How imperative is it to have 3+ years of foreign language?

<p>So I have a bit of a problem.
This year I am in the 11th grade, and was planning to take Spanish 3. I know its very good to have more than 2 years of foreign language, and I really wanted to be able to take Spanish 3 & 4.
However, due to conflicts with my AP classes (Chem, Physics I, USH & Lang) as well as my advanced chorus class I was unable to be scheduled into Spanish 3. Instead of getting into Spanish they put me in Drama Funds (a freshmen class) and I'm honestly really upset and I don't know how this will affect my chances of getting into top colleges. Would it be good for me to take Spanish 3 next year?
The only option I have to take Spanish 3 this year is to drop chorus or AP Chem in order to free my 7th period (Spn 3 is only taught that period) or do online Spanish at home during 1st period instead of Drama fund.
I would be okay with doing online, but I feel like that wouldn't be very fun and/or time efficient for me given my schedule.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!</p>

<p>@tylerfrenchfrye OK, do you know what colleges are you aiming/applying?</p>

<p>It just makes you stand out more.</p>

<p>@elefish92‌ right now its sort of a toss up, my dream school is Columbia but in reality I’m probably aiming more towards UPenn, Georgia Tech, etc. I’m still going to apply to Columbia and I really want to be able to compete with the other students applying… I’ll have ~10 AP’s. (Didn’t know if that made a difference for your opinion, lol)</p>

<p>For more competitive schools, 3 years of language is really a minimum, even though they say it’s 2. Can you take it at a community college? You definitely should explain why you just took 2 years on your aps.</p>

<p>I took Spanish 2 my 9th grade, Spanish 3 10th grade, and I’m taking AP Spanish Language this upcoming school year, I haven’t taken Spanish 1, yet, does that still count as 4 years of Spanish. Even if it was 3, would it look bad at all if I didn’t take Spanish Literature? I have an Art requirement to graduate and it wouldn’t fit in for my Senior year.</p>

<p>@tylerfrenchfrye Those are still phenomenal schools…10 APs out of how many of your school? That is a lot, you still have a solid chance assuming you have Bs and As and very occasionally Cs (with a legit reason why). But going with the topic, this may disappoint you, but maggpie is right, AT LEAST 3 years. 4 years is preferable, for me I did (Spanish I 8th, Spanish II 9th, Spanish III 10th, & AP Span Lang 11th <em>upcoming</em>). Spanish is a useful language and it will make you competitive, not a lot of people take the AP, out of like 50-100 people (estimated) I know who is in my grade who had Spanish III, I only know one other person who is take AP, rest are taking IV or dropping it completely. </p>

<p>I suggest to get the 3rd year, honestly. I would drop AP Chem and save it for later unless if your projected major has to do with Chemistry majorly. </p>

<p>@hailbo I was a former person in that situation, all of the people I asked says no unless if you want to major in Spanish. Spanish Lit is different, I don’t understand why there is even a AP Spanish Lit, if Lit was really demanding to take, at least 1 other foreign language AP would have Lit (there’s English, but that’s a different story in this country). Only take it if you have nothing else to take. You can continue it in college. </p>

<p>@elefish92‌ My school has around 13 AP’s. I have all A’s (I’m 2nd in my class). But yeah I understand… my school only offers Spanish 4 at the moment (AP tentative) but I really wish I could take them (I hate schedule conflicts!) However, I’m going to try and see if I can do online Spanish at school possibly or maybe just take a Spanish 2 class and do my Spanish 3 work in there. Thanks for your help though!</p>

<p>Take it online. I would not recommend dropping chorus or chem. It’ll be perfectly acceptable to colleges.</p>