Hello all!
I am a junior in high school, and my current schedule for next year is as followed:
Wind Ensemble (top band)
AP Calculus AB
Competitive Constitution Team Class (accelerated credit)
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Environmental Science
Gym
I was originally slated to also take AP Spanish 5 (I am currently in Spanish 4 Accelerated right now). However, a scheduling problem would force me either to take band or Spanish. I have been involved in Band since 5th grade, and I REALLY do not want to drop it. However, would not taking Spanish for my senior year affect my chance at admission for some colleges? My top choices right now are Georgetown, University of Michigan, and University of Pittsburgh.
Thanks for the help guys!
Oh, I forgot to add that I’m also taking the newspaper class as I will be Editor-In-Chief for our school newspaper next year.
If I were you, I would contact the college to confirm (and I did for DD)
@SteelersFan318 I agree with @annamom. Most schools list on their websites the requirements for how many years needed. Google the common data set for each of those schools and call the admissions office just to be sure. That’s they only way to avoid making a mistake.
Choose band. Unless you plan on majoring in Spanish or want to write your essay on your passion for the language, colleges won’t care.
My friend’s son dropped AP Spanish senior year. UVA told him it would hurt him (he was waitlisted) but he got into many other great schools (finance major). If it would be Spanish 5, don’t you technically have 4 years anyway?
What matters is level reached and you have level 4 already, so take Band since you’ve been involved with it. Consistency over time and making personal academic choices are also important.
If you want nothing to do with Spanish next year, then I would advise you to verify the required high school classes with the colleges you will be applying to (and how they would view your situation). If that checks out with your current class schedule, then in your college applications be sure to mention why you chose to not take a 4th year of Spanish, like how you explained above.
Another option (if you’re up for the extra work) would be to either self-study for the AP Spanish 5 Exam (and mention that you plan on taking it on your college apps), and/or take a similar-level Spanish class at a community college (I would recommend doing this over the summer if classes are available, since you’ll probably be really busy in the Fall with college apps and other senior activities). If you go with the CC route, check if the class is transferrable to the colleges you are applying to and if you would need the AP Exam to get the credit.
Do NOT waste time explaining why you didn’t take AP Spanish on your application. You may use 'additional information ’ to state ‘due to a schedule conflict, I was not able to take AP Spanish’ but that should be the extent of it.
Self studying doesn’t interest colleges and doesn’t add anything to your application - colleges want you in class participating, taking tests.
Dual enrollment (AP Spanish would likely be College Spanish 4/202) is valued and could be taken in the spring - NOT fall when college applications will take all of your time.
DO use your application to showcase your commitment to band if you feel it’s important to who you are.