How important is it to have 3-4 years of language?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter took Honors Spanish 4 in 10th grade, and plans on taking no more foreign language. Will this count against her in college applications?

Please ask your school college counselor. This would be strongly advised against at my kids’ school but apparently it’s fine with some schools according to this thread. Out high school insists you have four years in high school rather than just four years total. My daughter is in her second year of post-AP Spanish as a senior and hating every minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10th grader hates her language class (says is not learning anything). Already has required credits for HS graduation for language from MS. Is it a bad idea to not take a language after 10th grade?

How many years total? DC started in 6th, took through French 5 in 11th. Took the IB and AP exams, earned the MD Seal of Biliteracy, then his guidance counselor said he could drop senior year to allow him to continue with orchestra. She seemed most interested in how many years total.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This topic irritates me whenever it comes up. I double majored in two different languages so I love language. I have a kid that hates it though and the idea of forcing him to take another few years of it just so he can get into a top school is so aggravating. He’d rather take a second science. I just can’t believe colleges are so mechanistic about this. Also, you know how often I use that foreign languages I spent 7 and 11 years studying? Never unless I watch a show on Netflix from that country (and one of the languages only has on Netflix show in that language….). Foreign language is great for people who like it but it’s not nearly as important as math, science and good writing in your native language. For more kids, these classes are just wasted time — they will not remember any of it in 10 years and will just be the embarrassing America trying to bargain for better prices in terrible Spanish in Cancun.

I feel the same exact way!

[Anonymous]

This forum tends to overplay the importance of foreign language. Like anything else in the app, whether it matters depends on the rest of the app.

My kid is attending a T10 with 3 years/levels of foreign language. Had plenty of other APs plus multivariable calc. Science major.

Caveat, UVA, which is obviously a focus of many in this forum, may be idiosyncratic on this issue, I don't know.

[Anonymous]

DC 2021 had equivalent of 3 years of Chinese in FCPS (middle school years) and 2 years of German thereafter. DC is at Michigan, denied UVA.

DC 2024 had equivalent of 3 years of Chinese in FCPS (middle school years) and 2 years of German thereafter. DC is at UVA, denied Michigan.

Both are humanities-focused.

So yes, the forum overplays foreign language. It is enough to show a commitment to foreign languages, not necessarily AP-level commitment.

[Anonymous]

DS got into a top-50 LAC early decision (with substantial merit aid) with three years of Spanish, including one in middle school.