So currently I’m a sophomore and I’m in the 4th level of Spanish (spanish 4 honors) and I was wondering if I have to take the next level of Spanish (which is AP Spanish) next year. I know that it is recommended that students take more than 3 or more years of foreign language to get into the most selective colleges but will it hurt my chances if I don’t take Spanish next year? I’m planning to major in something in STEM in college and if I don’t take Spanish next year then I can take an extra science. I’m just really not interested in Spanish and I don’t want to take it next year.
Also, for schools like Stanford, there is a requirement of 3 years of foreign language so do the years that I took in middle school count towards that?
you should take AP Spanish in order to eliminate any doubts as to what colleges expect or require.
Most highly competitive colleges to NOT look at middle school results.
For most colleges reaching level 4 of a foreign language is sufficient. Confirm with your guidance counselor and Spanish teacher that the classes you have taken do equate to four years of HS level Spanish. In general AP is considered Level 5 so you are probably fine. If so, I think you are fine to drop Spanish and take a preferred academic class.
@menloparkmom I respectfully disagree with your comment that colleges don’t ever look at middle school – I think it depends on the school system. In our public schools some students take HS level classes in middle school and those classes do appear on the HS transcript. For example my D took HS level math and Spanish in middle school and the grades were on the transcript sent to colleges and did figure in her GPA. Students and parents were made aware of this when students placed into the HS level classes in middle school.
"For example my D took HS level math and Spanish in middle school and the grades were on the transcript sent to colleges and did figure in her GPA. "
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Just because a transcript has MS grades does not make it relevant for college admission decisions. Colleges recalculate applicants GPAs using their own formula regardless of the school system. I seriously doubt they take into acct grades earned in middle school
if they looked at MS grades too, that would put the vast majority of applicants whose transcripts do not include those grades at a disadvantage.
4 years college preparation means 4 years.
@menloparkmom I think we have to agree to disagree. Perhaps we have had different experiences in our school systems. Our guidance counselor was clear that the HS level classes taken in middle school would generally be valued and considered by most colleges (of course each college will view things as it sees fit).
–The classes my D took were HS level classes taught by teachers certified to teach the subject at the HS level (and included a NYS Regents exam after the math class). IMO it is appropriate to give students high school credit for these classes.
–When given the opportunity, my D specifically asked admissions officer about this at colleges she visited (because she wanted to (and did) drop Spanish early since with the middle school class she completed to the requisite level) and each one replied that the middle school class plus her HS classes would be sufficient and would both count towards the total recommended courses. I absolutely understand this is a very limited sample size, but the answer was consistent.
–IMO this practice does not put anyone at a disadvantage – each school system does things differently – school profiles are created to allow admission officers to understand how each school system works and included in that should be disclosure of how the school treats classes such as this.
Anyway, this will be my last post on this…
Hopefully we can agree that before making a decision, the OP would be wise to discuss this with his/her guidance counselor as well as the Spanish teacher to insure that he will have reached HS Level Four after this class. I’d also suggest the OP read through the the link in post #1.
let me ask you this- what were the “requisite” levels that she reached on Spanish? Spanish 3? AP Spanish?
my point is not how long or short a period of time it took to achieve the requisite level, but what level was the LAST Spanish language class she took .
If she topped out at Spanish 3 in her sophomore year, and that was good enough for colleges she was applying to, great.
Many native Spanish speaking students can do that as well.
Yours IS but one data point, and does not negate the recommended level of mastery of a FL that that many top tier colleges want to see.
High school classes taken by accelerated students even if they’re not high school age yet do count, or it’d penalize advanced students. Most commonly these classes are algebra1, biology, and foreign language 1 taken in 8th grade.
If you reached level 4, take the foreign language subject test. If your score is under 700, take the next level; if you pass 700 Congratulations, you have proof of proficiency on top of reaching level 4. Remember that you may well have a foreign language placement test when you start college and it’s to your advantage to have gone through the highest level while in high school or planning to review before Orientation in college.
From what I understand, colleges want to see you got to Spanish 4 (no matter when you started, because you still know Spanish 4 level of Spanish). So if you dont’ want to study anymore,then you are fine.
Let’s not conflate middle school grades/classes in the admissions process with foreign language preparation. The OP specifically asked:
For starters, Stanford’s suggestions of high school preparation is “recommended” not “required.” An application without the “recommendations” will not be discarded. But for Stanford, and many of its peers, 3 years of foreign language equates to completed of level 3. Specifically for Stanford, I asked that exact question when I went through the process, and that was the answer they gave. So in this case, “4 years college preparation means 4 years” is an inaccurate statement.
Having said that, Stanford, and many of its peers require foreign language for graduation, so that is something the OP should take into consideration. @MYOS1634 's suggestion of taking a Subject Test to assess preparation is a good one.
Be aware of the differences in what colleges will accept as proof of proficiency. At UVA, a 650 subject test score is considered adequate. Princeton requires a score of 760 to prove proficiency.
I should clarify those scores,are for placing out of the FL requirement, not for admission. However, if one expects to have a foreign language requirement in college, it would be advisable to maintain it in high school so you don’t forget it.