<p>I am currently a sophomore in high school and at the top of my class. At the end of this year, I will have completed French 3 (my third year of French), and I had hoped I would conclude my foreign language studies in high school. I really have no interest in the course, and since I intend to pursue an engineering or business degree in college, I feel that it serves no purpose. My school also offers quite a few interesting social studies and math electives that I would like to take (sociology, principles of law, financial algebra, etc) and if I were to continue with French, I would not have any room for these classes. But I have been told by several people (most notably guidance councilor) that four years of foreign language is highly preferred (though not required) by better colleges, and since I have always gotten A's in French, it is in my best interest. I really, really do not want to continue with French, but if it is worth it I will. In terms of the programs I am considering in my college search, is another year of foreign language really necessary?
Any advice would be great.</p>
<p>Man, I was in the same spot last year… I ended up taking AP Chemistry over AP Spanish 4 and do not regret it a bit. I don’t think I would have gained as much in a foreign language class, especially because I am so science driven both in class and in ECs. I’ve heard a lot of people recommend four years as well, but imo, colleges probably prefer dedication to an area of interest more than four years of foreign language. </p>
<p>That being said, I had already taken every other science class offered, so it was either quit science or quit foreign language. Easy choice for me lol. Will you still have a math class if you take French?</p>
<p>Oh, and my counselor also advised that I take AP Spanish 4. “I think you have enough science classes added up.” lol nope sorry. Went against that, and though I don’t know what schools you’re looking into, so far I have gotten into two Honors Programs and have been accepted to all the schools I’ve heard back from, all offering 23K+ merit aid. So don’t worry too much about it being of great hindrance for you :)</p>
<p>Wow, its actually really funny how similar these situations are. And I really don’t think French serves any purpose in my science/math-oriented schedule. I will definitely be taking Pre-Calc Honors next year, but I was considering adding Financial Algebra (semester elective, I think honors) which I would not be able to do if I continued French.</p>
<p>I think what my guidance councilor was worrying about was that colleges would see that my school offers level 4 and AP language, and then see that I did not take advantage of it.
But wouldn’t they also see based on my other classes, ECs, and essays that French has nothing to do with my intended majors, and that I would have more unique classes instead?</p>
<p>Being a sophomore, I haven’t begun college admissions research too much yet, but from what I’ve seen so far, I’m thinking a lot about several UCs, Cornell, and BU.
I don’t think any of them require more than two years of foreign language, and while I think Cornell favors three, I’ve seen nothing about four.</p>
<p>I’m meeting with my guidance councilor again next week and respectfully ignore her recommendations. It seems like it dropping language caused no problems for you, congrats on your acceptances!</p>
<p>Many (basically, all…) top colleges will expect you to have 4 years of one foreign language or the AP score/class unless you ahve a pretty darn good excuse like “my high school only offers 2 years”. But it’s not either or: If you can take French at the local community college over the summer, do that. Typically, French 101 covers French 1&2, French 102 covers 2 and mostly 3 plus some 4, French 103 or 201 covers French 4 or even AP (depends what your college is. At Berkeley 3rd semester language includes reading a book from start to finish, plus of course tons of other things.)
Using summer school would allow you to take Financial Algebra.
If you plan on doing Engineering, this may not turn up (depending on how you test you may have to take one semester more, tops) but in Engineering School you’ll have opportunities with foreign countries - check out what schools you’re interested in. For example, I know Penn State and Georgia Tech have programs with France so being good at French is a plus. Cornell has a program in Hong Kong and a program in Spain, plus agreements with France, Germany, and Israel.
For business, at a good school you’ll likely have to study up to the 3rd or 4th semester (roughly either AP in high school or 2 semesters in college, and sometimes even 1 semester post AP.) Requirements vary but you’ll definitively need to take a language so the further along you are in HS, the fewer classes you’ll have to take in college. Not to mention the business classes abroad you could take – you’d be foolish to pass up one winter term or one summer or one semester abroad if it’s offered (you learn a lot about yourself and the world, and you have lots of fun. Especially if you’re under 21.)</p>
<p>I think another issue might be that you have only taken two years of language in high school. Lasbuenas was in his junior year when he decided not to take more foreign language. Three years of a foreign language, up to whatever level you can make it, is a pretty reasonable requirement . The point is to take a language to the point of fluency. Most people aren’t there by the end of French 3. I could see skipping out of French 5/AP French your senior year to pursue those math electives, but junior year, subbing out French 4 for “financial algebra”? I’m with your guidance counselor.</p>
<p>Take equivalent of four years of same foreign language; don’t stint.</p>
<p>Also, if anyone’s thinking about grad school for a PhD, it’s often quite important to have a solid foundation of French or German, because it’s often a pre-req for degree. I’ve a friend who had four years of HS Spanish, was our valedictorian, then majored in chem and was her university’s salutatorian, then went for her PhD in chem at HYP and found herself required to learn German. (Spanish is fairly useless for STEM.)</p>
<p>Personally, I took 3 years of Japanese and two years of Mandarin, and it didn’t appear to impact my admissions at all, so I don’t think 4 years is an absolute necessity.
On the other hand, you’ll have the opportunity to take classes like Sociology in college, and since there’s no AP equivalent, if you take them in high school, you’ll just have to take them again in college. If you take French 4, it’s possible you could test out of the language requirement in college.</p>
<p>Higgins—a follow-up question on behalf of my son who is about to start HS. You said that Spanish is fairly useless for STEM. Would Latin be of more use? The HS does not offer German and my son doesn’t have any interest in studying French or Mandarin, so he is trying to decide between Latin & Spanish. Thanks!</p>
<p>
While neither would be extremely useful for the sciences, Spanish would be more useful for everyday life.</p>
<p>Not necessarily more useful in the context of getting a science PhD, though. If the purpose is to be able to read original source texts (which I have heard from others, have no first hand knowledge), it seems like German or French is going to be more useful. I could see how Latin has some use as well – while no one speaks it today, kids who study Latin often have very, very strong vocabularies and do really well on the CR section of the SAT. And some scientific names are Latin… but I am not sure the Latin pays off at the PhD level. So while Spanish is most useful day to day, that does not mean it is the best choice for this kid.</p>
<p>To the OP, you really need at least 3 years of foreign language for top colleges. And if there is even a remote chance you will go to a college where you need to take a language for your degree, for heavens sake, get it out of the way in high school and take the AP test. College foriegn language classes are notoriously brutal. Don’t do it if you don’t have to.</p>
<p>If you go into business, better knowledge of a foreign language is desirable when dealing with foreign customers or suppliers who use that language. So doing level 4 in high school is likely better than level 3 for this purpose.</p>
<p>More near term, some colleges have foreign language graduation requirements; the higher the level you reach in high school, the higher your placement in language courses will be at the college level, so the fewer foreign language courses you will need to take in college.</p>
<p>Does Latin constitute a foreign language for those colleges that require 3 or 4 years?</p>
<p>Latin is a fine language to meet college requirements. Top universities have a sense that they have a “world mission” and their graduates have responsibilities outside of their communities. By example, when I was an undergraduate, there was no foreign language requirement while in college. Now you can’t graduate without proving proficiency in a foreign language. This should tell you of the shift in thinking and newer emphasis on graduating students with a more global focus.</p>
<p>I would tend to agree with those telling you to take four years of foreign language in high school or at least until the AP level before quitting. This may matter only at the most selective schools but if you are at the top of your class, why limit your options now?</p>