At my high school, they require only two years of world language. I have been taking Spanish for as long as I can remember (currently sophomore), and can say about ten different phrases without google translate. My teachers just don’t care, and I don’t either.
Instead of taking AP Spanish next year, I would rather take Research Science, which is a rather unique class (honors) at my school which prepares you for science competitions (Intel, Siemens, and more regional ones). However, my guidance counselor thinks this will hurt my chance at admission into top tier colleges, even though I want to go into STEM fields.
My schedule for next year is:
AP Physics C (x2 - AP sciences at my school are two “blocks”)
AP Chemistry (x2)
Linear Algebra
AP English
Phys Ed
Research Science H/AP Spanish
Any helpful advice? Thanks.
What level of Spanish are you in this year? If you can take AP Spanish next year, that implies that you are in level 3 or 4 now, depending on whether the AP course is level 4 or 5 at your school.
Many colleges prefer to see completion of at least level 3 in a foreign language, with level 4 or AP level even better.
Of course, if you have very little proficiency in Spanish despite a lot of course work in it, that does not say much for the quality of Spanish instruction in your school.
@ucbalumnus
This year I take Spanish 4, which is not honors. At this point, you can move onto Spanish 5 (honors), or AP. Somehow, I was recommended for AP despite lack of any proficiency in the language.
However, I have had three different (all terrible) Spanish teachers this year, and everything that I knew by the end of ninth grade, I have lost. So yeah, as you put it, the quality of Spanish instruction is terrible.
Are any of your friends native or heritage Spanish speakers? Perhaps they can help you practice and relearn what you used to know (which should come back more quickly than learning it the first time).
It does seem like taking Spanish 5 or AP after this low quality Spanish 4 course may be a problem if the teachers in Spanish 5 or AP expect incoming students to know what Spanish 4 is supposed to teach.
Be aware that many colleges do have foreign language graduation requirements, so that if your Spanish knowledge from high school Spanish is poor, you may not find it useful in allowing starting at a higher level to complete such a requirement faster.
@ucbalumnus
I appreciate your help, and understand your points. I have considered them myself.
However, I return to my initial question: will taking a course in a specific field, the research class, be seen as more beneficial than another year of a foreign language?
My main dilemma is over the AP/honors difference. They’re weighted the same at my school in terms of GPA, but I am afraid it is not as impressive in the mind of an admissions officer.
Thanks again.
@penguinpal Most colleges will only look at your unweighted GPA, and then use the transcript classes as an indicator of rigor.
It depends on the college, although many colleges ignore the high school’s version of weighted GPA and either recalculate GPA by their own methods or just look at your courses and grades holistically.
My school’s weighting methods are simple, and very generous; there is a 1.25 multiplier to any Honors or AP class.
Freshman year: 4.753 weighted, 4.225 unweighted
Spanish 3
English 1H
US History 1H
Physics H
Phys Ed
Visual Art
Precalc H
Personal Finance
Sophomore year (independent, to date): 5.109 weighted, 4.3 unweighted
Spanish 4
English 2H
AP Human Geography
AP Calc BC (counts as two classes)
Biology H
Chem H
Phys Ed
I plan to take:
Junior year:
AP English
Linear Algebra H
AP Physics C
AP Chem
Phys Ed
Research Science H/AP Spanish
Senior year:
AP English Lit
Calc III (Independent Study)
AP Bio
Phys Ed
AP US History
AP Macro
Research Science 2H/AP Spanish Lit
Would linear algebra and calculus 3 give you college credit (i.e. are they college or dual enrollment courses)? If not, then you may end up having to repeat them in college.
I know that if I take Calc III, it would be at a local college/university, but the Linear is just a class they offer at my school, so I am not too sure. However, I am unlikely to be granted an independent study to take something like diff eq for credit because they do offer this class.
A lot of colleges will say on their website what they’re looking for in terms of subjects on your transcript. Most of the schools that I looked at strongly recommended at least three years. I’ve been told by various teachers and guidance counselors that colleges like to see foreign languages because we’re living in such a global society that being monolingual could put you at a disadvantage.
That being said, that’s just the advice I’ve been given. I think the wisest thing to do would probably be to look at the admissions websites of schools you’re considering to see what they say.
I think you have your answer from your guidance counselor. I can’t disagree with it. But more importantly he is the one who determines ‘most rigorous’ program and he is the one who know how students at your school does. My dd didn’t enjoy her Spanish class as much until she was able to do an immersion month away. It was a lucky opportunity for her and made a huge difference in her fluency and appreciation for it, I’m so glad her school made it possible. If you want to be impressive, do something this summer to correct your fluency level, if you can’t go away, see what you can do there. I don’t think it is impressive to do extra things at the expense of fulfilling your core to the maximum recommended.
My question would be, how serious is the research class? For many kids, it’s barely more than some sort of independent study, stay busy and you get an easy A. (Even when an LoR comes from this teacher, it needs substance.) If yours is rigorous and results oriented, somewhat proven, steps you through productive experiences, builds research skills and critical thinking, etc, that may be different.
For the top tier, you need more than some class that purports to prep you for competition. There’s very little mercy in elite college admissions (“I want” or “the teachers weren’t great.”) The language issue can be about how a kid’s perspective is rounded. Maybe you take a couple of online Spanish courses, freeing your schedule a bit. You need to take a good look at what the elites say they look for- and that’s more than the list of recommended classes.
Arghh…I thought I was decided, but now I am pretty sure I should take AP Spanish. Thanks for your recommendations.