Don’t believe everything you hear.
Some high schools allow CS to fulfill a foreign language requirement. Few colleges, though, allow the same. As I said earlier, a college’s recommended HS preparation often goes beyond HS graduation requirements.
No college asks for the recommended coursework to be completed by the time you apply.
No, computer science is NOT a foreign language. Think about it: the value in FL is not simply learned words and grammar rules. It’s how the study of FL expands your awareness of other cultures, their perspective and ways.
And frankly, CS in high school is not necessarily a rigorous course. At some hs, not at all. HIgher math is far more respected.
You need to resolve this. How much energy do you have to find the solution that matches what your targets expect?
From listening to all this, it seems getting that extra language credit in is absolutely urgent. Should I take an online course or just do summer school? Should I take the next level of French (I could get a lower mark as I’ve forgotten a lot) or an introductory course of Spanish (I’d likely get a higher mark)?
I’d stick with French. Schools want to see multiple years of the same language. How about spending this year brushing up on your French then taking a higher level course in 12th grade?
I see. I can try brushing up in the summer (no time right now with EC and school). Is it meaningless that I took French since grade 4? What I’m worried about is that I have to apply to schools in November-December, and if I don’t get French in the first semester, I’m absolutely screwed. What are your takes on online courses or summer school?
Colleges focus on high school, not lower school. If you studied it so long, I’d think prepping for the next class should be easy.
But really, why do I sense hesitation? You’re a junior and should be working on wrapping up your college resume, ensuring the right courses taken, the right sorts of ECs, and more. Don’t get sidetracked. Figure it out. 10th gr French beats having only 1 year.
And by 12/31 of next yeat, you need to polish up this “take action” mentality. Ok?
@lookingforward I understand. It’s just that I’ve been planning everything so meticulously since grade 9, that I was taken by surprise when I found out that I may be missing something. Speaking of 12/31 next year, should I worry whether or not French will be put in the first or second semester? Should I even take the chance?
Also, if I was to apply to a pre-med/biology/biochemistry program, how important would stellar marks in French be important? Is it fine if I get a slightly lower mark but maintain an overall 4.00+ GPA/94-97 average or do I need to stay wary about my performance in that course?
Our high school is one that lets students take CS or pre-engineering classes instead of a foreign language. Most colleges want to see a foreign language, however, so my student took summer classes through our high school. It is extra work, but you just have to do it.
@chercheur Do you think I should take summer school, online, or just in my grade 12 year?
One general question I have is what happens if some courses that are required to apply for a certain school start in my second semester? Since we’re talking about French, what would happen if my French course was going to start in the second semester? Would colleges see it as me not taking the course or would they just see that it’s coming and they’ll check it off?
You’ve asked the question several times, and the answer won’t change from the one I already gave. No courses are required to apply. The expectation of the college is that you will complete the courses that are listed on the application under “Current Year Courses” regardless if the course starts in August of January. Any acceptance you receive will generally list conditions that would put your acceptance at risk, including failure to complete coursework indicated. So as long as you complete the courses before you matriculate to the college, it’s fine.
Your application will ask for your senior year courses. If you take it during your senior year, the college won’t check it off until they see your final high school transcript (after you graduate), but that is normal and fine. I would take it during the summer to get it out of the way. See if your high school offers it as a summer class.
Yes, colleges will see on your transcript that you are signed up for second semester French. They will expect the school to send your final transcript at the end of the year, and if you drop French without notifying them (or any other class for that matter) they will call on you to explain, and they could possibly rescind your acceptance.
Are you on block scheduling, though? If not, one semester won’t cut it (2 semesters = 1 year).
It really doesn’t matter whether you take it in the summer or during the school year. You just need a year’s worth of credits. If you take it online, you will need to have the accredited online school send in the transcript. Don’t assume your high school will take care of it. If your HS offers summer classes, it might be cheaper to enroll there vs. in an online class, although you may lose some flexibility in the timing.
@skieurope Would it make any difference if grade 10 French was under “Current Year Courses” or not?
Current year courses mean courses that you are taking in the current academic year, regardless of course name. So if you take Grade 10 French in Grade 12, it’s listed under current year.
@skieurope That’s what I assumed. What I was referring to was would it be better if I took French online or during the summer before I apply, so it’s already in my transcript. That way, it wouldn’t be in the “Current Year Courses” when I apply. Essentially, my question is should I try and hide the fact that I’ll be taking grade 10 French later on or would it not matter?
If I’m going to apply to pre-med/biochemistry should I focus on getting high marks in French, or would it be fine if I lack a little as long as my overall average is 94-97?
It doesn’t matter when you take it. It matter that you take it. And yes, you should strive to get a good grade in it, but a 93 (or 88) won’t be what keeps you out of a school.
I’d recommend you take it over the summer , schedule the sat subject test from August if offered, if not or if you score below 680 take one more level (French 11?) as one of your classes year 12. Because only 2 levels would be very weak without a high score. You would of course indicate in ‘additional information’ that you took French grade 4-8 so that French 9 isn’t French 1 (in case your adcom doesn’t know that about Canada).
You could also take the test in November or December to see how you score. You need a high score to show you have what they want.
Typically, Canadian 4-7 equals level 1, 8-9 covers level 2, with 10 level 3, etc. So Year 10-11 would work to meet the basic requirements at the universities you’re aiming for.
So, I know that I WILL take French again, I just need to decide WHEN. Even though it doesn’t look poorly if I do a course in summer school, isn’t it that doing core subjects in summer school is bad because it shows you can’t handle the course along with all your other courses during the school year? I there any inherent advantage to doing one over the other? If I do it during grade 12, I’ll have time to brush up on French in the summer and study for my SAT 2 tests. If I do it in the summer I’ll have grade 12 free up so I can concentrate on my maths and sciences. Also, I heard that online courses and summer school courses are easier (even though they’re not supposed to be). I’m conflicted between these 2 decisions and I was wondering if any of you had some insight to help me. Also, does the level matter? I don’t know how the US course system works, but in Canada, most courses come in three levels: Applied (college), Academic (University), and AP. If I’m to be frank, I don’t care about French. I have a passion for science and I want to have a good shot to study at some of the best institutions in the world! I don’t want to spend more time on French than I have to, so would it matter whether I took applied or academic grade 10 French?
As people have told you many times on this thread it will NOT look bad if you take a summer course. You (or better yet your guidance counselor) can include a sentence or two (if you do it put itin the additional information section or your guidance counselor can include it in his/her letter of recommendation) saying you found out at the end of junior year that you do not have enough foreign language for US colleges and you decided to rectify the situation as best you could through summer coursework. If you don’t take a summer course a similar comment could be make to explain the French 10 in 12th grade. Nothing would be wrong with that. If anything it shows your interest and dedication to meet the recommendations/requirements of US colleges. If you can I would take French over the summer as well as in your senior year – this way you should be up to level 3 which is enough to satisfy most US colleges.
You are getting the same recommendations again and again. In the end it is your choice what to do.