My problem is that I can’t decide which is more important - Spanish 4 or Physics. Both classes are honors. I currently don’t have any more space in my schedule for my senior year because my high school requires students to take certain classes each year that I honestly feel are useless.
I plan on majoring in science and hopefully going to medical school, so I would think taking physics in highschool is more important since it is also part of the MCAT. At the same time though, I’m not sure if dropping a fourth year of a language is a good idea since i’m probably going to take a physics class in college regardless of whether or not I take it in highschool. Any advice?
I don’t know if this is just particular to my school, but physics is usually highly recommended. Plus, a lot of people that I know didn’t take a fourth year language and are still pretty successful in terms of college admissions.
Spanish 4 is definitely more important. Colleges love to see that you have taken as many years of one language as you could. Spanish will also help you if you plan on working in America because of the high number of Spanish speakers and employers love to see that you know the language.
I took Physics last year and it was the absolute most boring class I have ever taken in my life. It is very easy too. I never studied for any of the test or exams and I always got A’s because it’s basic stuff you learn in elementary and middle school. I would definitely recommend NOT taking this class in high school and wait until you get into college because they go a lot more in depth and it will be much more interesting.
Are you a senior? Most kids at my school only get to 3 years of a FL (and they still go on to successful schools), but obviously 4 is the ideal situation to be in for top schools. However, top schools want to see 3 years of lab science (at least), with one year of biology, chemistry, and physics. If you’re interested in going to medical school/the science field, take the physics. You will most likely have to take a FL in college again as well as Physics (to satisfy MCAT requirements). Is there any way you could get that 4th year online? I would pick the physics over the 4th year of FL.
I’d recommend taking physics, especially if you never have before. Colleges generally want you to have take biology, chemistry, and physics, rather than skipping one of the subjects entirely. Also, taking physics in college after never having taken it in high school can be very rough. College may move at a more challenging pace and/or have more competition than you are used to. It might be easier for you if you have had some exposure to the subject before, rather than taking it for the first time in college. This is especially important because your GPA will be very important when applying to medical schools.
Missing out on a fourth year of Spanish is unfortunate but certainly not uncommon. I’d encourage you to take physics if you’re planning on going into the sciences.
Physics is without a doubt more important (and this is coming from someone that hated physics). There are many colleges that highly recommend and some that require one year each of physics, chem, and bio. It is expected, especially as a STEM applicant. I don’t know why some high schools don’t have it as a graduation requirement; it’s a basic and fundamental science.
Take the SAT II for the foreign language you’ve studied. If you score high enough, this may grant you advanced placement at the college you choose to attend or exempt you from their language requirement, if they have one (which is quite common).
What science classes have you taken?
In your case, I’d go with what guineagirl96 said: take Physics AND the Spanish subject test (not the November one, but either October or December ones).
You’ll need to speak a foreign language spoken by immigrants (in your case, Spanish) for med school, and you’ll need to have a background in Physics for your premed courses (you’ll need 2 physics classes). However the most important science for you would be chemistry, so make sure you have a very strong background in it. (the premed core will require 2 semesters of chemistry, 1 semester of organic chemistry, and 1 semester of biochemistry).