Hey everyone,
So I took Latin I in middle school, then Latin II and III in my freshman and sophomore years, respectively. I placed summa cum laude in the National Latin Exam for 3 or 4 years. I planned on taking AP in my junior year. Unfortunately, last year I switched schools and my current high school does not have AP Latin (or anything related). So, I did not take a foreign language course last year.
I just started my senior year, and I figure it would look much better to colleges for me to continue my study of Latin (or something related, like Greek) rather than have it cut off sophomore year. I considered self-studying for AP Latin but after researching it I concluded that doing so would be asking too much of myself and probably not worth it.
Does anyone have advice as to what I should do? Will it look bad to take no foreign language courses for two years? Is this nothing to worry about? Is there some other way I can display my passion for the classics? Thanks in advance.
Greek is not related at all closely to Latin. Italian, Spanish or French are much closer linguistically.
Could you find a summer course somewhere? Dual enrolment?
I have been looking for online courses but none are available that fit my schedule. No colleges around me offer Latin. The local private school I used to attend does. Maybe the teacher would let me come after school…
I would very likely have to pay for that kind of tutoring. Would it be worth it? Would colleges care that I do that?
Greek is related in the sense that is another classical and would demonstrate that interest, but you would be better off saving it for college. Yes, finding a Latin class somewhere would be meaningful, because you would want to go as far as you can in high school if you want to continue in college.
I plan on going to vet school. So my higher education regarding Latin will probably be little to none (unless I utilize it in a minor). You think it would be worth it to hire an AP tutor?
Even with your good scores in the exam, I would be hesitant to recommend you take the AP exam based on working with a tutor and not taking Latin last year. If you were going to pursue classics, I would feel differently. If that’s not your goal, I don’t think the potential reward is worth the time, effort & risk.
Good to know. Thank you so much! Thoughts from anyone else?
I suggest you not pursue any further Latin. You would be better served keeping your GPA high, and studying for ACT/SAT.
Why not study a modern Romance language offered in your new school? If you love Latin, you can tell the colleg at your interview or in your essay about your love of Latin and your desire to resume it.
Most top colleges will want to see you’ve taken language classes throughout high school. Were I in your shoes, I would not do the no-language-for-two-years solution.
(Personally, I regret my 5 years of Latin-- which I enjoyed at the time-- and wish I’d studied Spanish instead in middle and high school-- a useful language and not a dead one. By studying a modern language and then resuming Latin, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.)
A couple of the schools I am looking at “recommend” four years of foreign language. Is this something to worry about if I decide not to take one this year? I figure taking Latin I in middle school counts as one, so that gives me 3 so far…
I would definitely take a language. As noted above, either Spanish or French would be a good choice.
You can’t help it if your new school doesn’t offer the language and you have no local options. Mention it in your application if you are that concerned, but I really wouldn’t worry too much! My senior son took 3 years of Latin at 2 schools, but chose to not do AP this year. He’s taking 5 other AP’s, so Latin was just something we had to let go. I find it hard to imagine a school turning you or my son down because you didn’t take 4 years of Latin!
The latest question was about four years of “language” – not four years of Latin. As OP noted, four years of language are recommended, and other CC threads have dealt with this issue. That OP’s current school does not offer Latin is not an “out” from the language requirement/recommendation. Subject to correction by folks more knowledgeable about college admissions than I am, I’d still recommend you take “a” language. You might actually enjoy it.
So I’ve decided I’m going to take Spanish 1 as a senior and continue it in college. I figure that will help in my future career and I can use Latin as a foundation.
Good choice. Especially if you’re going to be a vet in California. I wish I’d taken more years of it.
Definitely take a foreign language. Latin is amazing and all, but it’s very hard trying to force yourself to translate Caesar and Vergil, much less through self-studying. I’ve taken 4 years of Spanish also, but I recommend stopping after 3 years. After that, it really is just review and trying to get better at it. Same with French. French is grammatically a very easy language, but writing it and pronouncing it is where it is challenging.
@oPhilippos Yeah I definitely do not have the time or energy to self study for AP Latin. Also I figure colleges wouldn’t really care until they see the exam grade, and that would be long after I apply.