My son is in 9th grade and is about to choose next year’s schedule. He is interested in math, engineering, science, computer science. Or possibly business. A couple of colleges that may be in his future could be UMASS amherst, or UCONN or Stevens. He is a top student like my 12 th grade daughter (who is salutatorian).
He’ll be taking advanced science classes, including the Regeneron science research class. (It is not called that. I am just describing it as that). engineering, math, at the corresponding AP level.
So this is my issue, to graduate with the Advanced Regent Diploma with honors in NY, one must continue Spanish in 10th grade. He has a 99 average in sPanish but couldnt care less about that subject. He and i would rather he fill his schedule in science and math classes, essentially STEM.
Is it foolish to discontinue Spanish after 9th grade? He has two years of high school level spanish. (8th grade was high school level spanish). Do colleges care if he graduates with a Regents diploma instead of the Advanced designation? Maybe i should phone the admissions office of a few colleges?
It irks me that he should sit through another year of spanish when there are more suitable classes for him. Plus, in my opinion, one more year really wont cut it in terms of fluency. As someone who is fluent in a second language myself, i can say it took a whole lot more more than 3 years of learning to become fluent. So i feel like a third year wont do anything for him other than have a fancier name of diploma.
Anyone familiar with this who applied to umass or uconn or stevens?
What year of Spanish is he taking as a freshman…it sounds like Spanish 2?
Many colleges want 3-4 years of a language, or thru FL Year 3 or 4.
You will need to look at each college’s HS curriculum requirements/recommendations. Here are U Mass’ requirements: https://www.umass.edu/admissions/apply/admissions-requirements/freshman-admissions-requirements
U Mass says 2 years of same FL is required. I expect many applicants will have more than the minimum, especially those admitted to the honors college and/or highly competitive majors such as Engineering or CS.
What does your son’s GC say? You can also reach out to admissions departments and ask.
To summarize, completing only through Spanish 2 will be a relative weak spot on the application. It will vary by school whether taking more than 4 years of Math and or science in HS will offset the FL weakness…and to be clear taking 5 core courses per year (E, SS, FL, S, Math) should be the goal, so if for 3 years he has no FL, he should double up elsewhere.
He is completing his second year of foreign language right now. I’ll definitely talk to the guidance counselor. And thanks for pointing me to the umass requirements page.
Stevens does not require foreign languages for any major:
https://www.stevens.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-apply/first-year-students
I don’t think Stevens would consider it too much of a negative if a weak foreign language grade was received, if your applicant’s math and science grades are strong (and SAT/ACTs).
The College of Arts and Letters of Stevens does have foreign language courses, which can be taken as electives.
@Parent0347 , thanks for telling me about stevens. That is good to know. Just to clarify, his grades are greater than 97 in all of his classes. It is just that we feel a better use of his time and coursework would be to take extra science and math than fill a one year class slot with Spanish.
Your son is in 9th grade. It’s early to choose between 2 colleges. I’d choose the path that makes him competitive for most colleges. Is it important that your GC is able to check “most rigorous” schedule? How will your son compare to other seniors in his class?
What if he catches fire and starts thinking about top private colleges? But back in mid 9th, 4 long years earlier, he took himself off that track, by dropping Span and others?
Get a Fiske Guide to Colleges. Learn that for any holistic college, it’s not just his stats and math-sci ECs. Do check each target’s recommended range of hs courses.
And you’re living in NYS, right? Be sure those other publics are affordable. Run the NPC/Net Price Calculator for each. Look for merit scholarships at various colleges, which sometimes make total cost less than a state flagship.
As for advanced regents, it’s not any hook. (unless for SUNY, I don’t know.)
@lookingforward - he is already thinking about top private colleges by virtue of considering Stevens.
And yes, Stevens looks at more than just high school grades, GPAs, and test scores (but does have high standards for them).