Hi, I’m currently a high school junior, and finalizing my schedule for senior year. I’m not sure if I should drop a 4th year of my foreign language (Latin V), a 4th year of orchestra, or drop AP Psychology? I only have room for two in my schedule. I know that taking 4 years of a foreign language is essential for a competitive app, but I’ve also been taking Chinese classes outside of school for 11 years and got a 5 on the AP Chinese exam. However, I’m also a native speaker, so I’m not sure if that affects how admissions will view my app. I’m really interested in psychology and love playing in orchestra, but I kind of hate taking Latin at my school. All 3 classes are relatively relaxed at my school as well. I’m looking for any feedback on which classes I should decide. Thanks!
If you’d be taking Latin V senior year, it means you’ve completed Latin IV. Therefore, you’ve met the threshold for a very competitive application (you could even complete it with a Latin subject test if those ever come back, with AP Chinese+ Latin IV + Latin subject test, NO ONE could find fault in your application).
Keep Latin and Psychology and enjoy Senior year! 
I think MYOS1634 meant to say you should keep Orchestra as you’ve already got your 4 years of Latin.
ooops, yes, keep Orchestra and psychology !
oh sorry my school allows students to skip Latin IV and go straight to Latin V. However, I just found out that my orchestra and Latin V classes would be at the same time, so I can only choose Latin V or orchestra, or drop down to Latin IV. Would taking Latin IV instead of Latin V hurt my application?
Can you take Latin IV, Orchestra, and psychology? That’d be ideal.
No, I don’t have room in my schedule. My school only offers 6 classes per day instead of 7 
What would your schedule look like?
Could you do one online or maybe dual enrollment?
Next year I’ll definitely be taking AP biology, microeconomics, AP Gov, AP Lang, and AP Calculus BC. I’m definitely leaning towards keeping orchestra, but I’m not sure if AP Psych or Latin IV would look better. I’m not sure if AP Psych is offered online, but my Latin teacher said that online Latin would be much harder because of how relaxed the class is at my school. We learn maybe 10 words a month and there’s no grammar involved :lol:
It sounds like at your school, there’s a dual path after Latin III: Latin IV (relaxed) and AP Latin V (intense). But you know what? Colleges won’t know that; they don’t have time to check the level of each class at each school… and for them what matters is that you check the “level 4” box. So, go with latin IV
As for AP Psych v. Orchestra:
Orchestra will demonstrate commitment, which colleges like. Plus it shows you have non academic skills, which you may leverage by indicating you’d like to play in the college’s orchestra (also a plus).
AP Psych is an “easy AP” so it won’t help with college admissions. Your reason for taking it should be that you’re really interested in psychology and/or plan to major in psychology. If you’re more interested in psychology than orchestra then it’s the right choice, but don’t take it just because it’s an AP.
Okay, thank you! Your advice has been really helpful for me By the way, does that mean you recommend taking Latin IV over AP Psych then? I’m thinking about minoring in Psychology and I do think it’s interesting, but I don’t think I’d choose it as a major.
Yes, because Latin IV is a core class, whereas AP Psych is an elective (and one of the easiest APs).