<ol>
<li><p>Take Spanish in HS (spend time, and get good grades for GPA)? Easy option.</p></li>
<li><p>Skip Spanish and take college placement test (saves time, she could take computer science instead of foreign language in the same time slot)? It looks like most colleges accept placement test to fulfill foreign language requirement.</p></li>
<li><p>Skip Spanish and take AP test? (is AP test better than college proficiency test? She is not planning to take AP Spanish in HS). </p></li>
<li><p>Take Spanish in community college? (what for?) </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I would really appreciate your advices. Please, help! Spanish is a heritage language for her, she knows it. </p>
<p>Assuming that you mean for someone with native or heritage knowledge of Spanish…</p>
<p>Colleges do vary.</p>
<p>UCs and CSUs consider the highest level course completed, or an AP or SAT subject test, or a college placement test, to determine meeting foreign language admission and graduation requirements.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus, thanks!</p>
<p>D is planning to take UC (University of California) college placement test to demonstrate proficiency. However, I am getting second thoughts. </p>
<p>IS placement test better for admission? Or better to take Spanish in HS, like everyone else? </p>
<ol>
<li> Take the AP test in the heritage language based on self-study and learn a third language at school to broaden one’s education. This is what many of the top college prep heritage speakers at my kids’ HS do. There’s more to life – even for future STEM majors – than STEM.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>SomeOldGuy,</p>
<p>Why should she learn a third language, if she wants to learn computer science? She would better spend time learning JAVA instead of Latin.</p>
<p>I am not sure that AP test is better than college placement test. What is better for admission? Does anyone know?</p>
<p>Most selective colleges want to see at least two years foreign language, even for heritage speakers.</p>
<p>The other question to consider is what level the heritage speaker is at.</p>
<p>Some heritage speakers may not actually be that strong in the language (particularly in reading and writing), so they may actually benefit from classes (though they may be placed in a higher level than level 1 to start in). Some high schools and colleges do offer special versions of the language courses for heritage speakers.</p>
<p>But a student who is proficient in all aspects of the language beyond the high school or AP level should just take the AP test or other accepted placement test and be done with the language in high school. If additional language courses are a concern or are desired, then the student can take more advanced college courses if suitable ones are available at a nearby college, or start a new language in high school.</p>
<ol>
<li>Take the SAT II Subject test</li>
</ol>
<p>Someoldguy said:
5. Take the AP test in the heritage language based on self-study and learn a third language at school to broaden one’s education. This is what many of the top college prep heritage speakers at my kids’ HS do. There’s more to life – even for future STEM majors – than STEM.</p>
<p>Californiaaa said:
Why should she learn a third language, if she wants to learn computer science? She would better spend time learning JAVA instead of Latin.</p>
<p>Californiaaa, don’t you think your daughter might, at some time in the future, find another language useful?</p>
<p>Beyond college applications, beyond college?</p>
<p>romanigypsyeyes and eastcoascrazy,</p>
<p>Honestly, If my D. would like to learn a third language, she would go for a Native American language of her ancestors. Actually, she knows this language already, at the elementary level. If she would need a third language for college application, she may mention it. She is not planning to learn another foreign language in HS. </p>
<p>Certainly, her Spanish is not perfect. However, it is more than enough for AP, SAT2, or a college placement test.</p>
<p>What would be better for <em>admission</em>, …HS classes, AP, SAT2, or college placement test?</p>
<p>If she is beyond the level that high school classes would teach (in all areas of speaking, listening, reading, and writing), there is no real point in taking any high school classes in Spanish. Just take the AP or other tests showing that proficiency.</p>
<p>If she feels that she must have some language course work on the transcript to show to colleges and does not want to start a new language in high school, she can take the highest level of Spanish offered in high school, or an appropriate level Spanish course at a nearby college and be done with it in one year or semester.</p>
<p>Nothing is going to help for admissions. If your question is “Which will show colleges on her application that she is proficient without actually having coursework on her transcript” take the SAT II. If she also wants to get some college credit, take the AP test.</p>
<p>There is more to Spanish than grammar. If she’s interested, there are a variety of film, literature, culture, and conversation options at the local college. If she’s dead-set against studying Spanish and you support that decision, she can take computer science.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus - Thank you very much!</p>
<p>“she can take the highest level of Spanish offered in high school” - unfortunately, it is not an option. Our HS doesn’t want to bend the schedule. It is “all classes that other kids take, starting with Spanish 1” or nothing. </p>
<p>"or an appropriate level Spanish course at a nearby college and be done with it in one year or semester. "</p>
<p>What is better: Take a class at the local UC (possible, although not simple, logistically) or take a placement test at the local UC (very easy in terms of logistics)? </p>
<p>Another issue: HS school won’t add any classes to the HS diploma if they are from any other venue. Classes at the community college, local UC, online classes, summer schools - nothing would be reflected on the HS diploma. </p>
<p>“There is more to Spanish than grammar. If she’s interested, there are a variety of film, literature, culture, and conversation options at the local college.” - she is planning to do it in college. </p>
<p>@romanigypsyeyes
"Most selective colleges want to see at least two years foreign language, even for heritage speakers. "</p>
<p>So, HS is a must? </p>
<p>Find out what are the expectations of the colleges she may apply to for bilingual students. You may want to contact admissions offices to ask about this, if it’s not clear from the websites. </p>
<p>It would be a complete waste of her time to enroll in Spanish 1 if she is already reasonably fluent. Hard to believe that a school in California doesn’t have some kind of Spanish class for native or heritage speakers. Perhaps you can talk to the head of the Spanish department, and/or the AP Spanish teacher. Better yet, have her talk to them in Spanish.</p>
<p>If she is stuck taking 2 years of a language, what about French or Italian (if they have that)? These should be very easy for her and might come in useful later in life. She could also take the Spanish AP and/or SAT2 to demonstrate competence.</p>
<p>The only people that can answer if it’s a “must” are the schools SHE wants to apply to. </p>
<p>I honestly don’t remember seeing any schools that didn’t at least strongly recommend 2+ years of a foreign language. </p>