I am currently a junior in high school enrolled in 12 Honors French. I have been taking French since 7th grade and received a 100 on the FLACS exam. Since I am a year ahead, the only other option for me to take next year is AP French. However, that class is very disorganized with a new and inexperienced teacher. The French department is lacking in my school. That being said, I would prefer not to take AP French as a senior. Instead, I was thinking of taking another science course (pertaining to my future major), or an art course because I am truly passionate about art and would love to learn more. I will be taking 4 AP classes next year, so I’m not sure if an extra science course, probably AP CS, would be doable. Honestly, I would prefer to focus more on the 4 core AP classes. So, any opinions on if I should take AP French (probably wouldn’t score well and wouldn’t be enjoyable), AP CS (again, a lot of work, maybe not worth it), or art (something that may not benefit me in college admissions yet is something I love to do)? Will colleges look down on taking only 3 years even though I’m a year ahead? Have any of you had positive/negative experience with AP CS or AP French? Thanks!
What about French at a CC or dual-enrollment?
If it’s allowed at your HS, take the AP French class - but don’t take the AP Test. That should take some pressure off of you and allow you to take other AP courses.
However, the best thing that you can do is take what YOU want to take. Don’t take classes based on what you think some college wants you to. There will be plenty of schools that will want you for who you are, and the classes that you did take. Good Luck!
Enjoy your art class. Your schedule is already strong. High school is not supposed to be a contest to see who can endure the most punishment.
Talk to your guidance counselor. If French 12 is the equivalent of the fourth year of HS French (which I suspect it is) then you have met the recommendation for virtually any college and it would be fine to take the art or science course you prefer.
It seems odd to be taking the AP test at end of Senior Year if you started French in 7th. Most schools set you up to take AP test after 4 year sequence, not 6. What am I missing?
@VickiSoCal 7-8th grade was first year basics. I.t was equivalent to 9th grade French(freshman year). Thus, as a freshman I started at a sophomore year level.
Still odd to take after 5 years instead of 4. Is the curriculum slower than normal?
That is standard at many schools which start foreign language in 7th grade–7th/8th are labeled “Language I” and “Language II” but are really just the “Language I” equivalent if a high school course. The kids aren’t going slower, they are merely going to end up far more proficient than the standard four-year sequence.
Re the OP question, keep in mind that most LACs and any “arts & sciences” college at a university (as opposed to a college of engineering) will require the 12-hour equivalent foreign language sequence as part of distribution/core curriculum requirements, either by taking the courses in college, AP credit, or taking a placement test created by that college’s department (or some combination). Even if the senior year AP course is questionable, you need to weigh taking a year off from the foreign language against the fact you will be taking it again when you get to college. Even if the teacher does not prepare you well for the AP exam, she might keep you proficient in the language enough that you will do alright on the college placement exam when you enroll in college.
On the other hand, you can only take so many classes, taking a class from a bad teacher is potentially a waste (or worse), and if you really do not intend to pursue further foreign language study in college (other than minimum requirements), perhaps your time is better spent on something else. I would take the AP French class over a blow-off course, but otherwise I think it is a toss-up. Because you have four years of the foreign language, I sincerely doubt not taking AP French will affect your admissions one bit. I have a bias because I have had some very disappointing and difficult situations with bad/disorganized teachers, some would not weight that factor as much; I personally think an unnecessary class with a great teacher is usually better than a relevant class with a poor one.
@BooBooBear the OP is saying that his sequence is the below:
7/8 Grade French 1 spread over two years
9 Grade- French 2
10 Grade French 3
11 Grade French 4
12 Grade AP French
Most schools with a 7/8 grade option do:
7/8 Grade French 1 spread over two years
9 Grade- French 2
10 Grade French 3
11 Grade AP French
For foreign languages, AP level does seem to be level 4 at some high schools, level 5 at some other high schools.
@VickiSoCal AP French didn’t fit in my schedule this year. I probably would’ve taken it, but instead I had to go for French 12H. Next year, the same problem might arise since there is only one period of AP French. It usually doesn’t fit with the rest of my classes.
It is more important to get to the 4th level of French (French 4) than to take 4 years of French.
As long as you’ve made it through the equivalent of French 4 and have preferably taken it for 3 years in high school, you should be fine. If you have the time and the inclination and what to study French but avoid the AP teacher, you can think doing one of the following: 1) taking a dual enrollment class at a CC; 2) taking an online college-level advanced French or French literature for credit; 3) taking a summer intensive college class or doing a summer immersive program.
(If you are thinking about a summer program, unless you’ve got money to burn, I wouldn’t bother with Middlebury’s programs – while they are excellent, they are not inexpensive). If you want to go the online route, there are no shortage of colleges offering online French classes for credit.
You might want to take the SAT French Subject Test (preferably with listening, which is only offered in November), esp. since you’re not taking an AP.
The only downside to not taking AP French would be that you might not get credit for it at whatever school you end up at, but if you have a college class under your belt, they might accept that for placement or credit. Some schools might even accept the SAT Subject test.
You might consider starting another language. Two of mine did that after years in German for one and Spanish for the other. Both took French. The basic skills they learned in the language they took made taking another language much easier for them.
If you really enjoy it I say go for it. I was offered it my Junior year but I didn’t want to miss a year of french so I waited for my senior year. Not enough people signed up then so I couldn’t take it. I’m still kind of upset by it
The typical estimation for colleges is level reached, where foreign language 4= level4, AP foreign language= level5.
If you’re strong in French, look into the possibility of taking College French 201/202. This way you’d bypass the bad teacher yet continue in an area of strength.
Since art is something you’re interested in, take art. It actually shows adcoms you’re not unidimensional and it’s a good class to have (a requirement in many states or districts).
I think it’s fine to not take AP French next year, but do you think you would do poorly on the AP exit exam? My daughter took the AP Spanish after Spanish 4 and passed easily- and her foreign language department is terrible. Many of her classmates have done the same, because AP language doesn’t always get offered based on lack of interest or fear the teacher will be awful. You could take the exit exam this year and that would cover AP French and allow you to take something more meaningful.