So I’m currently wrapping up my junior year and mulling over how to finish off high school in a way that is beneficial to both my apps and my interests. I’ve already made up my mind that I won’t be taking a science because I’ve already completed Honors Bio, Honors Chem, and AP Physics 1, and science isn’t my thing. To compensate I’ll be taking a second history course, AP Psych in addition to AP Econ. The question is whether to also give up a 4th year of language (Spanish 5AP) in favor of a third history class, AP Euro or AP World depending on Schedule logistics. I know that I would enjoy this more, the question is how it would affect my apps: I know selective schools (which is where I’ll be applying) really seem to want 4 years of a language, and I’m already forgoing a major subject area by leaving out science. No matter what decision I make I’ll have 5 AP’s, so only the subjects really change. Another thing to keep in mind is that Spanish 5 in my school is sort of whack, which is a large part of why my interest has faded. They combine them with the Spanish 4 juniors b/c there aren’t enough of them for their own class. So the class basically amounts to self studying for the AP exam, something I don’t think is ideal for learning a new language. Maybe if I could convey the circumstances on my applications, colleges would not scrutinize the decision to take a different class? But how would I even do that? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Neither Psych nor Econ are history courses.
True, but they are social studies, which I think is what the OP was referencing.
Anyway, the OP really answered his/her own question.
There you go.
If your target colleges are recommending 4 years, there is, in my mind, no way you can explain how your desires supersede the colleges’ suggestions.
No college expects a student to specialise in HS - that’s what graduate school is for. If applicants just did as they pleased, don’t who think that almost every applicant to MIT would just take STEM classes and forget the rest?
So no, I don’t think it’s a good idea to triple up at the expense of another core subject.
Looks like the OP will finish Spanish 4 but wants to take other social studies instead of Spanish 5?
Yup, I read too quickly. In that case, s/he’s fine doubling up at the expense of Spanish, but if any of his/her targets request 4 years of science, then I would not triple up in lieu of science.
What kind of selective schools are you applying and what would be your possible major(s)? I’m not a big fan of loading up on APs, but you’re going to have keep Spanish AP, if you’re aiming for the highly selective colleges. Most applicants will have four years of math, science, language, literature/comp, social studies, regardless of major. This assumes the hs offers four years of everything, and it looks like yours does. And non-stem majors will have four years of math and science. I would drop AP Psych for Spanish, add a science, it doesn’t have to be honors or AP, but you need one. As ski says, three history classes in one year is too much specialization.
No s/he won’t. As the OP originally mentioned, (and I missed the first time), AP Spanish at his/her HS is 5th year.
Here’s to clarify everyone’s questions/ concerns: I have taken 3 Spanish classes, having started at Spanish 2 (my district counts our 3 years of Middle school Spanish as Spanish 1). Majors I’m interested in are Film Production, English, History, Econ, and computer science a little bit. The top two choices at the moment are USC and BU, neither of which specify a strict 4 years of foreign language or science, instead saying “at least 2” or “2-4”. But I still need to visit many places & will likely end up applying to schools that DO recommend 4 years of either. For science I want to emphasize that due to being placed ahead after middle school, I have already completed Bio, Chem and Physics, which is what most schools seem to indicate is what they’re really looking for an applicant to have finished. There’s no AP Enviro at my school, so my options are Physics 2 AP/ Chem 2 AP/ Bio 2 AP (which I will not even entertain taking) or Anatomy H which really just seems irrelevant to my interests.
Maybe it would help to see the whole 12th grade schedule w/o tripling up:
8 slots:
Math- AP Comp Sci Principles ( I’ve already done a non AP Calc course, roughly = calc AB)
Eng- AP Lit and Comp
Social Science- AP Macroeconomics
Social Science-AP Psych
Language- AP Spanish 5
Science- None
Elective- Broadcasting full year (have taken this every year and is main source of film interest)
Elective- Semester U.S. 1945 to Present culture history, Semester Film Appreciation
Elective- Semester study hall, semester business
Just to clarify my earlier point, achieving level 4 in a foreign language will satisfy the 4 year requirement for 99.99% of US colleges. Someone may come up with a case where this does not apply, but the only exception that I have ever found to the level achieved versus years in HS is University of Delaware (which no longer lists it on the website, and only required 2 years anyway) and some small college in the midwest. When I was going through the process a few years ago, I specifically asked this question of all the colleges I was considering (admittedly, still a small subset) and they all said it’s the level completed that matters. So really, the only question is science.
For those schools, you are fine as is. If one of your targets specifically says 4, then you should reevaluate. If they simply say 2-4 or 3-4, you’re covered and the additional year will not improve your application much, if at all.
I would be surprised if there were many highly-selective colleges that would consider AP comp sci principles to be a math course. What other choices do you have for math?
Ski- Thank you, that was actually very helpful. I had always assumed it was the actual number of years that mattered. Could you let me know the schools you reached out to for clarification when you were going through the process? And also, how did you go about doing that (email or asking in person if/when you visited)? I would like to do the same for the schools I want to apply to. Also, how do I quote what someone has previously posted?
Evergreen5- Other options are AP Comp Sci A, AP Stat, and AP Calc BC. My school lists all of these as math. I have assumed (and I would hope) a selective college would not look down upon a Computer Science course, especially seeing that I’m already through a Calc course. Comp Sci seems much more applicable to areas I would pursue than another calculus course or even Stat. Do you have any info or experience that might suggest otherwise?
I do not know much about AP Psych, but in college Intro Psych (the likely AP Psych equivalent) can be taught as a Social Science (Social Studies) or as a Natural Science (Science class). What is AP Psych’s approach? It could change whether it is perceived as a science or social studies class.
Yikes- It is taught and perceived as a social studies class
My D just finished AP Psych and it was very science oriented. They did a ton of work on the structure and functioning of the brain. I took a lot of psych classes in college and it was much more behavior based.
In a high school context, psychology is usually seen as a social studies course.
In a high school context, computer science may or may not be seen as a math course.
Also, at the admissions talk at Columbia they are very specific that they want four YEARS of each core subject. The AO repeated it three times. Four levels, like for a language, doesn’t cut it. Each school has its own preferences, though, so I would check each one you are interested in.
If it is that important, Columbia should change its web site to match:
http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/ask/faq/question/2407
You’re going for history or English or film studies, so your core classes should be AP English literature, AP euro/world, and AP foreign language. Now, you don’t have to take AP Spanish, but taking AP psych (an AP lite) won’t make up for it, especially since you’re not taking a math nor a science class.
AP CS principles will ONLY be counted as a math if your GC has it written down as such in the school profile, so check. Otherwise colleges count it as an elective. I agree CSP is applicable to your choice of major so are sure to articulate this in ‘additional information’ after checking your GC /school profile lists it as a math.
If they don’t list it as math, see if you can take it as an elective and take regular statistics for math.
You’re fine science wise since you have all three of bio, chem, and physics and intend to major in arts&humanities. So doubling up would be fine and the double up should be either Gov/econ or psych (because for a future humanities major, especially history, ap euro or world would be as important as calculus from a stem major).
Note that US 1945-to Present would also count as a history class, so you wouldn’t be tripling up, you’d be quadrupling, which is a weeee bit much. 
AP Macro would likely be a half-year course (unless your school stretches it, or you mean macro/micro).
8 slots:
Math- AP Comp Sci Principles or, if not listed as “Math” on school profile, Statistics or AP Stats
Eng- AP Lit and Comp
Social Science- AP Macroeconomics
Social Science-AP Euro or World
Language- AP Spanish 5
Science- None
Elective- Broadcasting full year (have taken this every year and is main source of film interest)
Elective- Semester U.S. 1945 to Present culture history, Semester Film Appreciation
Elective- Semester study hall, semester business => could be used for AP Psych or AP CS Principles if you can’t take it for math. However with such a strong schedule, 2 semesters of study hall would be very healthy.
I doubt the perception would change. I have yet to see a case where the psychology course in a HS is housed anywhere but the Social Studies department. Regardless, when a college is looking at biological/natural sciences, they are usually (but not exclusively) looking at a lab course e.g. bio/chem/physics). Yes, I know psych can have labs, as well.
Without getting into specifics, they were mostly universities in the Northeast - Ivy League schools and their peers. I asked during college fairs or visits to the universities. There is also an entire thread on this topic:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1802227-faq-foreign-language.html#latest