<p>I took Spanish 2 this year and will be a junior in the fall. But I can't take Spanish 3 next year because I don't have enough room in my schedule (unless I take out AP art history). I was originally going to skip spanish next (junior) year and take both Spanish 3 and 4 my senior year. </p>
<p>But Stanford, for example, recommends 3 or more years of the same foreign language. </p>
<p>Does that mean that I must have taken 3+ years at the time of my application? Is it better that way? Should I replace AP Art History with Spanish 3? (I'll have 3 APs w/o art history)</p>
<p>Flambes, there are two sides to the language coin: getting in and what you do after you get in.</p>
<p>Most selective colleges recommend 3-4 years of a single language. Many of the other applicants that you'll be competing against will be proficient in one or more foreign languages so if you choose to avoid language study then you need to have a good reason for it. </p>
<p>My son was language adverse. He ended up taking two years each of two languages. He also chose to take more humanities-- art, creative writing, philosophy, religion -- instead of math and science. In other words he totally disregarding the college's recommendations. He was, however, a standout in the arts and this got him into a very selective college. </p>
<p>So, in answer to your question should you take Spanish or Art History, it depends on what art history means to you. If it's part of your personna as an artist and/or future curator, then follow your inclination. </p>
<p>The other consideration is what you do after your admitted. Many colleges on all levels of academic rigor have foreign language requirements. As a first year the colleges administer a placement test (or sometimes use the IB or AP score) to determine whether or not you must take more language. If you don't particularly like or excel in language now, believe me, you don't want to be stuck taking one or two years of college level Spanish. </p>
<p>My son circumvented this by concentrating on colleges that either had no distribution requirements or no language requirements. I don't know where Stanford stands, but for example Yale has a language requirement. Williams doesn't. Brown has no requirements whatsoever.</p>
<p>The ironic thing is that now my son is thinking about going to graduate school in Art History and guess what, he needs reading fluency in French and German! Sometimes it's easier just to bite the bullet. :)</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your response. I'll definitely take into consideration the whole after-you-get-in deal. Now I'm off to research language requirements.</p>
<p>I think you should take the language. I think colleges look more favoralby at you if you have at least 3 years of language. The more selective ones even recommend 4 so you definitely should have at least 3.</p>
<p>definitely the language, i took art history AP and it isnt worth anyone's time. i mean it was okay but it isnt important. but hey, if you dont get accepted if u choose not to take spanish 3 then dont be surprised. but its your choice. i would just hate to not be accepted for something i could have changed by making a good decision. with art history u dont need it to get into college whereas a language in 3+ years u do at this particular one. why would u risk not continuing spanish? I dont understand.</p>
<p>Well, it's not like I don't plan on taking 3+ years, it's just that I was hoping to skip spanish Junior year and do 2 years as a senior (spanish 3 and 4). My school doesn't offer AP until the 5th year. But I see what you're saying about the worth of art history.</p>
<p>Flambes, The "worth" of art history depends on your interest and involvement in art. If being an artist or studying art is what you are all about then taking art history will be worth a lot. Believe me, Stanford and many other elite schools consider art history a serious -- and important -- subject. </p>
<p>So the real question is WHY do you want to take art history instead of Spanish? If it's because art is a central part of your life (and therefore a key EC for you) then follow your inclination? If it's because you think art history would be fun (or easy) then go with the Spanish.</p>
<p>Also is there a reason that you need to do the art history junior year and Spanish senior year? Couldn't you just reverse them?</p>
<p>Hmm, I'm not planning to REPLACE spanish 3 with art history entirely (though I see where that was confusing in my original post), I'm just wondering if I can POSTPONE spanish 3 til senior year.</p>
<p>But yea, I CAN take spanish 3 junior year and save art history for senior year. Which leads to another question...</p>
<p>should I be trying to maximize my GPA junior year? Having only 3 APs junior year (i had 2 soph. year) probably isn't as appealing as the other applications with like 6 in one year.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts and keep them coming =]</p>