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

[Anonymous]

There are dozens of threads on this topic. Just a few:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1159981.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1174121.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1203141.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 years is plenty

not true if yoir child wants to try gor a top school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Gotcha. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the college requires it then he needs to take the 4 years. If they only recommend 4 or require less then he is actually better off taking classes that he is interested in. I just attended a college symposium with several top schools and only 2 Ivys required 4 years. Everyone else was fine with 3 as long as the replacement was rigorous.

Can you say which 2 Ivies?

If I remember correctly Harvard and
Princeton. Stanford and Penn were there too. Their websites would confirm.

This is all on the common data set in section C5. I'm not aware of schools that require 4 years and very few recommend 4. Even so, my DD got into a T15 that recommended 3 with only 2 years of FL in high school. The second year was a level 3 as her first year of FL was in middle school. You can always explain why you didn't take an extra year in the additional info section of the common app.

[Anonymous]

No, it's absolutely fine to take language for 3 years if they are making space for other priorities. Don't let this board freak you out.

[Anonymous]

No, it's absolutely fine to take language for 3 years if they are making space for other priorities. Don't let this board freak you out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it's absolutely fine to take language for 3 years if they are making space for other priorities. Don't let this board freak you out.

No, it isn't for UVA per Dean J right here. World languages is considered a core subject, and, as such, AO is looking for four years and most rigorous. http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2019/03/course-rigor-is-not-number.html?m=1

[Anonymous]

It was explained to my DC that Liberal Arts will want to see language. But I think if you check which school you are interested in the common data will tell if they want 3 or 4 years at their particular school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

How long ago?

2002

That's helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it's absolutely fine to take language for 3 years if they are making space for other priorities. Don't let this board freak you out.

No, it isn't for UVA per Dean J right here. World languages is considered a core subject, and, as such, AO is looking for four years and most rigorous. http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2019/03/course-rigor-is-not-number.html?m=1

But as she also says at that link, “We definitely can't expect students to take classes that don't exist at their high school.”

Kids who want to drop Spanish to take CS aren’t going to UVA. But parents freaking out about how their school is cutting a language can calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it's absolutely fine to take language for 3 years if they are making space for other priorities. Don't let this board freak you out.

No, it isn't for UVA per Dean J right here. World languages is considered a core subject, and, as such, AO is looking for four years and most rigorous. http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2019/03/course-rigor-is-not-number.html?m=1

And UVa also wants this for A School and E School applicants unless impossible at their specific HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here DCUM you are AWESOME. I'm going to do a deep dive into the schools in which he is interested (Tufts, Wash U being two top ones) and investigate. Thank you for walking me back from the ledge!!!

Not too late to take college ‘year’ of target language over summer. That’s what my DC is doing… her targets require three years though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here DCUM you are AWESOME. I'm going to do a deep dive into the schools in which he is interested (Tufts, Wash U being two top ones) and investigate. Thank you for walking me back from the ledge!!!

FWIW my DC was accepted to Tufts RD this year with only 3 years of language. 3rd year was AP Spanish. That said, Tufts requires 6 semesters of language. You get some off depending on AP score.

[Anonymous]

What if your school offers 4 years but no AP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it's absolutely fine to take language for 3 years if they are making space for other priorities. Don't let this board freak you out.

No, it isn't for UVA per Dean J right here. World languages is considered a core subject, and, as such, AO is looking for four years and most rigorous. http://uvaapplication.blogspot.com/2019/03/course-rigor-is-not-number.html?m=1

And UVa also wants this for A School and E School applicants unless impossible at their specific HS.

Omg this AGAIN. My kid was accepted to engineering and stopped Spanish after sophomore year. Spanish 4. Quit freaking people OUT!