Hi
I’m a high school senior. So I obviously cannot be doing anything about it, but my couselor made me take Spanish 3. I really wanted to add another AP to my schedule (currently in AP Chem and AP Comp science), but he told me "colleges look to see you have taken the 5 core subjects - maths, science, english, world language, social studies " He literally forced me to take it.
So recently I have talked to the more smarter people in my school, they are planning to do CS or enginerring college (the same as me) and told me they are not taking any world language. They also told me that the counselors don’t have any idea what they are talking about. Well is this true? Right now with my current courses, I feel so bored! It is just not challenging for me! I wish I was in AP US History, AP Envieromental Sci, and english honors! Arggggg! I wish I could repeat high school just for the sake of making myself stand out for my college applications!
At many more selective colleges, having only level 2 or lower in foreign language will make you stand out – in a negative way.
You need three years of a language for better colleges. Go thank your counselor. And you should not be bored. Don’t you have college applications or a senior project?
Both your counselor and the “more smarter people” are right.
Many elite schools want 3-4 years of a foreign language. Other selective schools may not REQUIRE 3-4 years, but your competition may have it, conceivably putting you at a disadvantage.
But if you’re not aiming for the very competitive schools you’ll likely be OK with only 2 years of Spanish. Just verify with the schools you’ll be applying to.
Maybe some of those “smarter people” already had completed at least 3 levels of one foreign language by the time they entered senior year. Among students applying to selective college, a typical pattern would be to start a language by 8th grade, complete 3-4 years, then either continue, switch to a second language, or stop taking any.
Depends what colleges you’re applying to. But since World Languages is a core subject having only two years would put you at a disadvantage.
So, if you’re applying for a science major at your local college (like “central state U”) you’re okay. If applying to your flagship or to a top 100 university/LAC or a top 10 regional university, be glad your guidance counselor made you take Spanish 3.
BTW, there’s often a foreign language requirement in college, too. Taking level 3,4, or ap, plus doing well on the placement test could allow you to skip one course or even the whole requirement.
So, the “more smarter” know more than the guidance counselor? These are hs peers?
Without knowing what you’ve already taken and what they have, we can’t compare. You can find the right college matches for you, your stats, your experience. Try to listen to the GC’s input and balance it with what the college say they expect, not other hs kids. Have matches and safeties for your record, colleges that are affordable, for you.
It’s important in that colleges may have admission requirements for it. It’s not that important once you’re out of college.
There’s a reason your guidance counselor has his job. The advice you were given was correct-- most schools want 3 or more years of a World Language. Most would prefer it to another AP.
The kids in your school were not given the job of guidance counselor because apparently they’re the ones who don’t know what they’re talking about.
Thank you all for the help! I’m glad my counselor made me take Spanish 3! I’m assuming the other people already had 3-4 years of world language completed, I came to USA in soph year so totally have 3 years.
Thanks for the help everyone
Personally, I would not be seeking advice from 17 year olds who don’t know how much they do not know.
@bjkmom (and everyone else who posted here) is correct. Please go and thank your GC for “forcing” you to take Spanish.
Good luck in your college search.
Thank you so much everyone for the help!
While I’d normally take the advice of a guidance counselor over a 17-year old classmate, I have to say I’ve run into some pretty useless guidance counselors.
What do you mean when you said “they are not taking ANY world language”? They do not have even one year of world language or they have already achieved level 2 or above. If it is the former, they are NOT smart people at all. In either case, they are the one that do not know what they are talking about at all.
I think the OP meant that they are nat taking a FL that year. One assumes that the HS has a FL graduation requirement.
While not untrue, that is going off topic. Regardless, even a “useless” GC knows more about college admissions than most 17 year-olds, IMO.