Hi, I’m currently enrolled in Spanish 4 and Russian 2 going into my junior year. I was just wondering if colleges will find this more attractive on my application. By my senior year, I’ll be in AP Spanish and AP Russian, plus in both language’s honors societies. I really enjoy language learning, so it isn’t all that important if it helps, but it certainly would be nice if colleges viewed me as superior to a similar student because of this doubling. Thanks in advance!
It certainly is nice that you’re taking two vastly different languages in high school, but I doubt it would help you that much, certainly not to the level of colleges viewing you as ‘superior’ to a similar student.
You only need one language for admission and it’s a waste of HS courses to take more. You’d be better off taking a wider variety of other courses in HS and saving the second language until you get to college.
You just aren’t going to get very far and will end up in 1st year again, anyway.
well too late now for that @JustOneDad but thanks anyways
Nope, learning languages is great, but no different than learning one language and, say, music. Or environmental science. It’s just another academic interest.
To stand out, you would need to do something with those languages.
I’m going to go on a limb and completely disagree with justonedad on this one. Taking another language is a great thing and it is much easier learning something when you are younger when it is scientifically proven better for retention than when you are older and trying to fit everything in a few semesters of college. The foundation is important and I think it will help you taking it earlier on and lay a better groundwork for it should you decide to pursue it in college. Most colleges have some sort of placement system so that you won’t have to start at the elementary level if you end up taking the language there. In terms of admissions, I don’t think it will be a tremendous boost, but it does show your interests and your willingness to pursue them. Russian is not that common of a language to learn, so I think it would be impressive if you become proficient in it
OP I also think it is interesting especially since the two languages are so dissimilar. If you make it to AP level for both it is impressive.
I actually regret that S has to “waste” time at college starting French, which was not offered in his HS (he did Spanish). Now he has to make up for lost time while he could be taking Multi-whatever Math or, say, a seminar on Rembrandt, instead of basic vocab. I feel like it is better to get the introductory stuff over and done with, the sooner the better.
Just be sure that you do not neglect your other core subjects. It WOULD be a detriment if you choose to skip math or science in favor of a second language (am assuming your school makes you take English and social studies).
You are not going to gain Russian proficiency in HS. If you want to become a linguist, save it for college.
Compared to the benefits of taking other classes, there is little to no “boost” gained with starting the language in HS. If you really want to do that, I’d suggest taking the language from a native speaking tutor, but outside of your HS courses.
Well, I have to disagree. Assuming that the second foreign language is not being studied at the expense of another core subject, the 2nd FL class is certainly no better/worse than any other elective. Also OP is a junior going into Russian 2, assuming that as a senior s/he would take Russian 3. That should get him/her placed further than 1st semester in college.
Having said that, no, taking 2 foreign languages in HS will not be viewed as “superior.”
My statement is based on the assumption that the second foreign language IS being studied at the expense of something else. If you will note, I allowed for taking it outside of the regular coursework, if that was possible. As you seem to agree, there is no value in the second language for admissions purposes.
My observations on Russian placement are based on years of watching HS students with 3 and even 4 years of HS Russian being unable to make it in 2nd year and getting knocked back down to 1st.
Completely agree with @skieurope. I’d hardly call it a waste. I took 2 languages throughout high school with several friends taking 3. Some of them dropped one or all in college, others picked up even more in college and even more in grad school (one of my friends - who is doing his PhD in Classics at Harvard - is currently up to 9 foreign languages with some degree of proficiency: spanish, french, german, italian, latin, greek, hieroglyphics, aramaic, and sanskrit)
If the languages fit in with your goals/interests then they are absolutely not a waste but like @N’s mom said, it’s not going to make you look superior to other students who are only doing one language.
I’d say that if you enjoy studying foreign languages and you do well in the class then it is a positive to take the two languages as long as the second one is taken an elective and not at the expense of a core course. IMO it is never a waste of time to take a class you enjoy and learn something in.
Will colleges like that you have two foreign languages? I guess they will - it tells them something about your interest and aptitudes and it shows achievement in an additional academic course. But taking a second language won’t get you into a college you otherwise wouldn’t qualify for.
My bottom line would be if you enjoy the second language and do well in it, by all means take it. But don’t do it just to get a bump in the college admissions process.
Question for the OP: do you also have the usual college-prep high school curriculum (4 years English, math to precalculus or calculus if available to you, 3 or preferably 4 years of history and social studies, science including all three of biology, chemistry, and physics, visual and performing art)?
If so, meaning that the second foreign language did not displace any of the usual expected college-prep courses, then it is perfectly fine to take it as academic electives beyond the usual expected curriculum. But if not, meaning that you are deficient in some of the college-prep high school curriculum, it may be disadvantageous when applying to more selective colleges, and you may find problems in your preparation to attend any college.
I’m assuming that it may help you if you are applying as a linguist major or something along those lines.
Are 4 years of history and sociology now required? When I was a high schooler in 01-05 I definitely only took 2.5 years of history (1 year of non ap world, 1 year of non-ap us, 1 semester of Middle East history). Sociology sounds very broad but I would say I took only 1 semester that fit into that (my religion requirement which was somehow satisfied by a class caled “homer and Tolstoy”). My high school is an elite private ivy feeder though so it’s possible that our school was somehow exempt from these traditional requirements but more likely the requirements have changed in 10 years but I definitely didn’t realize that.
@ucbalumnus Yes, I guess my school is a college-prep styled curriculum. And you are also correct in saying that I am not missing any essentials. I am taking this Russian course instead of having another elective or study hall.
I would only take the two languages in high school if you really have a passion for it. There is an opportunity cost - the other electives you will not be taking. Also, languages take a fair amount of time, so it may interfere with ECs. If you can knock out a few required courses in summer school, it could be a lot more doable. Best of luck!
I am going to weigh in with the majority so far but try to crystallize the slant a bit. In other words, since you have not sacrificed any required courses i, and since you appear to have a passion for languages i, there is no reason not to follow the path you are on. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with asking the question about how it might or might not affect your college application, I would just emphasize not to look at this through that particular prism. Take what you love to learn, that is why they are called electives. FWIW, I think it won’t affect it any more or less than if you had picked another elective such as painting or computer programming, no matter what major you tell them you might pursue.
Do the same in college to the extent you can. Leave yourself open, though, to trying totally new things, like glassblowing or Italian Medieval history. Whatever catches your eye for whatever reason. Unfortunately, for most of us there just isn’t much of a chance to be that whimsical once “real life” starts.
I totally agree with @fallenchemist. Also as an example, my son’s high school offers Russian. the 8 or so kids who made it to AP Russian senior year are quite impressive in their Russian proficiency. I actually studied Russian in college and these kids would easily place into 2nd or 3rd year college Russian. But perhaps not all high school Russian programs are as good as the one to which I am referring.
And, perhaps not all college Russian programs are equally rigorous.