importance of a foreign language?

Applying to College
1

<p>Ding ding ding dilemma time! </p>

<p>I'm a junior who's taken French for all three years of high school. It's been easy, my average has been high, and my instructor the first two years was superb. I've always expected to take AP French senior year, but my teacher this year for French III is the AP French teacher. She's a sweet lady, but, to put it bluntly, her French is pretty bad. I'm talking frequent mispronunciation, misspelling, getting words wrong, etc. She's just not very fluent, and now I'm not sure about taking AP. There's no French IV or anything, and I'm positive she'd be the instructor. Learning the language from her is frankly grueling, and I'm not sure I would be able to ace (or even pass) the AP exam. </p>

<p>I'm thinking of taking an AP science in its place, but my mom is adamantly against this. I know most top schools and admission tomes recommend four years of a foreign language. My mother feels that missing that fourth year would be a significant disadvantage for me in top school admissions (HYPMS, that stuff). However, I think another class would be more enjoyable and honestly more productive. Is three years really that different from four, and is having four years really that crucial? </p>

<p>What is everyone's opinion on this? I'd really appreciate some advice. I might show her this thread btw, so keep it clean please. :) Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Maybe try taking a class at a local college, and when application time comes around for you, just make sure to have your guidance counselor explain why you chose not to take it at your high school.</p>

3

<p>I agree with what you are thinking. Sounds as if you've done well for three years and you really believe/know that the AP science would be best now. Go for it. You are not going to be rejected anywhere because you ONLY have 3 years of French.</p>

4

<p>If you can go for Handyandy's suggestion, do so. It will show your initiative and maturity, in my opinion. If you don't have a college near you, or can't afford that option, take the science. AP science holds a greater weight than another year of language, in my mind (I just don't know if the adcoms think the same way).</p>

5

<p>^ obviously any sane adcom would value a high grade in AP Physics as more intellectually-viable than a high grade in AP French (Not insulting french in anyway)</p>