<p>I'm really interested in languages but I probably wouldn't get into any of the "top" schools for languages (like Middlebury). Where should I go?</p>
<p>My unweighted GPA is about 3.8, weighted 4.0 (chances thread here if you want more info: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/735498-chance-me-ucs-usc-nyu.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/735498-chance-me-ucs-usc-nyu.html</a>)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Wisconsin Madison. One of the top big schools in languages and you would get in. Cali kids love it.</p>
<p>[The</a> University of Wisconsin-Madison Language Institute](<a href=“http://languageinstitute.wisc.edu/]The”>http://languageinstitute.wisc.edu/)</p>
<p>Indiana University-Bloomington (safety)
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (reach)
University of Texas-Austin (match)
University of Wisconsin-Madison (match)</p>
<p>Thanks, I wasn’t expecting such a quick response. </p>
<p>Also, Alexandre, what makes these schools really good for lanuages? Like a really large department? Just wondering :)</p>
<p>France and / or Spain. :)</p>
<p>Either your state school, or somewhere with a strong study abroad program or is in a large metro area. NYU, USC, UCLA, etc.</p>
<p>Halie, large state universities tend to have enough students to justify the creation of a large Romance department. Michigan for example has 15 professors and lecturers who teach French to undergraduate students and another 30 or so that teach Spanish. </p>
<p>[Romance</a> Languages - French Faculty Profiles](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rll/deptdir/frfacultyprofiles.html]Romance”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rll/deptdir/frfacultyprofiles.html)</p>
<p>[Romance</a> Languages - Spanish Faculty Profiles](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rll/deptdir/spfacultyprofiles.html]Romance”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/rll/deptdir/spfacultyprofiles.html)</p>
<p>There are only 15 or so French majors graduating each year, which means that there are 60 or so students at the University who are majoring in French. The faculty to student ratio is very good and, give the size of the faculty, the number of courses offered tends to be varried and exhaustive. At smaller universities, you will notice that there are anywhere between 5-10 professors of French and 7-15 professors of Spanish, making it harder for those faculties to offer students the same breadth and depth of academic offerings. Either way, French classes in college seldom have more than 15 students once you get past the 200 levels, so the tired excuse that public universities do not provide the sameattention to undergrads cannot be claimed in this particular case.</p>
<p>You may also want to look closely at the US schools that have a strong study abroad program in France or Spain. One that actually may have a sister-school to one in the country of your choice.</p>
<p>There are also American universities abroad. Might be worth a look.</p>
<p>At Wisconsin in addition to numerous study abroad programs they have the oldest language intensive dorm in the US. </p>
<p>[The</a> French House at the University of Wisconsin - Madison](<a href=“http://uwfrenchhouse.org/]The”>http://uwfrenchhouse.org/)</p>
<p>They also have a Spanish house but it’s not as elaborate (floor in a dorm)</p>
<p>[Residencia</a> de Estudiantes | Spanish and Portuguese](<a href=“http://spanport.lss.wisc.edu/new_web/?q=imported/residencia]Residencia”>http://spanport.lss.wisc.edu/new_web/?q=imported/residencia)</p>
<p>You should still apply to Middlebury. Your scores are in their range except your math which is only 30-40 points below their middle 50%.</p>
<p>Smith College has strong study abroad programs and a strong language department and there are language houses (smith has houses not dorms). It has a gorgeous campus, great friendly environment, and wonderful academics.</p>
<p>It is a **top school **with a strong academic reputation but you could get in. According to the Princetonreview, your SATs are in range for the middle 50% and near the avg GPA. (go to the Smith thread in the liberal art college section. there are others there who could give you more advice or answer any questions about French and/or Spanish major(s) and the various opportunities)</p>
<p>[Smith</a> College](<a href=“http://www.princetonreview.com/SmithCollege.aspx]Smith”>Smith College - The Princeton Review College Rankings & Reviews)</p>
<p>[Smith</a> College](<a href=“http://www.smith.edu/]Smith”>http://www.smith.edu/)</p>
<p>^the top link is to the princeton review’s review of Smith and the second link is for Smith’s website</p>
<p>Thanks! I just wanted to let you know that I had a talk with my parents and will need to stay in-state for college. Luckily, I live in California, so this isn’t a problem. I was wondering if any of you who had originally posted on this thread could narrow down your suggestions to the UCs or CSUs?</p>