<p>I'm a rising senior with a 4.5 weighted GPA, a 30 ACT (though I'm retaking later this year), and a ton of extracurriculars, and I'm currently facing a problem choosing courses for my senior year. For a long time it's been my intention to take the most intense courseload offered at my school (I go to a smaller private school, so sadly, it's not that intense). </p>
<p>I wanted to take,
AP Physics C
AP Calc BC
AP Eng Lit
American Gov / Economics (Two, one semester courses)
Philosophy
Spanish IV
Senior Thesis. </p>
<p>But, as it turns out, the small school deal is treating me poorly, and I'm forced to decide between Senior Thesis and Spanish IV. So here's my question, which one do you guys think would be better to take, Senior Thesis (it's a 25 page paper defended in front of a board of teachers/administrators), or Spanish IV? Personally, I'd prefer Senior thesis-- as the spanish class at my school isn't as interesting and I've already begun my thesis, but my counselor suggests finishing out with the final year of Spanish. I'm trying to apply to MIT, Duke (engineering), and Georgia Tech, so I obviously need the best courseload I can get. Thanks. :D</p>
<p>For the very selective colleges on your list you would want to complete the equivalent of 4 years of a single foreign language. That’s what most top colleges recommend.</p>
<p>That’s what I feared. I’m going to talk to the dean of students tomorrow to see what I can do to get into a spanish IV class as well as thesis (I hate having to give up the work I’ve started…). Now, what if I were somehow able to take an online course like AP Statistics or Ap Env Sci, as well as thesis instead of spanish? The conflict is that they won’t let me take thesis as an elective, so I have to take it during language period. Which, luckily enough, gives me a free elective period :D.</p>
<p>Well, you have to ask yourself how committed you are to winning acceptance to MIT and Duke (and if you would be just as happy at Georgia Tech). Top colleges plainly state they “recommend” (as in–require) four years of a single language. AP Stats and AP Enviro are not seen as the most rigorous APs. So, you can chance taking one of those, but it may be risky. (And it is always a gamble, even with higher scores than yours.)</p>
<p>You make a good point, fauve. Thanks for all the advice (fogcity as well!), I shall definitely see what I can do as far as my fourth year of Spanish goes-- I’m rather upset to leave my Spanish class anyhow (despite however easy it may be…). I appreciate it!</p>
<p>The issue is not one of course rigor; it’s one of meeting colleges’ “recommended” requirements. You should prioritize Spanish, as many applicants to top schools will be in an AP language by their senior senior. But the thesis does sound very cool, and I’d fight to get it worked into your schedule.</p>
<p>can you do the senior thesis in lieu of philosophy? Then you could keep Spanish 4 in your schedule.</p>
<p>Many colleges require 2 years of a language to graduate (the equivalent of four years of high school study). Although they don’t all demand 4 years of hs study as an admission requirement, they simply make those with inadequate language preparation take the equivalent college class. It’s not the best use of resources, IMO, to spend Duke or MIT tuition taking a class you could just as well take in high school.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help and opinions, Guys. </p>
<p>I talked to the admins today, and they said they’re going to try to make an exception. So I should now be able to stick with Spanish IV and Thesis. :D. Thanks for the replies!</p>