Will This Hurt My Chances? (Class Selection)

Applying to College
1

<p>So this year I had to make a hard decision, Spanish 3 (there is no Spanish 4 at my school) or Band class. Band is my main extracurricular passion due to Marching Band, Lessons, Clarinet for 7 years, Section Leader, Honor Band, All-State Band, 2006 Rose Parade, etc so obviously I chose band. I was wondering how bad having only 2 years of Spanish will effect my chances of attending top schools (Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Duke, Penn, etc.). I was under the impression that these top colleges "recommend" 4 years of a foreign language but really only "required" 2, but I was reading Duke's pamphlet I received from a recent college fair and it said 3. Do you think these colleges will take into account the decision I had to make to drop Spanish? (Under any other circumstances I would've taken Spanish, but Spanish 3 was only offered during one period, and it was during Band).</p>

<p>What should I do? Thanks for the help guys! (Note: the rest of my app is competitive for these schools, so this foreign language requirement is my main concern)</p>

2

<p>bump......</p>

3

<p>I think you should explain your situation just like you explained here on your college app.</p>

4

<p>Can you community college it?</p>

5

<p>I'm not sure. This summer I'll be taking two Hawaii-required courses online. I'm also not really sure if they offer Spanish 3 equivalent courses at my local CC in the summer (it doesn't seem like very long to learn a language does it?)</p>

<p>At the moment there's no way I can CC it. I'm already bogged down by AP hw, band, and baseball.</p>

6

<p>Can you just skip a year and take it next year at your high school?</p>

7

<p>Well next year it will still be the same period as band. (They don't have Spanish 4, 3 is the highest).</p>

8

<p>Try taking the class without actually attending it? Some people at my school do that...independent studying.</p>

9

<p>I don't think I can do that either =/ Next week is finals week for the 1st quarter. I think it's too late.</p>

10

<p>bump again.</p>

11

<p>Have your counsellor explain it in their recommendation letter. Colleges WILL understand (or at least they did for me).</p>

12

<p>Thanks! Any other opinions?</p>

13

<p>Show that you have a passion for music...write about it in your essay like one of those tough decision or set back essays?</p>

14

<p>go with band....</p>

15

<p>Taking an online or CC class of language equivalent (or do it over the summer) would be a good idea- but make sure your high school will accept the course and add it to your transcript.</p>

<p>Could you take up another language? Some kids take 2 years of a language, then 2 years of another- thus making a 4 year requirement.</p>

16

<p>I heard that colleges don't like it when kids go 2-2.</p>

<p>I'll see if my local CC gives language classes during the summer.</p>

17

<p>A friend of mine called three or four admissions offices when his son wanted to go 2-2 and they all said it was a bad idea. On the other hand, he didn't have a good reason, as you do. He simply wanted to switch because he wasn't doing very well in the first language. </p>

<p>I do think that taking additional Spanish at a CC or university/college would be preferable, but perhaps not crucial for you in your circumstances. </p>

<p>One thing that all counselors say is, when in doubt, pick up the phone, call the school's admissions office, and ask. You don't have to give your name, and they are unlikely to remember you.</p>