<p>I currently am in Spanish 4, my third year of foreign language at high school. However, I am struggling mightily in the class and am thinking of dropping/auditing the class itself. Thus, I will drop foreign language forever. Will auditing the class hurt my chances at universities like Northwestern, Penn, Cornell, Duke, Rice, and Princeton? I have a full load of AP classes that I am doing fine in, but spanish is just too difficult for me. Do I need 4 years?</p>
<p>Yes.Better get a tutor</p>
<p>My son only took 3 years of a language, got a B (I believe) in Spanish 3. Didn’t attempt Spanish 4 so I hear ya. Definitely not a language guy. But he did take some Italian in college and is currently studying Dutch while abroad. Go figure.</p>
<p>Did it hurt him? Probably. But he never based his decisions on what looked good. He simply didn’t want to waste his time with Spanish 4. He dreaded it and he had so many other classes he was interested in. Senior year he took 6 APs (9 APs total). He applied as a Sci major and maybe that helped, maybe not. He had a solid science/math background (took 9 APs, including all 3 sci APs, Calc BC, Comp Sci and Stats). He didn’t get into Cornell. But I wasn’t surprised because he applied to A&S (I think) where 4 years of language are required. He COULD HAVE applied to one of the other schools within Cornell, like 2 of his classmates did (they were accepted). Stubborn kid. Also rejected at Princeton. </p>
<p>But he was accepted at Duke, Yale and Brown. He didn’t apply to the other schools you mentioned.</p>
<p>there is a thread on the Princeton board regarding this; lots of kids with less than 4 yrs accepted and attending</p>
<p>Look at the school’s requirements. Every school has a set of requirements that they list that high school students must satisfy to get admitted.</p>
<p>If the school says they require 4 years of language, then they do. Some schools have been known to bend a little for outstanding students, but if you are an otherwise average applicant, then you’re required to take the 4 years.</p>
<p>If the school says they only require 2 or 3 years, then you’re good - but sometimes 4 years are still recommended. In that case, you will be at a disadvantage when competing with students who have taken 4 years.</p>
<p>I was an international applicant last year and while I learnt a language on my own I had never formally tested for it. I had to leave the foreign languages section blank. Nevertheless, I got admitted into one of my top choice schools.</p>
<p>^If you are an international applicant from a country whose native language is not English then the usual foreign language requirement or recommendation does not apply because for such students the “foreign” language they want to see proficiency in is English.</p>
<p>You asked about your chances of getting into schools that require or recommend 4 years of a language. You might also want to look to see if the school you go to requires language proficency. I know Northwestern requires language proficency, and others might too.</p>
<p>Well, I’m curious about my D’s situation. She only has 2 years of a language. She didn’t take Spanish during her junior and current year because the class was held at the same time as honors and AP classes. However, she wants to apply to schools that require 3 or 4 years of a language, and she plans to explain why she only took two years of a language. So, will colleges hold that against her, even with her explanation?</p>
<p>I took Spanish I in 8th grade, and so I will finish all the Spanish available in my school by Junior year with Spanish IV AP. Will this count as 4 years of foreign language, or only 3…?</p>
<p>Many schools have said that they recognize the highest level of the foreign language achivied, skiiz. In other words, they recognize that you would have had to take Spanish 1 somewhere or have prior experience with the language. I’d check with the individual school you’re interested in applying to, though. </p>
<p>To the OP, I feel your pain! You may want to find out what the foreign language requirement is for graduation at the schools you’re interested in. That may give you an indication if it’s worth your while to stick out Spanish 4.</p>
<p>BU is my number one choice. I toured it early in my junior year, talked with a rep at a college fair, went to an info session over the summer, emailed them a few times, and a rep is coming to my high school next week. I know my name is in the system, so I really hope that it looks really good that I’ve shown an intense interest.
I’m VP of SADD (3 yrs)
VP of INTERACT: Rotary Club (2 yrs)
Co-Leader of Peer Outreach (2yrs )
Member of Spanish club (2 yrs)
I’m not in National Honor Society yet, but my GPA was bumped up to a 3.68 (from a 3.58 last year)
2nd decile
3 AP classes.
Went to Spain for the month over the summer. I earned one credit through my school, so I will have 5 yrs of spanish.
I got a 21 composite on my ACTS
My total score for the SATS was a 1480.
I’m taking a spanish and math 1 subject test next week.
My recommendations are very good and one teacher has a connection with BU.
I’m hoping that when I speak to the BU rep coming, I am able to explain that my transcript looks very strong but I’m not the best test taker. I want the university to judge me on my 3 years of work rather than a 6 hour test. If I’m showing a high level of interest, can I be accepted?</p>