<p>I'm having some trouble with Latin 1, and I'm considering not taking it next year. However, I realize that many colleges require 2 years of a foreign language. Is there a way that I could apply and possibly get in anyway if I don't take 2 years?</p>
<p>Many colleges strongly recommend 3 or 4 years of foreign language.</p>
<p>What kinds of colleges do you have in mind? If you’re thinking of highly selective colleges and universities (e.g., Ivies, Northwestern, Berkeley, Virginia, Amherst, Swarthmore, Oberlin), having only one year of foreign language will be a huge barrier to admission. On the other hand, if you plan to apply to colleges that aren’t so selective, it may be less of a problem. Your guidance counselor at school can probably give you informed advice about what kind of college options you’d have with only one year of Latin.</p>
<p>This is probably an even dumber comment, but I’d also check high-school graduation requirements moreso, as well as requirements at your state flagship. In Texas, at least, two years of the same language are required, even for the minimum graduation plan, and at Indiana University (yes, I know they are not the same state, but simply what I am thinking of atm), two years of a world language is required.</p>
<p>If you’re a freshman or a sophomore, (but perhaps moreso a freshman), look into pursuing another language instead of Latin. Is the trouble you’re having based on the language-- or is it the teacher/curriculumn-- and will that change next year?</p>
<p>Lots of four year schools require at least level 2 of high school foreign language; some require at least level 3. Many recommend at least level 4. Native or heritage ability in another language that is proven somehow (e.g. by standardized test in the language) may be accepted by some schools.</p>
<p>Some colleges and universities do not require foreign languages for admission. Some school districts do not require them for high school graduation. However, many do. Go see your guidance counselor, and find out what graduation requirements you have to meet.</p>
<p>Latin is challenging because the grammar is very different from English, and it is not normally taught as a spoken language. You might find studying a spoken language to be easier.</p>
<p>You definitely need to see your guidance counselor and you should also try to get some idea of the types of colleges and programs you might be heading into. High schools vary in their graduation requirements, and not only do colleges vary in their entry requirements for languages, some have different requirements depending on your intended major. My son’s high school has a stated requirement of 3 years for language, and you can include a year in middle school. However, if you ask the right questions, it turns out that as long as you take one year (even in middle school) and pass the very basic proficiency exam, you can skip the rest by taking one of 3 defined “clusters” of 5 credits. This is 10 semester classes in family & consumer science or art/music or technology. As for colleges, my son was accepted into the University at Buffalo eletrical engineering program on early decision. UB “recommends” 3 years of language but the degree to which they actually care about it seems to depend on your intended major. They do, however, require every student EXCEPT engineering majors to take a year of foreign language while at university. Bottom line, you need to ask questions and also research colleges.</p>
<p>In my school district, they don’t require us to take a language, it’s just considered an “arts and humanities” credit, which I had done my freshman year (I should have mentioned that I’m a junior, I apologize.). Since I’m a junior, I don’t really have a way to turn back. I’ve mostly been looking into Slippery Rock University since I need to stay close to home. </p>
<p>I also think my problem is that I have to go to the intermediate school to take Latin (we have a 9-10 school, which is the intermediate, and the senior high is 11-12) and since I’m not allowed to leave class early, I’m like 10-15 minutes late to Latin every day. We also recently had a Latin teacher randomly quit that they probably won’t replace, which means if I do take Latin 2, I will probably still have to go to the intermediate to take that too, as the teacher probably won’t have time to teach it at the senior high.</p>
<p>Well, if you’ve narrowed your search down that much, I think your best course of action is to contact the admissions office at Slippery Rock and ask them whether your situation with foreign languages would be a barrier to admission. You could either call or email with such a question: [Admissions</a> Staff](<a href=“http://www.sru.edu/academics/enrollment/undergraduate/Pages/AdmissionsStaff.aspx]Admissions”>http://www.sru.edu/academics/enrollment/undergraduate/Pages/AdmissionsStaff.aspx).</p>