<p>I have taken two years of Spanish. Is it necessary to take a third year if i am strong in sciences and math. Will it hurt my chances at a top school ( Harvard, MIT, UCB)?</p>
<p>I`ve heard that most top schools want atleast 3 years of a language- I think 2 years is generally the minimal graduating language requirements in an average HS. I highly recommend you take 3 years.</p>
<p>Thanks for you commment. I want to major in computer science. So this summer, if i could take one, would it be better to take a computer sicence course or a third year in spanish.</p>
<p>your call. if you want to a) major in computer science & b) get into a top-tier college, make sure you take at least one CS class + take 3 yrs of Spanish.</p>
<p>How you fit this into your schedule is entirely up to you. I suppose you would prob. find the CS fun but hate the Spanish...which do you want for the summer & which do you want for the school yr?</p>
<p>you should take another year....</p>
<p>I'd recommend taking another year. All my teachers have said to take a foreign language for as long as possible, especially if it is possible for one to go up to an AP language course. Not only does it look good on a transcript, but it also demonstrates commitment.</p>
<p>Hmm, can AP Spanish count as your third year of Spanish? Do I HAVE to literally do Spanish 3 and 4... cant I just do Spanish 1, 2 and AP?</p>
<p>Most of the schools I have looked at want the actual years put in. If a schools recommends 4 years - they really do want it. I suggest going to the Harvard and MIT sites to check out the current fl requirements and recommendations. For this years admissions, I think H wanted 4 years and MIT didn't care - but its best to go direct to the source.</p>
<p>@ASan: Umm yea if it was a year of spanish, its a year of spanish, but my school only allows you to do AP language after taking 1, 2, 3, and 4 so I'm not sure if we're talking about the same AP here.</p>
<p>I would recommend 4 years, to be honest. 1, 2, 3 AP Lit, AP Lang. It may sound excessive now, but it'll certainly help you to be competitive.</p>
<p>Also, if a college has a fl requirement, you will be more likely to place out of it with 4 years than 3.</p>
<p>The more, the merrier, but don't bite off more than you can chew. The application's a chance to prove you can handle the workload at a given institution; showing you can commit and succeed in 2, 3, 4 years of a foreign language can be a great thing...but keep a balance between classes, ECs, sports, life, the universe and everything ;)</p>
<p>I would take it if you can do well in the class. </p>
<p>I wouldn't take it if you can't do well in the class.</p>
<p>Bad reason. Then it looks like he doesn't challenge himself. At the very least, one of the AP Spanish classes is a requirement I'd say for top schools.</p>
<p>Good reason. I mean if he isn't good at foreign languages, then why should he receive a failing grade, which would alter his rank and GPA, which colleges also look at, aside from courseload, which could be evident in his other AP coursework?</p>
<p>Sorry, but anyone who can't at least get a passing grade in AP Spanish should reconsider top schools as it is. He's probably just going to have to take it again in college, anyway.</p>
<p>I mean... yes some people learn languages faster than others, but failing? Two years of Spanish is just not going to cut it for top schools, I'm sorry.</p>
<p>lakers1787, do you speak Spanish well enough to take Spanish another year, so you can get an A?</p>
<p>Arguably, a B in AP Spanish may look better than not taking three years.</p>
<p>Again, you NEED three years of language to be competitive.</p>
<p>jus take the LANGUAGE</p>
<p>Don't feed him all that crap. Those class recommendations that say 3 or 4 years of a language are simply RECOMMENDATIONS. </p>
<p>While college reps will tell you that they prefer 3 years of a language, you will still be fine as long as you replace your foreign language with a challenging academic class. </p>
<p>I know plenty of people who have taken 2 years of a language (which is very common at my school) and replaced it with an AP class, and they have gone on to good schools. (Princeton, Duke, Penn, Michigan, WashU, Northwestern)</p>