For the very selective colleges, would it be better to take a third year of Mandarin or a fourth year of science? I’m not majoring in either, however. I am majoring in Economics. I understand full well that the college admissions process does not have a full set of requirements on how to get in, but I would appreciate any feedback. Honestly, I am pretty lost. Thanks!
Level of Mandarin previously completed? Note also that colleges often have foreign language graduation requirements; higher level in high school may allow higher placement in college so that you can complete such a requirement in fewer courses.
Do your other three years of science include biology, chemistry, and physics?
For Mandarin, I only completed level 2. On the insistence of my HS counselor, I chose to do one more year of Mandarin as Berkeley would not require you to take their FL classes if you do 3 years.
In my honest opinion, although I have decided not to take another year of science, I enjoy the subject in general. I have not taken Physics but I have taken AP Chemistry, Chemistry H (required prerequisite), and Biology.
It breaks my heart to have so little options this school year. 
My HS put a “recommended” (actually, they prevented many people from taking 4 or more APs) cap on # of AP classes.
An issue if you want to get into ucb and UCLA is that you’d need BOTH physics (regular or honors would be fine) AND Mandarin 3.
What other classes are you taking?
You have what may be seen as a “soft” deficiency in both areas. So if you can take Mandarin 3 and physics without creating other deficiencies, try to do that.
The only problem is that my schedule can only allow me to take Mandarin 3 OR Physics Sadly, there is no option for me that won’t create other deficiencies. The best I can do is try to take Physics classes at other institutions (ie community college).
@ucbalumnus Sorry for my ignorance, but what are “soft” deficiences?