<p>As a junior, the time has come for me to make my course selections for next year. However, I do have a certain dilemma. At my school, students that demonstrate a reasonably advanced command of Spanish or French are allowed to skip a year. I did this during the transition from middle school to high school, and as a result I am enrolled in AP Spanish Language as a junior (I am not really an anomaly, our class has 9 juniors and 6 seniors). </p>
<p>I know that many colleges (including the Ivies) "recommend" four years of foreign language. Do you think it is necessary in my case to enroll in a fourth year? I would be taking a course titled "Honors Hispanic Literature", a class that can be taken before or after AP Spanish.</p>
<p>I don't know for sure, but I would think they would be satisfied with a language taken to the AP level. The point is language proficiency and you would have that. </p>
<p>My daughter is at an Ivy and didn't take four years of a language or an AP test. But she had three years of two different languages and a year of another, all of which are useful to her current major. So at least with her school, the "four years" recommendation is not a firm rule.</p>
<p>You could always ask the colleges you are interested in.</p>
<p>It depends on what you replace it with. You've already taken your foreign language to the AP level. If you would like to have a period in your schedule available to study something else next year, that shouldn't be a problem. I think it probably goes without saying, though, that taking "1st Period Off Campus" (i.e., "Sleeping In") is not as good as adding, for example, Anatomy & Physiology to complement AP Biology.</p>
<p>AP Lang is considered year #5, by nearly every college, so you have completed more than four. But, if you like Spanish and want to continue in a Lit class or at a community college there is no reason not to -- it's just that you don't HAVE to.</p>
<p>At my school, AP Lang is considered to be year 4...and AP Lang Lit is year 5. I thought it was that way with most schools too. It goes from first year, second year, third year (regents year) and after the regents, you get to AP Lang. o_0. I have not heard it otherwise.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is whether schools in which you're interested have a foreign language requirement and whether you want to take a foreign language in college. If you continue to take Spanish just to maintain your language skills and take an SATII, you could test out of the foreign language requirement at some schools. Others will require a placement test. Just a thought.</p>
<p>My S took 4 years of hs Spanish, but because he also took it in middle school, his fourth year was Spanish V. Are you saying that your junior AP Spanish was Spanish IV? If so, I believe you will have fulfilled a college's "recommended hs course preparation" of 4 years of a foreign language. If I were you, I would make a phone call to one or two colleges of particular interest and ask the question. But I think you have already fulfilled the recommendation.</p>
<p>sheldon,
Not sure what "selectivity" of colleges you may be considering, but we faced this problem when my child was a HS Soph. He was in AP French that year and was considering dropping foreign language after 10th grade. I asked admissions reps for some of the most selective colleges and universities in the country how they would view a situation such as this, and other than Princeton, no one batted an eye about it. The (almost) universal word was that as long as the student was taking an alternative course that was also rigorous, and the student had finished through the AP level, there was no reason to either begin a new foreign language or take further courses in the original language.</p>
<p>My d is taking Spanish at school and Chinese at a private school... however, Chinese is very hard and I am thinking have her drop after one year. Will this look bad if CB see she just take one year of forgine language.. however, she will continue in Spanish.</p>
<p>I don't think lots of one language and one year of another looks bad, particularly since your daughter is going elsewhere to get it. How would colleges even know if another year was available?</p>
<p>I would leave the decision up to her, however. Let her take what interests her.</p>
<p>My daughter decided to take 3 years of two different languages and one year of another. But the one year language was an unusual one (Egyptian hieroglyphs). I think colleges were just impressed that she took it, not upset that she didn't arrange for the advanced course.</p>
<p>If you take a language through AP, there is no need to take another year of it for any college. And most schools (including most competitive ones) will let you get out of their foreign language requirement if you score 4 or 5 on AP test. Many schools also have an SAT II score that satisfies their foreign language requirement.</p>
<p>I saw some kids are taking the 2nd language from 7th grade already... our JR. high did not offer either Spanish or French or any other 2nd lanugage until 9th grade, so, If I would like have 2 d start earilier, what whoud I do. she is in 6th grade now.</p>
<p>Schinagus,
The only reason most kids take a language in middle school is because it's in their schools curriculum - they have to take it. Unless your child has expressed an interest in taking a foreign language or she needs something else to do and would enjoy it, I would not suggest starting a it just because other kids have done it.</p>