<p>Hello!
I am trying to figure out if I should quit taking Spanish and take some more APs instead. How would it affect my chances of getting into top science universities? Your opinion will be greatly appreciated! </p>
<p>I am currently a sophomore in Spanish II, which is extremely easy and boring. I have nothing against Spanish and I will learn it at some point in my life but I just hate the class and I feel like it's holding me back. I've met the graduation requirements: 2 years of Latin (6th and 7th grade, B and B+) and 2 years of Spanish (9th and 10th grade, both As). Here's the problem, I want to replace Spanish III and IV with AP Computer Science and AP Statistics but I've heard that the AP Computer Science teacher isn't the best. That could just be a rumor, and those classes would make my GPA much more competitive. I plan on studying physics and on applying to colleges like Caltech, MIT, UCLA, etc.;however, I also plan on applying to UVA as a safety school (kind-of I admit it is pretty hard to get in) which I know would favor persistence in foreign language. </p>
<p>Here is what my schedule would look like next year if I drop Spanish:
AP English Language and Composition *
AP Physics B1 *
Magnet Physics (unique to my school, supposedly harder than AP) *
Magnet Astronomy *
AP Calculus BC *
AP US History *
Magnet Foundations of Technology and Magnet Electrical Engineering
AP Computer Science *
*=weighted</p>
<p>Extra Info:
-I've never gotten a B or even and A- in anything besides Latin
-My first language is Bulgarian, not practical at all but I'm still bilingual
-I'm a female which may help a tiny bit with my chances
-My ECs are poor, I play soccer but I probably won't be able to make Varsity next year so it won't really count, my other ECs are negligible<br>
-Many students have at my school still have 4.0s and their schedules are just as, if not more, rigorous </p>
<p>If you complete Spanish III in hs you may be exempt from taking any more foreign language in college depending on the college and your major.
You need 3 years of the same fl, not 2 years of Latin and 2 years of Spanish.</p>
<p>Eh…I’d say getting some good (science-related or not, either is good) ECs in there would be more important than taking one extra science class. But about the foreign languages, definitely take another year of Spanish. Like the above poster said, you need 3 years of the same language to be considered for top colleges.</p>
<p>Spanish can be a real asset for jobs when you’re in college as well, especially if you become fluent enough to converse and understand well. It seems very worthwhile to take at least another year of Spanish. One of my relatives had to take Spanish for Healthcare professionals when she went to LA to do her dermatology residency, so it would have been very handy for her to have known some Spanish.</p>
<p>S took statistics at a private U when he was in HS. He didn’t find it useful or helpful for him toward his engineering degree, though of course you may have a different experience. He found his AP Comp Sci courses very easy, and it gave him credits at many of the Us he applied to, towards his geneeral ed requirements.</p>
<p>He finally dropped Mandarin in his SR year to take AP Physics C and other courses as he wasn’t interested in honors or AP Mandarin, and those were his only options, up from his regular mandarin course (which he struggled with).</p>
<p>I would stick with Spanish for the 3rd year, at least. Like what others said, you’d probably have a better chance getting into a top school with at least 3 years of a foreign language.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts guys! Looks like I’ll have to stick with Spanish for one more year.</p>
<p>Ildm21, no I was planning on dropping Spanish III and IV in my junior and senior years, respectively so that I could take two more APs.</p>
<p>basketweaver, I do have math and science related ECs like volunteering at a planetarium and some clubs/ honor societies but I’m not sure those are strong enough.</p>