Hello all!
I will be a sophomore in HS next year.
In middle school, I somehow got my way through Spanish 1 and Spanish 2. This led to me being enrolled in Spanish 3 for freshman year.
I’ll probably be passing Spanish 3 with an A (unless I bomb the final) but I absolutely hate Spanish. I also feel that my grade was a bit of a fluke this year because my teacher was extremely easy. This leads me to believe that I wouldn’t do well in Spanish 4.
Additionally If I were to take Spanish 4 next year, I would have to drop APUSH. Although I could take APUSH in my upperclassman years, I would rather not take APUSH when I am relatively more busy during those years.
My schedule (currently) for next year is:
Honors English
Honors Precalc
AP Comp Sci A
Chem 200 (cannot take AP Chem until having taken Chem 200)
Chamber Choir (top choir in the school)
AP Econ
APUSH or Spanish 4
Will you be targeting colleges that want to see level 4 of a foreign language, or will be satisfied with level 3? More selective colleges often want to see a higher level.
Also, note that colleges may have foreign language graduation requirements that are higher than their admission requirements, so stopping at level 3 may mean having to take more foreign language in college than if you continued to a higher level.
^^^Agreed. You need to look at the required/recommended HS coursework at any college you are considering. This information can typically be found on the college websites and/or each school’s common data set. If any college you are interested in recommends/requires 4 years (meaning taking level 4) of foreign language then you absolutely should take Spanish 4. Many top tier colleges do look for the 4 years of foreign language and your application will be at a disadvantage if you don’t have it.
I’d recommend replacing an elective such as Computer Science or Economics (rather than APUSH which I consider a core SS class) with Spanish if you need the class.
You should take the time to read through the FAQ on foreign language which is pinned to the top of this forum.
Why 2 social studies classes the same year? Will you continue to take social studies after this coming year, and if so, which classes? Could you drop the AP Econ and take both APUSH and AP Spanish/ Spanish 4? (at our high school, Spanish 4 is AP).
@nologicnearhere Does your HS have a language requirement for graduation? My DS was in Spanish 3 as a freshman and took Spanish 4 as a sophomore, his school had a 2 years and or level 3 to graduate requirement. He like you didn’t really like Spanish. Here is the down side in my opinion not taking it. His college has a language requirement so after not taking Spanish for 3 years he now has to take a pretty high level Spanish class (which he tested in to) not having had the language for 3 years. I agree with @ucbalumnus many colleges have a language requirement for admittance. Some LAC require 3-4 years of language. Is there a counselor at your school that you could talk to about this?
@lbf 1 year of any foreign language to graduate from my HS
@washugrad Although I don’t plan at this moment into wanting to be a SS-related major, I do enjoy studying SS so I wouldn’t mind taking two SS classes in one year. I want to take APUSH, AP Gov, and AP Econ classes. The only one that mattered to me was that APUSH preferrably be in sophomore year.
I was told that it was pretty much between either Spanish 4 or APUSH. AP Econ actually didn’t fit, so that spot is now AP Gov currently.
As for the other comments, I’m not sure of my college choices to look at, so I don’t know what to say about that currently.
It’s refreshing to find a rising soph with no preconceived college list.
If there’s a chance you might major in an SS that requires foreign language studies/skills (eg, IR or some history, ) please be aware a top school may not be satisfied with only freshman FL, even at level3.
Options do include taking more FL in jr/sr year, summer, DE or online.
Frankly, many colleges don’t say “level 3” or 4. They say, “three or more years,” which generally refers to high school classes.
Otherwise, I don’t we an issue with doubling up on SS next year, if it’s a legit interest.
FWIW I looked at the common data set for a few random top tier colleges (Penn, Dartmouth,Williams, ) and 4 years of foreign language is recommended for each of them. Certainly many excellent schools only ask for 3 years but personally I hate to see the OP limit him/herself or put him/herself at a disadvantage for any college by not taking Spanish 4. Agree that the OP can explore other such as a CC or accredited online class at Level 4.
I would take Spanish, all the way through the AP test if you can. So many college have language requirements, and taking the AP exam can exempt you from that requirement or perhaps even give you college credit. I was able to earn a minor in college in large part because I was exempted from the language requirement.
