<p>I will be a senior this year and am considering applying to Penn and possibly, the M&T program.</p>
<p>So far, I have taken two years of foreign language in high school (though I have taken up to Spanish 3 since I took level 1 in middle school) because in my junior year, I opted for an AP Science class over the foreign language. </p>
<p>This upcoming year, I want to take a language class because I fear that only two years will prove to be a liability to my application. </p>
<p>I can either take Spanish level 4 (though I may be able to skip 4 and go straight to 5) or I can leave spanish and take Latin 1. </p>
<p>Assuming that I apply to the Jerome Fisher M&T program, then which class would you reccommend that I take.</p>
<p>regardless of which program you apply to (except for straight SEAS maybe), you're better off sticking with Spanish,just because you'll be able to place more highly on the language placement test, and higher level classes in one language look better than lower level ones in another</p>
<p>I would call admissions and also the department/program. You may be able to pass the requirement without taking the add'l. year of Spanish. I passed out with less than and began a new language.....it was not a problem. What you need to demonstrate is proficiency not a specific number of years. Definitely call these two sources and have a conversation. While the advice offered here is good it may not meet your specific need for MT. BTW I am a Latin Scholar who also takes French.</p>
<p>I am not really worried about placement, as much as I am worried that my lack of foreign language will hurt me in admissions. What would you reccommend that I take in order to maximiize my application.</p>
<p>It's better if you show consistency and stick with the same language. You might do better in the class also. And you're better off afterwards, as everyone else said.</p>
<p>Well I don't happen to agree with "be consistent" regarding sticking with a language, once a level of proficiency has been achieved. I personally took several high level seminars my senior year, not a language. I think that taking advantage of any high level course offered during a senior year is just as valid as the language. Many kids begin language in elementary continue through middle school and peak during high school.....why is one more year an advantage when doing so causes not being able to take a higher level math/science/or other course. I just don't happen to agree that language is the "critical" factor in acceptance or denial. I know too many folks who have not done language in their 4th year and gotten into many Ivy schools.</p>
<p>Always take the most advanced thing available if you want to be safe I guess. However, it's not necessary -- lower level classes are fine if there is nothing else to take, in my opinion. I finished Japanese in high school and had a hole in my schedule and decided to dabble in German a little bit even though it was a lower-level class. It didn't seem to hurt in admissions at all. Languages are not essential during the 4th year for admission in the first place.</p>