Foreign Language

<p>Is 3 years of foreign language enough for the top colleges (Spanish 1 through Spanish 3 Honors)?</p>

<p>Some recommend 4 years, but I doubt they will reject an applicant for only doing 3... Also, to get to AP Spanish, you have to go from Spanish 1 through Spanish 4 Honors.</p>

<p>I'm not really interested in doing any more years of it, but I was wondering how that would look in terms of requirements and admissions. In place of the foreign language slot, I'd take an AP (such as Comp Sci or Psychology).</p>

<p>Both AP Comp Sci and AP Psych are viewed as AP-lite courses for top colleges. If you said that you were forgoing a 4th year of Spanish to double up on AP Chem and AP Physics C, you may get more of a pass.</p>

<p>If a college recommends 4 years, you will be at a disadvantage as the vast majority of applicants will have the recommended background. While your school system may be different, most offer AP Spanish as the 4th year option.</p>

<p>are you sure about APCS being ap-lite? I realize it’s not core, but it’s certainly not on the easy end.</p>

<p>@skieurope‌ at my school, AP Spanish is not a 4th year option… I was planning on doing AP Chem, AP Physics 1, and AP Comp Sci instead of AP Cham, AP PHysics 1, and Spanish 4 Honors (which one looks better?)…</p>

<p>Also, as for me being at a disadvantage, is one year of spanish really THAT big of a deal in the grand scheme of things? I thought they look at your schedule mainly to see the rigor and if you get mainly A’s…</p>

<p>

The latter.

If you are looking for a top 50 uni, yes. If you are looking at a less selective school, no. High School is not the time to specialize. 3 sciences at the expense of a foreign language will rarely be viewed positively.</p>

<p>Review the link below. If your ideal school recommends foreign language preparation beyond your current level, you will be disadvantaged. You may still get in, but at this point, no one knows.</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.asdk12.org/depts/world_lang/program/HS/University_WLReq.pdf”>https://www.asdk12.org/depts/world_lang/program/HS/University_WLReq.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>@skieurope‌ YA im looking toward top 25… but how does 1 extra year of Spanish (and the fact that im not going to take AP Spanish the following year after that) appeal to those that recommend 4 years VS me doing 3 years and an AP?</p>

<p>I thought they prefer rigor of courseload and an AP is more rigorous at my school</p>

<p>It’s expected that you’d finish (Foreign Language Name) Level 4 for you to meet the “requirement”</p>

<p>^ what if I finish levels 1-4 in 3 years (AKA skip a class)?</p>

<p>@Yakisoba‌
Then you’d be, for all intents and purposes, done in the eyes of a college. Where I am, there isn’t a good set up from Spanish 1-4 to AP Spanish, and thus, I wouldn’t take AP Spanish, but I’d still be okay in the eyes of colleges with finishing Spanish 4 as a junior</p>

<p>If you complete level 4 by your senior year, however you accomplish it, you are fine.</p>

<p>Yep, @skieurope‌. Doing more is good though, especially an AP, which would save thousands and fill a requirement for a Foreign Language</p>

<p>I can get Spanish 4 done my junior year… so basically you guys are saying I should take that for sure, based on the requirements for the top colleges?</p>

<p>so then I don’t need to take AP SPanish my senior year?</p>

<p>Yep, exactly! Still AP Spanish is helpful and you might still need to take SAT II Spanish depending on your situation</p>

<p>@skieurope‌ @Apollo11‌ </p>

<p>Thanks! I appreciate the feedback, and I’ll definitely look into that…</p>

<p>Actually AP Comp Sci is not an AP lite. I honestly don’t see anything wrong with taking AP CS instead of spanish 4. Many students at my school only take 3 years of foreign language and we send approx 20 kids to MIT every year.</p>

<p>@guineagirl96: 20 kids to MIT every year? That’s…incredible.</p>

<p>@College123college‌
Anytime! I know a lot more about this stuff than I usually let on, so feel free to ask any question, no matter how trivial!</p>