<p>I am a rising senior at a middle college high school. I took AP Spanish test my sophomore year and received a 5. I am currently taking Sign Language 101 at my local community college and want to take a different language in the fall semester. My reason for taking a different language is simply that I've always liked learning new languages and being exposed to new cultures. In fact, I am considering a major in international relations. I was told that perhaps taking so many different languages would look bad on my college transcript because it does not show "commitment." Is this true? </p>
<p>No. You scored a 5 on AP Spanish. Anything else is just icing on the cake. Good job!!</p>
<p>I agree. But what is a middle college HS?</p>
<p>snickers…Do you have at least 2 years of any one foreign language? Different schools have different requirements, but there are some that require 2 years of the same language in their foreign language requirement. If you know at least some of the schools you might be applying to, I’d recommend checking their specific application requirements just to be sure.</p>
<p>It is best if you learn any language to a reasonable level, not just high school level 1. You probably want at least one of the following in each language to show depth:</p>
<ul>
<li>high school year 3 (4 or higher is better)</li>
<li>college semester 2 (3 or higher is better)</li>
<li>AP score of 3 (higher is better)</li>
</ul>
<p>What does not look good is taking three of four high school year 1 language courses. But check each college’s requirements and recommendations to be sure.</p>
<p>Whoa whoa – read the OP’s post. He/She already demonstrated 4th year and beyond proficiency long ago as a sophomore. That alone, meets any college’s requirement for foreign language.</p>
<p>I strongly disagree with those who cite the sampling of other languages (even just taking 1 year) as anything BAD whatsoever. It’s patently clear that this subject has a desire to learn languages. If, combined with an otherwise excellent transcript, this applicant’s record will be rightly seen as very strong, very focused – and ultimately, very desirable.</p>
<p>OP those who told you: “I was told that perhaps taking so many different languages would look bad on my college transcript because it does not show “commitment.” Is this true?” are nuts, in my opinion.</p>
<p>In the OP’s case, not it does not look bad. If you took a typical HS student and said take a different language each year for 3 or 4 years, yes, it would look bad. The goal is to show some commitment and/or mastery of a language.</p>
<p>The OP has done that so taking a few different ones could be useful. Of course, if the OP grew up speaking English and Spanish, some schools may view that as not really meeting the expectation of commitment. </p>
<p>^Exactly our point. I didn’t read anything extra into the OP’s original post, so taking the AP Spanish test doesn’t necessarily mean they ever took a Spanish class. For all we know…they could be a native speaker. Many colleges require 2 years of HS foreign language class…and they may or may not simply substitute an AP score for that requirement. Hence the suggestion that the OP check with the specific school.</p>
<p>^actually, college admissions don’t require the class, they require the level, but it cannot be in a native language (the most selective colleges are iffy on it being a heritage language but it typically flies.) Colleges WILL honor the AP 5 for the college’s language requirement both for admission and for graduation.</p>
<p>However, if OP is applying to a selective colleges and hoping to study international relations (so, probably Tuft, American, GWU…): take Spanish at one level higher than AP (300 level, Intro to literature&culture, for example) and take college-level language 1 and 2 senior year as this covers roughly 3-4 years of high school foreign language, and take the SAT Subject in January (practice to see if you can score 600+, as 600+ after one semester of language classes would be very impressive, even if you took it as a college, thus accelerated, class.)
I would suggest French or Italian, since you wouldn’t have to learn an entirely new linguistic structure and you’ll progress fastest.
Proficiency in two foreign languages (650+ in two foreign languages or, better, 2 AP’s in two different foreign languages) is considered in the same way as doubling up in science and math (ie., having BC + Physics C + another AP science) and is quite rare.
Dabbling in languages (2 years of one, 1 year of another one) is seen as a way to avoid academic commitment, as Torveaux said.</p>
<p>OP: are you involved with a group, club, or association where you can use sign language? Because that’d make “sense” if you did use it, it’d show consistence and commitment. It’d add depth to your profile.</p>