a language so the students have the same teacher all four years. My D really bonded with her Latin teacher and has gotten very involved with Latin Club and served as president this year. She is hoping for good college recommendations from the teacher. My S chose German and he also really likes the teacher and the class. So if your son is considering Latin or Chinese perhaps he could meet the teacher first and see if he feels like they will have a good fit. Each language also seems to attract a certain personality of student so he could also take that into account in selecting his classes.</p>
<p>While I agree that it is the whole package, I'd argue that for the most competitive colleges, being a strong applicant in all aspects helps one to be "in the running". Languages are a basic academic requirement that all of these colleges look at. My recommendation would be at least 4 years of a single language, and even better to go all the way through AP. </p>
<p>As another case study, my D did 4 years of HS language and an additional 2 quarters at a university since her school did not offer an AP class. She was accepted last year into HYP.</p>
<p>From the Harvard website:</p>
<p>Harvard</a> College Admissions Office: Prospective Students</p>
<p>Many secondary school students take a smattering of several languages – for example, Latin for two years, French for a year, and Spanish for a year. When it is too late, they realize that they cannot read or speak any of these languages well. We urge you to try to study at least one foreign language and its literature for four years.</p>
<p>From the Princeton website:</p>
<p>Princeton</a> University | Academic Preparation</p>
<p>If possible, we expect students will complete the following courses before beginning study at Princeton:</p>
<pre><code>* four years of English (including continued practice in writing)
* four years of mathematics (including calculus for students interested in engineering)
* four years of one foreign language
* at least two years of laboratory science (including physics and chemistry for students interested in engineering)
* at least two years of history
</code></pre>
<p>Thanks very much all of you for your input -- it's quite helpful. Entomom -- that info from the website is exactly what I needed to know, and am thinking now that he either needs to take 2 more years of Spanish, or start fresh for 4 years of something else. Also rentof2 -- I wasn't aware that there was an SAT just for Spanish, so maybe that is the route to go, so he can start something new (which I think he is more excited about doing). Thanks to each of you and congrats on your childrens' success!</p>
<p>This is the SAT II. The thing is- after two years he wouldn't have a very good score on the SAT II...</p>
<p>If his Spanish is fresh right now, he can just take it. There may even be time to do a late registration for the June 7th test if the OP jumps on it. Otherwise, the next test date will be in early Oct. He doesn't have to wait two years to take it. My daughter took the SAT Subject Test in world history when she was 14, and she got a perfect score on it. She took it then because she'd recently finished reading a college textbook on the subject. No point in waiting when you can take it while the information is fresh in mind, or in the case of the OP's son's recent years of Spanish, while his facility with the language is still sharp. The score will be there for all eternity on his CollegeBoard record. It doesn't matter when he takes the exam.</p>
<p>Skibum4, just go to a bookstore and pick up an SAT Subject Test prep book for Spanish, he can use it to take practice tests. He'll see what level of skill is expected and know if taking the exam is a good idea. I highly recommend taking those tests when the time is most opportune, i.e., when the knowledge is fresh.</p>
<p>(There is the "main" SAT, which is the big comprehensive math/critical reading/writing exam. In addition to that the CollegeBoard (the company that produces and manages all SAT testing) offers wide array of SAT Subject Tests --formerly called SAT II tests, but no longer. Spanish is one of them, and there is Spanish "with listening" (an audio component) or without. Look over the prep books in the bookstore and there will be an introduction that explains all this. Many colleges, especially privates, will expect some SAT Subject Test scores along with the main SAT.)</p>
<p>That makes good sense rentof2 -- thanks again for the advice; that way, he can embark on a new language for the next 4 years, which he'd really prefer to do!</p>
<p>i took spansih for 5 years since 8th grade. i have had the same teacher for the past 2 years including this year for ap spanish.</p>
<p>I'm curious as to other opinions but I really don't think your son will do well on the test with only two years. Most students take the subject tests with at least 3, even 4 or 5 years of the language. It doesn't mean he can't start a new language, but just don't expect his subject test score to count for anything.</p>
<p>Most people just aren't quite as precocious as 'rentof2's daughter I guess.... "My daughter took the SAT Subject Test in world history when she was 14, and she got a perfect score on it. She took it then because she'd recently finished reading a college textbook on the subject."</p>
<p>Well, she would have sucked at the Spanish test. ;)</p>
<p>Skibum4, I don't know how far along your son's Spanish is. I don't know, either, what the Nat'l Spanish Exam is, but I assumed it was at some sort of elevated level. If you look at the commonly available prep books, you'll be able to see if the facility expected on the test is a good match for your son.</p>
<p>Honestly, if he's going to do 4 years in another language anyway, it may not even be something worth bothering with. It just depends on whether it's something you want some documentation of in the long run.</p>
<p>Also, be aware that the curve is often very difficult for the foreign language SAT subject tests, due to native speakers taking the tests. There have been several threads on this subject, you might want to do a search on the SAT forum. You should also be able to check on the College Board website to see what is covered in the exam to make sure that your son has learned the material being tested. I'd agree with stef that it is unlikely that he would have covered the necessary skills in 2 years of Spanish.</p>
<p>Yeah, the curve on Chinese and Korean is crazy. Those are also the two tests with the highest scores nationally out of all the different subject tests offered, due to the large number of native speakers that take them. Spanish, interestingly, doesn't have the same high achievement even though there are many native speakers in the country. Not sure why that is... but, I suppose it's because a lot of non-native speakers take it too and bring the average down. There is a place on the CollegeBoard website that has the national averages for each test. I remember that Literature and World History have the lowest scores of all the subject tests.</p>
<p>Why doesn't he take both languages?</p>
<p>Well, I had a discussion with my son early this morning before he went off to school, and told him what I'd learned from the thread. After I told him the recommendation to take 4 years of a single language, and that any language will start to get quite difficult by year 3 or 4, he now thinks it makes sense to continue with Spanish for 2 more years (so solid 4 years), and then take a very intensive year in a different language (which his high school offers) in year 3. Not exactly sure what his Spanish level is right now -- need to speak to his teacher, but I suspect probably considered an honors Spanish (he's been taking Spanish since 1st grade, but only every day for the past couple of years) in an accelerated school program. Th</p>
<p>Sounds like an excellent plan. Good luck!</p>
<p>That'a a good solution. It sounds like he's not adverse to continuing with Spanish afterall. Also the intensive year in another language sounds really fun.</p>
<p>Yes, I think he's not thrilled with Spanish because it is getting more difficult but once I pointed out that Chinese and Latin will also get very difficult by year 3 or 4, he realized he might as well continue with the Spanish!</p>
<p>I would not waste time nor money with the subject test this year, particularly just after two years of a language. It's hard enough for non-native speakers to break 700 after four years of high school language. (Obviously, every school curriculum is different.)</p>