So some schools Im looking at say they recommend 4 years of a foreign language and 4 years of a laboratory science. The thing is, next year I am planning on taking AP CS which isnt a lab science and I really dont want to take a 4th year of a foreign language. Im just scared that not taking 4 years of those classes will lower my chances of admission. So when a college says something is reccommended, is it required?
When it comes to stuff like taking X years of a class, then yes, it generally is a requirement.
YES.
Bonus points if it’s “highly/strongly recommended.”
Recommended = We’d like to see this. So if you have it, it’s a bonus.
Not required but does lower your chance of being admitted if you don’t. I’ve seen a number of colleges my D is applying to give percentages of students that meet the recommended requirements and it’s in the high 80s - 90s.
Generally speaking, all students should take 4 years of the 5 core subjects.
How high are you aiming? Tippy tops, then you might want to reconsider, but there are always mitigating circumstances. Do you have a hook? Any issues that might be explained by the counselor in his rec? Do you have phenomenal test scores, amazing ECs, or are you an athlete?
I personally think you should take the classes you are most interested in, but if you are aiming for say, Harvard, then you should probably do what the college recommends. But if you are planning on studying CS in college, it seems silly not to take it in high school. IF your transcript and all else is very strong, I personally don’t think taking a science without a lab is a big disadvantage, esepcially at tippy tops, where the odds are so slim anyway. With such ferocious competition, I doubt if the one year of non-lab science would be the thing that prevents you being accepted.
Recommended is usually an out for low income students who may not have the $ to fulfill an item (like SAT IIs).
We wonder about this too – my son (rising senior) has 4 years of foreign language - bc get a high school credit for 2 years taken in middle school. He does not want to take it senior year – but I worry some colleges will see it as a negative even though he has 4 years already. thoughts???
@CA1543 as long as he had reached level four in the language, he’ll be fine.
If you’re not taking a 4th year of lab science or foreign language make sure you’re putting something worthwhile in its place. (I see no problem taking AP CS instead of a 4th yr of lab science, but dropping the foreign language may be questioned.)
Recommended = better have a good reason for not doing it.
Being a native speaker, completing the sequence at your school – these are good reasons to not go further with a language.
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I think that CS could be a reasonable substitute for a lab science. It’s not the same thing, of course, but particularly if this is your area of interest, it makes sense.