Is four years of a foreign language still recommended for college admission?

[Anonymous]

Just curious and looking ahead for my 9th grader. He's in his second year of Spanish and struggling a bit. Wondering if he does spanish 3 sophomore year if that's enough? It's his only B!

He's in Honors orchestra already as a sophomore, plays on the J-V baseball team (and actually is a starter), and has As in all his other honors subjects. Currently in Algebra 2, so on that math pacing and will take math through senior year.

What do you think? Is three years of a language enough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious and looking ahead for my 9th grader. He's in his second year of Spanish and struggling a bit. Wondering if he does spanish 3 sophomore year if that's enough? It's his only B!

He's in Honors orchestra already as a sophomore, plays on the J-V baseball team (and actually is a starter), and has As in all his other honors subjects. Currently in Algebra 2, so on that math pacing and will take math through senior year.

What do you think? Is three years of a language enough?

Kid can certainly go to some college, somewhere, with just one year of language in high school, but you’re closing a lot of doors. Might want to consider starting over with level 1 of a different language in 9th, as that will get you more years of language in high school before it gets hard again.

[Anonymous]

Our school only does 3 years.

[Anonymous]

OP, I realize it's early but really school specific. My kid number 1 took 4 years but applying to completely different schools than kid 2 who took 3. You are sort of asking two questions...is 3 years "enough" and 4 years "recommended". I would recommend 4 years, but 3 years is probably enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school only does 3 years.

3 years is probably a requirement for a type of diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school only does 3 years.

No honors or AP? Our private stopped at 3 so the kids interested in top colleges went to NVCC to continue in their languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious and looking ahead for my 9th grader. He's in his second year of Spanish and struggling a bit. Wondering if he does spanish 3 sophomore year if that's enough? It's his only B!

He's in Honors orchestra already as a sophomore, plays on the J-V baseball team (and actually is a starter), and has As in all his other honors subjects. Currently in Algebra 2, so on that math pacing and will take math through senior year.

What do you think? Is three years of a language enough?

Kid can certainly go to some college, somewhere, with just one year of language in high school, but you’re closing a lot of doors. Might want to consider starting over with level 1 of a different language in 9th, as that will get you more years of language in high school before it gets hard again.

UVA wants to see four years in the same language.

[Anonymous]

Look at the colleges he's interested in--they vary. But most selective colleges want to see As and 4 years of a language--which is of course a bummer for kids who struggle. A tutor at this stage might be really helpful--sometimes kids don't know how to study for a foreign language and then get increasingly behind.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Ugh, yes. My daughter is dragging through AP Spanish 5 in lieu of all the interesting classes she thought she’d be able to take senior year. Her college counselor insisted it was necessary (and she’s pretty laid back).

[Anonymous]

Colleges also vary in what they mean by this requirement. Some count the years you took in middle school. Some want to see you take three or four years of language in grades 9-12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh, yes. My daughter is dragging through AP Spanish 5 in lieu of all the interesting classes she thought she’d be able to take senior year. Her college counselor insisted it was necessary (and she’s pretty laid back).

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges also vary in what they mean by this requirement. Some count the years you took in middle school. Some want to see you take three or four years of language in grades 9-12.

Do you have a cite for this? Some parents seem to assume that but I've never seen it in practice.

[Anonymous]

What foreign language is needed for his college, his major, and to graduate from that college?? That's what entry requirements are based on.

Lazy way out is to just take as much high school language as possible, just in case, because you don't know.

"Lazy" is a poor choice of words, of course. "Quick Answer" is probably better word choice. HS counselors always want the student to leave doors open. When you present for college admission, with less than "the most" of any one subjects, doors close. That's life. Doors close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges also vary in what they mean by this requirement. Some count the years you took in middle school. Some want to see you take three or four years of language in grades 9-12.

OP here, his 8th grade spanish was high school Spanish 1. I guess he'll try to stick it out with tutoring.