The foreign language dilemma: need 4 years for Brown, U of Chicago?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you take an AP foreign language as a Junior? Isn’t that considered maxed out in language? Do you really have to take a new level 1 language as a Senior to meet the 4 years requirement?!

DS took AP Spanish as a sophomore, then no more language in HS. . He’s at one of the schools this post is about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you take an AP foreign language as a Junior? Isn’t that considered maxed out in language? Do you really have to take a new level 1 language as a Senior to meet the 4 years requirement?!

Don't most schools offer both AP Language and AP Literature?

[Anonymous]

Meh. If your kid is majoring in a STEM area, they only need three years of foreign language (even at selective schools) as long as they replace that fourth year with something worthwhile (no Sports Marketing).

[Anonymous]

My kid is at UChicago now and I just looked at her HS transcript.
Says...
Spanish II
Spanish III Honors
AP Spanish Lang and Culture
Post-AP Spanish Seminar.

I recall that the Post-AP class was easy (involved watching Spanish-language movies)

[Anonymous]

My STEM DD refuses to take more French after AP as a Junior. Will do an extra science as a Senior instead!

[Anonymous]

My son got into Brown with 3 years of a foreign language. He didn't like the instructor so dropped it senior year of HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student takes first year of language in MS, does this generally count towards 4 year recommendation? So if they take language their senior year, it would be level 5, but would rather take other classes.

Most say 4 years of language IN HIGH SCHOOL. They don't care about middle school.

Correct. That year of language in MS does not count towards college foreign language recommendations/requirements.

Maybe this varies by jurisdiction, but Spanish 1 taken in Middle School counts as a high school credit and shows up on the HS transcript, so I call bull.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My HS junior is selecting classes for next year and once again he is asking for advice on whether he needs to take a foreign language all 4 years (he didn’t take any in MS, so he would be in Spanish 4 next year). There are so many classes he wants to take. But he has also decided he really wants to go to either Brown or University of Chicago (to major in applied math). Of course admission to either is super competitive and unlikely, even with great grades, test scores, AP scores, etc. But what about the language. He says 4 years of a language is ‘recommended’ at both schools, but not required. But would it help his application independent of any other factors? Wisdom welcome.

He is highly unlikely to gain admission to either but yes, they want to see four years.

[Anonymous]

Brown parent here:

On the surface, if you ignore the written recommendation, you do so at your own peril, BUT:

Brown (like most highly competitive colleges) values passionate kids who pursue those passions above all else. So if he takes something he loves, something challenging, or something in an area he loves, then I think that would be advisable.

Plus, its just a better approach for happy healthy kids.

Make sure your GC knows why your kid is making that choice and puts it in his rec letter that he is that kind of kid.

The problem is you'll never know either way so you just have to make a choice and don't look back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My HS junior is selecting classes for next year and once again he is asking for advice on whether he needs to take a foreign language all 4 years (he didn’t take any in MS, so he would be in Spanish 4 next year). There are so many classes he wants to take. But he has also decided he really wants to go to either Brown or University of Chicago (to major in applied math). Of course admission to either is super competitive and unlikely, even with great grades, test scores, AP scores, etc. But what about the language. He says 4 years of a language is ‘recommended’ at both schools, but not required. But would it help his application independent of any other factors? Wisdom welcome.

He is highly unlikely to gain admission to either but yes, they want to see four years.

This is yet another example of a petulant, passive-aggressive douchey answer to a sincere question, and you should be ashamed, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a student takes first year of language in MS, does this generally count towards 4 year recommendation? So if they take language their senior year, it would be level 5, but would rather take other classes.

Most say 4 years of language IN HIGH SCHOOL. They don't care about middle school.

Correct. That year of language in MS does not count towards college foreign language recommendations/requirements.

Maybe this varies by jurisdiction, but Spanish 1 taken in Middle School counts as a high school credit and shows up on the HS transcript, so I call bull.

Hoping this is the case. DD started FL class in middle school and then three more years in high school. Didn’t continue because she wanted to take other courses and the teacher moved. The middle school Fl course does show in HS transcript so I am thinking it does count.

[Anonymous]

DS was deferred early action at UChicago. He only took 3 years of Spanish, one of which was in MS. That must've been what tanked his EA application.

[Anonymous]

As long as you get through AP level, I think it is ok to stop. You do want a rigorous course schedule for senior year.

[Anonymous]

STEM applicant refused to take AP senior year after 4 years of Spanish. Guess we'll see if that comes back to bite him in the butt!

[Anonymous]

DS took 3 years of Latin in HS, got into U Chicago. However, he had a really good reason, which is he used the course slot to double his course load in what he was really passionate about academically.