<p>I am looking to apply to UPenn, Rice, Vanderbilt, Washington University in St. Louis, and some other schools this upcoming year. I plan on majoring in Economics. My current schedule for next year doesn't include a fourth year of foreign language. My college counselor told me that I will be at a disadvantage if I don't take another year. I thought that with my Senior schedule it would make up for not having a language: AP Stat, AP Econ, AP Bio, AP BC Calc, and two semester English courses. I have taken Latin all three years of high school so far. I don't want to take Latin again, so I would most likely pick up a new first year language.</p>
<p>What do you recommend that I do for my language situation?</p>
<p>(Btw I wouldn't change any of my AP courses if I pick up a language)</p>
<p>I disagree with your counselor. A fourth year of language isn’t necessary if everything else is in order. You have a solid schedule next year.</p>
<p>Maybe your counselor is telling you that because you are really good at languages and it would help your GPA? Hard to say without knowing the bigger picture.</p>
<p>And don’t know about UPenn and Vanderbilt, but my son was accepted to Rice and Wash U without a fourth year.</p>
<p>I would definitely go with the 4th year of Latin, it just makes more sense than taking “french 1” or “Spanish 1”, and I think we can assume it looks better.</p>
<p>I’m baffled as to why you wouldn’t take your counselor’s advise. He appears to have your interest in mind, and he appears to be knowledgeable about what it takes to increase your chances of admissions to the selective colleges on your list. His advise is consistent with what several very selective colleges recommend, that you complete the equivalent of 4 years of one foreign language. Taking 3 years of one language, and then the first year of a second is not exactly what these colleges have in mind.</p>
<p>Contact admissions at the colleges on your list and ask the question you’re posing here.</p>
<p>Your counselor isn’t wrong. It looks bad to take three years of a language and then randomly pick up a new one from scratch. For one, it shows a lack of consistency, and it also might seem like you’re trying to get an easy A (as a potential Latin major, I’m quite aware Cicero, Catullus and co. aren’t always the easiest to translate :)). Take the fourth year of Latin.</p>