How bad is it really if my kid only takes 3 years of a language

[Anonymous]

DC is in DCPS as well and will have no options for language (or at least the chosen language) after 10th (Italian). He will have had five years of Italian from middle school onward but the AP version of the class will not be offered. So we have the same concern as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took French only through sophomore year and got into Vandy, Georgia Tech and Tulane.

I am not sure about admission, but Tulane has a language requirement for graduation. So if you don’t have AP credit from high school you will be taking language at college. My DC did 4 years in high school of Spanish, but didn’t get accepted to AP senior year (due to a B+ in Spanish junior year) so is stuck taking 2 semesters at college.

Actually, most elite schools have their own language requirement on top if the four years of high school language. Some allow students to test out

[Anonymous]

3 years is plenty

[Anonymous]

We are overseas in an English speaking country now. The system offers FL, but at great expense in the schedule to study the classes that would be required to attend university in his desired major in this country. So he stopped FL at the end of Yr 8 and we will explain it. You can only be a slave to so many masters. It is literally not possible to prepare for entry to both systems equally well. So he will be pointy in subject selection, and we know this puts pressure on having a terrific test score. I suspect they will understand, but only if all other areas of the application are stellar.

I’m over the fear factor. Teaching my kid to live his best life. Such a relief to let go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know. My in state kid with only three years was rejected at UVA but our OOS friend was accepted UVA with only three.

Anecdotally, it does seem to be a higher bar to get into UVA from NOVA than from OOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid only had three years (and one was in 8th grade). He ED'ed to a top-50 LAC, which requires that *everyone* take 2 semesters of a foreign language while there.

My DC from a DCPS had 3 years of language in HS - heading to Macalester in the fall.

Mine, too! Mac does require two years (or equivalent proficiency) of a language, and my DC is planning to start a new one rather than continuing with Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took French only through sophomore year and got into Vandy, Georgia Tech and Tulane.

How long ago?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took French only through sophomore year and got into Vandy, Georgia Tech and Tulane.

Unless you graduated anytime from ‘22 onward, this information is worthless.

BS. It's not like requirements suddenly changed in '22.

[Anonymous]

My kid took 3 years of French in middle school then 3 years of ASL in HS (no 4th year offered). Does that count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took French only through sophomore year and got into Vandy, Georgia Tech and Tulane.

How long ago?

2002

[Anonymous]

You will never know what makes or breaks a college application. My high stats (35 ACT, 4.0Uw, 13 APs) had underwhelming college acceptances. We will never know if was because of
- 3 years of language
- bad essay
- recommendations
- competitive magnet HS
- Not NMSF?
- school profile
- grade inflation at HS
- completive major (CS)
- minimal club leadership positions

Kid should take what they want because it's all crap shoot.

[Anonymous]

There have been dozens of threads on this topic already! I think someone starts a new one every month or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There have been dozens of threads on this topic already! I think someone starts a new one every month or two.

Yes, we get one of these threads every time another high school responds to budget cuts by cutting a language program. This time it’s Walls in DC (Mandarin). Earlier this spring it was something in MCPS (Italian).

[Anonymous]

I think you can get away without the 4th year. I think kids who take only two years have more limited options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid took 3 years of French in middle school then 3 years of ASL in HS (no 4th year offered). Does that count?

It generally does not. They are looking for years of language in high school, not years of high school level language. Think about it this way. Does Algebra I taken in 8th grade count as one of the required years of high school math?