Selective Colleges and Foreign Language Requirements

[Anonymous]

Is it a way to weed out kids with LDs? I don’t think they’re supposed to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Also, how is taking levels 1-4 in 6th-9th or 7th-10th "checking a box" but taking the exact same levels in 9th-12th excelling? Since my son is starting in 6th, I'll probably make him take 5 years, just in case, but if I was doing interviews for a "selective college" and they had this kind of rule in place, I'd try to lobby against it or at least advocate for good candidates regardless or when they finish level 4 or whatever. Because it's a stupid rule (if it's even an actual rule.)

I've found no such rule nor admissions preference granted to those that defer the study of foreign language until high school. In fact the experience of my kids and their peers who started in middle school suggests the opposite outcome. However, I suspect that has less to do with timing and more to do with the academic proclivity of the group that commenced foreign language studies earlier.

Mine wanted to start in 6th grade, but if they didn't, I would have supported them waiting until high school. That decision would have everything to do with readiness and interest and nothing to do with college admissions. I wouldn't overthink it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would she replace it with? If she is headed to engineering and can replace FL with another math class, that might be all right.

My kids both did three years in HS but since they did language in MS too that took them through level 5. They opted not to do the AP class senior year and replaced it with an extra math class for DS who is now in an applied math major, and an extra science class for DD who is planning to major in biology/environmental science

I think taking it at least through junior year is the bare minimum if you want to be competitive for selective schools.

The experience of my kid (AP as a sophomore, none after that) and neighbor kid (Level 4 as a frosh, none following), both admitted into top 5 schools suggests that there is no such requirement. Proficiency in a language, regardless of the year of mastery, seems more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges can look past not having language classes on high school if there is a reason for it. For example a three or four year program completer like PLTW, Magruder Aviation, etc. that creates a giant block in a schedule and limits course selections. They are looking for a commitment more than anything else. Liberal arts colleges might be more demanding though since students would likely have to take language courses in college there as well.

DP. This is good to know.

My kid is in a pltw program and taking a language only offered in HS. While 4 years are options in theory, there are not enough students, so a level 4 will probably not be offered. DC is hoping to be competitive for top tier schools.

[Anonymous]

4 of the same language, unless you are majoring in stem and take an additional AP science class to fill that slot in your senior year is what a college Counselor told us. But some top 15 schools say they want four years on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges can look past not having language classes on high school if there is a reason for it. For example a three or four year program completer like PLTW, Magruder Aviation, etc. that creates a giant block in a schedule and limits course selections. They are looking for a commitment more than anything else. Liberal arts colleges might be more demanding though since students would likely have to take language courses in college there as well.

DP. This is good to know.

My kid is in a pltw program and taking a language only offered in HS. While 4 years are options in theory, there are not enough students, so a level 4 will probably not be offered. DC is hoping to be competitive for top tier schools.

They should let it be known that a level 4 was not offered and not an available option in their application notes.

[Anonymous]

What language is only offered in hs?

[Anonymous]

We just moved to MCPS and my 6th grader is taking Spanish. Why does MCPS allow 6th graders to take high school level Spanish 1? I feel like it actually puts them at a disadvantage college-wise because they have to take such advanced levels to show 3/4 years of high school FL. I guess we could have DD not take it for 7th and 8th but that seems odd, too. And yes, DD could switch to a different language in 9th grade. Anyway, this is the first time I've encountered this kind of FL system and it doesn't seem that great to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would she replace it with? If she is headed to engineering and can replace FL with another math class, that might be all right.

My kids both did three years in HS but since they did language in MS too that took them through level 5. They opted not to do the AP class senior year and replaced it with an extra math class for DS who is now in an applied math major, and an extra science class for DD who is planning to major in biology/environmental science

I think taking it at least through junior year is the bare minimum if you want to be competitive for selective schools.

This is correct!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What language is only offered in hs?

Japanese and Chinese. Maybe a Chinese is offered at some middle schools, but not ours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I review undergrad apps at my university. I do not take applicants seriously that don't show a sincere enthusiasm for a foreign language. It doesn't disqualify you, but I'd much rather admit a student who has excelled in a foreign language than one who merely checked off a box

Why? What is the reasoning behind that?

My kid has a fantastic aptitude for Math. She is really good at it and enjoys it. She took Engineering and Band as her electives. She just doesn’t enjoy learning a second language. But she does well in English.

Seems silly to rule her out because she had to take French during virtual Covid school (which sucked)!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I review undergrad apps at my university. I do not take applicants seriously that don't show a sincere enthusiasm for a foreign language. It doesn't disqualify you, but I'd much rather admit a student who has excelled in a foreign language than one who merely checked off a box

How do you feel about a student who took 2 years of Spanish in MS and 1 year as a freshman; and then switched to French for the remaining years in HS? Does it look bad when a student goes from one FL to another?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I review undergrad apps at my university. I do not take applicants seriously that don't show a sincere enthusiasm for a foreign language. It doesn't disqualify you, but I'd much rather admit a student who has excelled in a foreign language than one who merely checked off a box

Why? What is the reasoning behind that?

My kid has a fantastic aptitude for Math. She is really good at it and enjoys it. She took Engineering and Band as her electives. She just doesn’t enjoy learning a second language. But she does well in English.

Seems silly to rule her out because she had to take French during virtual Covid school (which sucked)!

Probably someone who came up through the humanities and thinks well rounded means x number of years of a language

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I review undergrad apps at my university. I do not take applicants seriously that don't show a sincere enthusiasm for a foreign language. It doesn't disqualify you, but I'd much rather admit a student who has excelled in a foreign language than one who merely checked off a box

How do you feel about a student who took 2 years of Spanish in MS and 1 year as a freshman; and then switched to French for the remaining years in HS? Does it look bad when a student goes from one FL to another?

Hopefully that pp will come back in to answer. I think the CW is that that’s not as good. But I also think with the pandemic learning loss, many more kids did this as they didn’t feel prepared for the next level. I personally know many.

[Anonymous]

I have had 2 go to college, and seen many of their friends apply as well. The people with more FL got many more acceptances. We were told at college visits of more competitive schools, that they take FL very seriously.