So I’m a junior in high school and I don’t know what do. I’ve been in orchestra since 6th grade and because of COVID-19 my school now has 2 electives and I’m already in one I like but I don’t know if I should leave orchestra and take a two year foreign language? I’ve heard that some colleges require you to take a language class to get accepted but which one is better? Orchestra or foreign language?
In todays interconnected world having foreign language is beneficial and certain units require you to take a foreign language as part of undergraduate credits but sometimes foreign language proficiency can count towards these credits. However if it is just an elective and you aren’t doing any kind of certification take the class you like more which appears to be orchestra.
Do you have any foreign language credits? Do the colleges you’re interested in require language for admission?
More to the point, most high schools have foreign language as a graduation requirement.
Assuming you accurately tagged the colleges in your post, UCLA (and all the UCs) require 2 years of foreign language for admissions. For other top colleges, no foreign language in HS, even if you got credit through exam, would make an application much less competitive.
@skieurope I disagree that most high schools have foreign language as a graduation requirement. Our very good suburban high school, with 85% or more of graduates going on to college, does not require it, and this is the case for other high schools in this area. Of course, it is recommended for more academically oriented students, since many colleges require or strongly recommend it. I do agree that not taking a foreign language in high school makes an application less competitive.
I have never heard of a school that doesn’t require it. But more importantly lots of college do. Most we applied to wanted 3 years at least. I would evaluate the colleges and see what makes you most competitive. They usually list their “minimum”. If you can exceed the minimum in most categories you are usually that more competitive for that college.
Then you would be wrong.
Your single data point does not negate my statement. I am well aware that there are some high schools where FL is not a requirement, but that are a very small minority.
@skieurope Please cite your references which show that the most high schools in the US require a foreign language for graduation. Per ecs.org, very few states’ graduation requirements include a foreign language.
State requirements do not apply to non-public schools in many states. And many states leave the requirements to the districts. But if you just want to look at state requirements, here you go. Keep in mind that the number of states mean nothing without also considering population per state. So California’s requirements more than offsets Alaska’s lack.
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-k-12/reports/2018/04/02/447717/high-school-diplomas/
Have you taken any foreign language? If you have not then I’d probably recommend taking foreign language. I would check the following:
– Many colleges want applicants to have between 2-4 years of foreign language. Look at the HS course requirements/recommendations of colleges you are considering applying to.
–A number of high schools require foreign language to graduate (including our local public HS). Check the graduation requirements of your particular HS and be sure to meet them all.
If you do opt for foreign language you may want to look for another way to continue your instrument at some point (you will likely need to wait for a post-covid world) like playing in a community orchestra, at a church, pit orchestra for a HS show, taking lessons etc…
@skieurope The following link is from the report you cited. California, as well as many other states, do not require foreign language for high school graduation.
Florida doesn’t require FL to graduate from hs, but it is required for Bright Futures so most students at least attempt it. One of my kids did not complete 2 years and she graduated and went to college (an OOS college). I’m not sure of the current requirements, but FL wasn’t required in Wisconsin or Colorado when I graduated, and I still think FL is not required to graduate.
Second data point - our somewhat highly ranked HS does not require FL to graduate .
English 4.0 credits
Social Studies 4.0 credits
Mathematics 4.0 credits
Science* 2.0 credits
STEM** 1.0 credits
Physical Education 2.0 credits
Health 0.5 credits
Arts & Humanities 2.0 credits
Electives 4.5 credits
Total required: 24 credits
I checked the top 5 schools in the annual Western PA high school ratings and not a single one had Foreign Language as a graduation requirement.
I stopped after the top 8 Pennsylvania HS’s in USNews’ ratings and FL was a graduation for two - one being an IB program.
Much as one data point isn’t proof, neither is just saying “you’re wrong”.
OP, if you’re planning on college, and haven’t taken a foreign language yet, I would recommend it as your choice. Many colleges recommend or require two years (some more).
Just 20 Percent of K-12 Students Are Learning a Foreign Language
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/06/21/just-20-percent-of-k-12-students-are.html
“ Foreign language enrollment and investment vary widely from state to state.
New Jersey is one of 11 states where foreign language study is required for students to graduate from high school.“
“ The story is different in Arkansas, where the American Councils of International Education-led study estimated that fewer than 10 percent of students are studying world languages in school.”
Have you taken any foreign language so far?
Many colleges require or expect some foreign language for frosh admission. Where required or expected, level 2 tends to be the minimum, but more selective colleges want to see level 3 or 4.
FL is a bit different where I live - if you have some special academic issues you may be exempt from foreign language in high school but the vast majority do need 2 years. However many colleges ask for and expect at least 3 years. I’m facing that issue for my entering 11th grade. Our school is starting remote and someone somewhere had a bright idea to think they should reduce the number of classes from 7 to 6 a year and they dropped her Spanish 3 honors class.
Schools like MIT will easily have the vast majority of kids with a foreign language. IT is listed on their website https://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool/ as expecting. I don’t know if the will say 4 years of orchestra makes up for no foreign language unless foreign language isn’t offered at your high school. Although MIT says 2 years many top students will have 4 years (or levels).