<p>Okay so my choice is between Spanish and Latin.</p>
<p>Spanish:</p>
<p>Pros-
-The only language I actually want to learn
-A language that is highly useful in the USA
-I already am familiar with it from HS ( but I did not do well at all in HS with it)</p>
<p>Cons-
-For this specific foreign language 95% and below is an A- =3.7 which I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE afford on my transcript since I have to apply a specific college within the university my second year.</p>
<p>Latin:
Pros:
-Have a small amount of interest in this
- 93%= 4.0 </p>
<p>Cons:
-I do not have a background in this language</p>
<p>Should I risk aiming for a 96% or should I risk a new language and only need a 93%?</p>
<p>I really think you should go with Spanish. You already know it, so you have that background to go off of. It will probably be easier to get a 96 in that than a 93 in a new language. Plus, I’ve heard Latin is kind of tough to learn. Also, if you’re not interested in Latin, you might not do so well either for that reason. Spanish is more useful, too, as you mentioned. I think you’d be happier in the long run with Spanish.</p>
<p>What internal division / major is so selective that a single A- (with the rest of the grades A or A+) will prevent you from getting admitted to that division / major as a student already enrolled at the school?</p>
<p>^ Not true. I found Spanish incredibly easy in college after struggling in high school. </p>
<p>Anyway, go with Spanish. Latin is kind of out there and it takes a while to get used to it. I’d say it’s wayyyy easier to get a 95 in Spanish than 93 in Latin.</p>
<p>^^ The problem is it’s hard to get a 96 in any college class (off topic, but why I’m glad my school doesn’t do the barbaric +/- grading system). Even in some of my simple gen eds a long time ago… There’s always exam questions you won’t know the perfect answer to.</p>
<p>If it’s beginner’s spanish vs beginner’s latin…the difficulty is probably about the same. Thus go with the one that has the lower threshold.</p>
<p>Go with Spanish. Don’t take a language you’re less interested in just because it’s easier. Interest is one of the biggest components to learning a language well.</p>
<p>AUKid understands why I am torn. Okay maybe I exaggerated a little I just want a 4.0 my 1st 2 years.</p>
<p>That means every assignment I basically have to get 100%.</p>
<p>I hate how the + , - factors into your GPA.</p>
<p>And 95 is not safe lol I need a 96. So over the course of the semester I can only miss no more than 4%, which can be easy in 101 but I have to do this until 202…</p>
<p>But then if I get an A- in Latin it defeats the whole purpose. </p>
<p>Thanks for the advice all, I will consult my parents.</p>
<p>I’d still do latin then if for nothing else it’s much less common place than saying you can speak spanish (“yeah so can everyone standing in front of Home Depot at 5 AM”). Never know…might be a good ice breaker for picking up chicks (or dudes…)</p>
<p>If you’re really set on spanish and going for a 96…if the 96 doesn’t happen you can play GPA defense by padding it with throwaway classes that are insanely easy…like Algebra I remedial or something.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about a 4.0 though. When you get past 3.7 no employer cares if it’s a 3.7 or a 4.0. They’re smart enough to realize getting a 4.0 often comes down to luck of the draw (and being smart).</p>
<p>Of the three… I’d rank usefulness: Spanish, French, Latin.</p>
<p>For vocabulary, French ranks highest in English usefulness, mainly because French makes up the most English of any other language (with German being the second I believe).</p>
<p>Anyways, since you want to take Spanish, take it. If you’re worried about a 3.7… if you have a 4.0 over 19 courses and a 3.7 over 1 course (suggesting that this is two years of typical study), your GPA would be a 3.985… not really that huge of a difference.</p>
<p>If you’re so worried about your GPA you might be better off not even taking a language. College language courses tend to be more intense than what’s typically encountered in high schools. Even learning a commonly pursued language (at least by Americans…) can be a tricky feat in a postsecondary setting.</p>
<p>All of my children (except the dyslexic one who is language exempt) have studied or are currently studying Latin. I refused to permit them to take Spanish. If they want to, they can study it on their own dime and time.</p>
<p>Our district begins language in 6th grade. Latin, more than any other language, involves learning the history and culture of ancient Rome and, to a lesser degree, Greece, so there is an added benefit of learning those topics in more depth. This appealed to my kids, who enjoy history. The other languages offered promise that a student can order from a menu at the end of the course - they do not teach Spanish or French history and culture. Granted, my kids might only be able to order lunch at the Vatican when they’re done, but… knowledge of Latin can also help them in those French and Spanish restaurants.</p>
<p>Another real benefit is in the acquisition of vocabulary through study of Latin. Even the word “vocabulary” derives from the Latin. English teachers in our HS say that they can always tell the Latin students by their use of language in their papers. I know that my kids have extensive vocabularies and that not all of their ability is attributable to the fact that my husband and I have always spoken with them at the highest level (LOL!).</p>
<p>As a final note, there are no oral tests in Latin as it’s not a conversational language (another word that derives from Latin) and pronunciation, except for a few rules, is not an issue.</p>
<p>If you were my child, you’d take Latin and you’d like it!</p>
<p>Take it from someone who’s dealt with Latin for 5 years, its hard and not at all relevant. I’d definitely suggest you take Spanish because you’ll actually learn to speak it.</p>
<p>Joan, that’s just mean. Let your kids make your own decisions. Sheesh! I have studied history for years just fine without Latin. Plus, Spanish is a very old language and you can study history with Spanish as well.</p>