5 years of foreign language recommended for UVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do regular elementary schools and middle schools not offer languages? My public school (as did all where I'm from) started Spanish in K.

Please check out Fairfax FLAGS - some elementary schools in FCPS offer language at elementary and middle school. But not all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this area where motivated kids start algebra in 7th and a foreign language in 8th, competitive applicants to UVA will have a year of post AP Calculus and 5 years of foreign language. Otherwise, they are not taking the hardest available course load. Of course a STEM kid might stop at foreign language IV in order to free up a spot for an extra AP science, AP computer science or something like that. That's also most rigorous available. Of course, most IB kids will have the 5 years. And admissions requirements will be less strict in areas where MS Geometry and foreign language are not offered. But what you must have to get into UVA and what it takes from NOVA-- completely different ballgame. In DCs' FCPS MS all the strong academic kids take Geometry and a foreign language in 8th. If UVA is so important, why in the world would you not have a child on the competitive college track?

At least for Asians, it is required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this area where motivated kids start algebra in 7th and a foreign language in 8th, competitive applicants to UVA will have a year of post AP Calculus and 5 years of foreign language. Otherwise, they are not taking the hardest available course load. Of course a STEM kid might stop at foreign language IV in order to free up a spot for an extra AP science, AP computer science or something like that. That's also most rigorous available. Of course, most IB kids will have the 5 years. And admissions requirements will be less strict in areas where MS Geometry and foreign language are not offered. But what you must have to get into UVA and what it takes from NOVA-- completely different ballgame. In DCs' FCPS MS all the strong academic kids take Geometry and a foreign language in 8th. If UVA is so important, why in the world would you not have a child on the competitive college track?

At least for Asians, it is required.

Word.

[Anonymous]

Children, go away. this board is for moms and dads. You can take your juvenile banter to IG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this area where motivated kids start algebra in 7th and a foreign language in 8th, competitive applicants to UVA will have a year of post AP Calculus and 5 years of foreign language. Otherwise, they are not taking the hardest available course load. Of course a STEM kid might stop at foreign language IV in order to free up a spot for an extra AP science, AP computer science or something like that. That's also most rigorous available. Of course, most IB kids will have the 5 years. And admissions requirements will be less strict in areas where MS Geometry and foreign language are not offered. But what you must have to get into UVA and what it takes from NOVA-- completely different ballgame. In DCs' FCPS MS all the strong academic kids take Geometry and a foreign language in 8th. If UVA is so important, why in the world would you not have a child on the competitive college track?

Dear God, land the helicopter already. Kids from this area do not need "a year of post AP Calculus and 5 yrs. of foreign language" to get into UVA. This is UVA, not Harvard, for crying out loud. I have two kids currently at UVA; one finished math with Statistics (not even AP! Imagine!) and the other had three yrs. of a foreign language. Both went to a top five NOVA high school, and both were admitted to UVA. Please - stop the fear-mongering.

+100 Thanks for inserting some sense into this discussion, PP. I, too, know plenty of kids who got into UVA without 5 years of language a bullheaded commitment to so-called rigor even when it defies common sense and individual strengths and weaknesses. Colleges don't care that you didn't take Geometry in 8th grade or that you didn't start foreign language until high school. They care about how you've done in those courses.