Anyone have a current UVA student with no 12th grade foreign language?

[Anonymous]

What if you took AP Foreign Language in 10th grade and there aren’t any more above that at your school? Will they care you “only” did 2 yrs of FL in HS?

3 yrs were taken in MS (not by choice but mandatory at the public MS) and they all appear on the HS transcript.

[Anonymous]

My dd just graduated and stopped a language after 10th grade.

[Anonymous]

Please watch Dean J's IG chats -- she addresses all of this stuff and more and will answer questions like these directly.

For A&S at least, she makes clear that they have a preference for at least one AP (or equivalent and where offered) in all core subjects, including world language. World language is definitely not required senior year if the student took an AP world language class junior year (or otherwise maxed out on what's offered; note AP Spanish Language is enough -- don't need AP Spanish Lit).

Dean J also makes clear that there are exceptions to the preference for showing max rigor in all core subjects, and OP's DC might have a case to make there. A lot will depend on what others from DC's HS are doing. But it's pretty clear that they want to see a level reached in HS (AP or whatever is most rigorous) and stopping in sophomore or junior year at Language 4 or 5 if those are below AP is not ideal.

[Anonymous]

Not a good idea even if it works out for a few people (seemingly always engineers).

[Anonymous]

There are sooooooo many threads about this. There are definitely kids getting in without FL all four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they have another hook?

My DD’s stats and rigor have her in range for UVA ED but she is not currently planning to take AP foreign language. She will have pretty much all the other “top” APs and 5 years of language. She would have to drop a selective independent research class in her desired field (bio) to take AP foreign language or enroll in a virtual DE class.

Thoughts? Anecdotes? We know a UVA “reader” who says there is a literal box she checks for 12th grade foreign language.

What other colleges are as language snobbish as VA? Students could be taking laguage since 7th grade, that's 5 years of same language!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They prefer you take the highest level offered at your school.

+1. It's this. Maximum rigor in all five core areas. My UVA kid did precisely that. One student in his school took a foreign language course during the summer just to make sure they had maxed out because there was a conflict. They, too, got in.

[Anonymous]

The good thing about this language preference is that many of the incoming students are able to test out of the foreign language requirement when they arrive (at least the school of arts and sciences).

So take the language if you can in high school…it will save you money and free up your schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they have another hook?

My DD’s stats and rigor have her in range for UVA ED but she is not currently planning to take AP foreign language. She will have pretty much all the other “top” APs and 5 years of language. She would have to drop a selective independent research class in her desired field (bio) to take AP foreign language or enroll in a virtual DE class.

Thoughts? Anecdotes? We know a UVA “reader” who says there is a literal box she checks for 12th grade foreign language.

What other colleges are as language snobbish as VA? Students could be taking laguage since 7th grade, that's 5 years of same language!

Most top ones are.

5 years is hardly overkill given how little the students work on their language outside of the classroom.

[Anonymous]

What if the kid has a disability that impacts performance in language and stopped for that reason?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if the kid has a disability that impacts performance in language and stopped for that reason?

I think that is justified. Just put it in the “other info” section. Know someone who was admitted last year who has dyslexia and they stopped with the extra language in high school too. They just put it in their app. They are doing great at UVA btw, they’ve felt very supported.

[Anonymous]

DD was accepted OOS, and seriously considered attending. No FL senior year, but had AP Spanish Lang in Jr. Year. Not native speaker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please watch Dean J's IG chats -- she addresses all of this stuff and more and will answer questions like these directly.

For A&S at least, she makes clear that they have a preference for at least one AP (or equivalent and where offered) in all core subjects, including world language. World language is definitely not required senior year if the student took an AP world language class junior year (or otherwise maxed out on what's offered; note AP Spanish Language is enough -- don't need AP Spanish Lit).

Dean J also makes clear that there are exceptions to the preference for showing max rigor in all core subjects, and OP's DC might have a case to make there. A lot will depend on what others from DC's HS are doing. But it's pretty clear that they want to see a level reached in HS (AP or whatever is most rigorous) and stopping in sophomore or junior year at Language 4 or 5 if those are below AP is not ideal.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was accepted OOS, and seriously considered attending. No FL senior year, but had AP Spanish Lang in Jr. Year. Not native speaker.

Could you share what she “replaced” FL with her sr yr? TIA

[Anonymous]

Yes, engineering major. Took a dual enrollment math class senior year rather than a 4th year of foreign language.