Senior currently taking 6 AP classes (Lit, chemistry, calculus BC, stats, physics II, Spanish). I will be applying to top schools including the ivy league. I have completed up to Spanish V, but am not enjoying AP Spanish. If I drop the class I would be able to take an advanced robotics course which is pertinent to my potential major (some form of engineering or computer science). Would 5 AP classes be a sufficient senior course load? Would not taking 4 years of Spanish significantly lower my chances of getting into prestigious schools? Should I just tough it out and take the class? My time is always taken up by sports and preparing for applications and this class certainly takes up a lot of time too. Would it be worth it in the end to potentially score a 5, even though I’m not necessarily that confident in my Spanish abilities?
you’d have to check the individual college to see what the foreign language requirements are, if the recommend 4, you may have to stick with spanish, if they recommend 3, you’re probably ok. Five AP classes are more than enough, esp the ones you’re taking. There are classes you’ll have to take in college that are not enjoyable, I’d probably drop stats which isn’t considered as rigorous as a f/l AP. STEM applicants to the ivies don’t enjoy AP Lit, and non-STEM applicants don’t enjoy Calculus, but they take them, and that’s your competition.
I think it is probably fine to drop Spanish for a class you will enjoy more. But first I would check the following:
– You can look at any college’s common data set (google “XYZ college common data set”) and check section C to see how many years of foreign language the colleges you plan to apply to look for. I haven’t seen any college ask for more than four years (which means achieving level 4) of a foreign language so you should be in good shape.
– You may want to see if colleges you are considering have a foreign language requirement that can be satisfied with AP credit. If that is the case you can decide if you would prefer to take Spanish in HS (and hope to get the AP credit) or college.
– Top colleges want to see that your guidance counselor has checked the box in his/her recommendation saying you have taken the most rigorous schedule available at your HS. (That does not mean you need to take every AP offered.) But I would check with your guidance counselor and ask if he/she will still mark that most rigorous box if you switch from AP Spanish to robotics. 5 APs may well put your schedule in that category, but I would ask before making any schedule change.