Not sure if this is the right section for this- feel free to move if it isn’t.
So I was going to take Spanish 2 online this year as a junior, but the head of foreign language is saying that it won’t prepare me for Spanish 3 in the high school. She said it would be fine if I don’t plan to continue in Spanish. How critical is it to have 3 years of a foreign language? My guidance counselor says it’s up to me. She also said that since I am on an IEP, colleges typically give a bit more leeway on a language if the rest of the application is good. The colleges I have on my early list so far don’t seem to need a third year of language, but I haven’t finalized my list and don’t know all the colleges I will apply to yet. I don’t want to close off any options for college. I am not planning on applying to Ivy’s or any schools with single digit acceptance rates.
If the school requests a third (or fourth) year of a language,then that’s what you should aim for. If none of your target schools request 3 years,then it does not matter.
That said, why not just take the course at the HS, then you at least have another year of researching colleges before making a decision about Spanish 3.
Don’t use IEP as an escape hatch, particularly if the college has a FL requirement for graduation. While policies vary by college, many (if not most) colleges will not provide exemptions (at least without first trying and not succeeding) from the requirement as part of its accommodations.
Agree with the above. If any colleges you apply to require or even recommend a third year of Spanish and you don’t have it then your application will be at a disadvantage. If all of the colleges you plan to apply to only ask for two years of foreign language then you are fine. I suggest you look up the common data set of any college you are considering applying to (google “common data set XYZ University”) and look at section C to see what their required/recommended list of HS courses looks like for each school.
Having an IEP does not in and of itself mean that you are not expected to meet the required/recommended HS coursework for a college. There are many different reasons a person will have an IEP. Does your IEP specifically exempt you from foreign language due to a specific learning disability?
@happy1 No it doesn’t. I have already taken a year and done well, and I think I will try to take it in school this year if I can change my schedule. Thank you for the advice!
@skieurope I think I will try to take it this year and next in school if my schedule permits. Thank you for your input!