<h2>Hello. I have been on the normal forums, discussing an issue about course selection for next year. One person suggested I ask in the parents. So If you could share any insight on my dilemma, I'd really appreciate it! By the way, my hopes are for the University of Pennsylvania. Please bear with my long post!</h2>
<h2>I'm a hs sophomore, and I have to decide my courses for next year. My spanish and french teachers are constantly reminding me after-school to continue my foreign language courses, saying that it looks good on college app if you have it all 4 years of hs. I have taken 3 French and 2 Spanish years (spanish is too easy, so I'm just gonna take the state exam at the end of the year, no need for another boring year). The main reason I don't want to take a Foreign Language next or my senior year is due to time/schedule constraints. I want to take as many ap's as possible. There are no AP foreign languages at our school, just advanced courses beyond the required 3-year curriculum. Can I stop my foreign language education? Will UPenn frown upon my decision and question my transcript/admission? Or will they realize I wanted to take many hard ap classes? I have to give my final decision to my guidance counselor soon, so what should I do? Is what I have enough? </h2>
<p>But I don't take APs (our school has lots) just for good application. Also, we have a weighted average ranking system, and my very competitive friends will be maxing out on AP's next year. We can all handle it similarly, so, not taking as much ap's might hurt my ranking (I really want to be Valedictorian). I will eventually take the SAT II for one of the languages, so I don't have to take in college.</p>
<p>Also, here is why I don't really want to take more languages: My french teacher is the most incompetent fool (very old) I've ever met. She can't teach for her life. I wouldn't get anything out another year in her class (think of a rock as a teacher, no exaggeration, and you will see my predicament). As for spanish, I guess I could skip 3rd year and go to advanced college spanish (my teacher is urging me to do so). Spanish is pretty easy, plus the teachers are pretty good, so I might do that. I just would rather take AP classes, especially since junior year is the most important year, especially for rankings (we do final ranking at midterm of senior year, so the second half of senior year won't matter if you took like 10 aps, which is a major waste!!!)</p>
<p>I believe that your first priority should be your education--not your rank, not the number of APs, not the number of years of foreign language taken for the purpose of impressing the AdComs.</p>
<p>If you cannot learn French at your school, then don't take it. My son dropped Latin after three years for a similar reason. It did not hurt him for college admissions.</p>
<p>But Spanish sounds like a different story IMO. I would recommend the advanced Spanish option you described. Studying a foreign language is an important part of your education IMO, if you are actually learning the language and literature. </p>
<p>You will have enough AP classes, and colleges will recognize that you are taking the hardest option available to you in Spanish and give you credit for that.</p>
<p>I concur with ADad...take the Spanish, drop the French, get a good education and it will work out well. By the way, you might consider taking the AP Spanish test at the end of next year at another school (assuming it is not offerred at your hs). If you do this and perform well, I would at least ask at your hs if they will treat your advanced college spanish class as favorably as an AP class (or better?) for purposes of calculating rank and GPA. It won't hurt to ask, and it might enable you to continue taking a good language sequence and turn a potential negative into a positive in terms of rank/gpa. If you ask the school to consider this idea, be sure to get your Spanish teacher on your side first. Her support could be crucial.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot Dads! That really helps. I think I will take advanced spanish, and yes, my spanish teacher is on my side, and then some. Without her, I would still have to take normal spanish 3. She is urging me to take the college-level course. And I will talk to guidance about getting it weighted as an ap course. I guess I was unmotivated for taking French because of my horrible teacher (only one french teacher.) Who knows, I might take some courses at the local community college during the summer. I actually like French, but the teacher is HORRIBLE. Anyway, thanks again. I really appreciate it! You really changed my perspective on things.</p>
<p>I'm just wondering, don't the other top kids in your class take at least one language most of the way through, too? In that case, how would that hurt your rank? S is going to Penn next year and I think they do recommend four years of language, so that may influence your decision as well. Sounds like you've had some good advice here already. Good luck!</p>
<p>my top classmates only take french. and my horrible french teacher deters anyone away from taking another year of french. Plus, I've noticed that most kids in my school are unmotivated. Everyone has a pessimistic attitude whenever I bring up Ivy league. So they don't care much about the language requirement. I, however do, and If I can take advanced spanish, get it weighted as an ap course, then I will do so!</p>
<p>IMHO (I'm no expert) 4 years of either language is best PLUS if you can get some Latin in there, that will help. Send a pm to hazmat (classics major at Penn) as he may have some good advice for you.</p>