<p>Sorry, I wasn't necessarily sure where to post this. I am currently a high school sophomore and am in Spanish III Honors. Next year I will have completed my required language semesters and will have the option of either continuing on to Spanish IV, or dropping the class and taking something different. I am highly considering taking Mandarin Chinese in place of Spanish. My only issue is that I am thinking I want to go into International Business in college and that would require a second language. I am willing to continue Spanish because it would show my dedication but taking Chinese would be a unique aspect that could set me apart from others. It seems like Chinese, being spoken in such a growing country, would be a smart choice to go down the path of taking, especially in the business field. What do you guys think from a career perspective but also from the perspective of colleges (and their admissions offices)? Also, am I likely to have the opportunity/want to take Chinese in college?</p>
<p>Outside of these languages, I am very interested in technology and was thinking about dropping Spanish for something like Computer Sciences, Introduction to Code, App Development etc. Would this be a smart decision? Bear in mind I would be without a foreign language for two years if I chose to do so.</p>
<p>If your goal is to learn a foreign language in order to actually use it in your life and career, I would continue with Spanish until you graduate. By the time you hit Spanish V, you may actually be able to converse! </p>
<p>If you decide to start a 2nd foreign language, take the same one for your Junior and Senior years. Does your HS offer Chinese I and II?</p>
<p>Either way, I think it would reflect well on you for admissions to have taken more than just the bare minimum of language courses. Admissions officers want to see that you have challenged yourself and gone beyond just basic requirements. </p>
<p>In no case would I drop a language to take a tech course. You will find more challenging and up to date ones at your university in few more years.</p>
<p>The most important question here, however, is one you didn’t ask: what do you LIKE? If Spanish is not your thing and Chinese excites you, then take Chinese! Speaking as an adult whose life has taken many interesting directions since college, I would encourage you NOT to chase what you think others want from you, or what you think might be most profitable, or what the trend might be. Do what you love, and then find a major and then a career that fit that.</p>
<p>Take Spanish. Chinese is not as unusual as you think. The US is filled with native Chinese speakers whose skills you are unlikely to touch. They will be hired for jobs requiring Chinese.</p>
<p>Schools want to see continued study and mastery of subjects. Does your school offer AP Spanish? For selective schools I’d suggest taking that.</p>
<p>Check the colleges that you are going to apply. Most require 4 years of the same language, once you fulfill that requirement, you can do whatever you want.</p>
<p>"Either way, I think it would reflect well on you for admissions to have taken more than just the bare minimum of language courses. Admissions officers want to see that you have challenged yourself and gone beyond just basic requirements.
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<p>I agree with kpg. There are a lot of native Spanish and Chinese speakers, so you won’t be getting a job as a translator, so take the one you are most interested in. i do think it helps to be conversant in one, rather than just familiar with two.</p>
<p>A year of high school language is probably equivalent to less than a semester of college language. So even if you take one year (or even two years) of high school Chinese, you will probably have to start in the beginner Chinese course in college anyway.</p>
<p>On the other hand, completing additional levels of Spanish beyond level three may help you gain more useful proficiency, and higher placement in Spanish courses in college (so you won’t have to take as many).</p>
<p>From a career in international business, the choice to attempt to become fluent in Mandarin is a no-brainer.</p>
<p>For highly selective college admissions, however, 4+ years in one language “looks” better than 2+2 or 3+2. How 'much; better is really a subjective decision by the adcom. </p>
<p>For not-so-highly-selective college admissions, it won’t matter at all.</p>
<p>Don’t take Comp Sci unless you are interested in that field. It won’t do much for a business propsie.</p>
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