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

[Anonymous]

Wondering this too. My DS plans to take French. HS only offers French I, II, III. Is that enough? Wants to go into STEM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering this too. My DS plans to take French. HS only offers French I, II, III. Is that enough? Wants to go into STEM

MIT recommends 2 years: https://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool/

DC had just Spanish I & II in high school and applied successfully to UMD CS, VT, NC State, etc. I think the 3 year requirement is mostly in LACs, plus several here have mentioned it's required at UVA. Most schools just require 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi DCUMs:
I'm freaking out bc DS doesn't have room in his senior schedule to take a fourth year of language. He is really into history and government and wants to do a couple of AP classes in that realm, he is in a DCPS so he has to take DC History and do a senior project. I'm very worried that he will get nixed right off of the bat from a bunch of schools. Does anyone else have any advice? Have not gone to guidance counselor yet.
Thank you!

Not bad. Stepson got into multiple top schools including Duke. Hated French and skipped fourth year despite admonitions of college counselor.

[Anonymous]

DS took 3 years of French and was accepted to P, Y, and S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS took 3 years of French and was accepted to P, Y, and S.

Same for my son, his safety was Utah, and match Swarthmore.

In the end he was accepted in:

Princeton
Utah
Swarthmore
Stanford
Yale

Took only three years, but he definitely has the gift of tongues, many of his classmates mentioned it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS took 3 years of French and was accepted to P, Y, and S.

Was this recently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS took 3 years of French and was accepted to P, Y, and S.

Was this recently?

He was class of 23. Have another DS applying this upcoming year, also with 3 years of french. The way I see it is that if you were already going to be accepted at one of those schools, theyre not going to reject you because you didnt take a year of french. neither will you be accepted just because you took an additional year. theyre more focused on institutional priorities and needs and the things they put on their websites are just formalities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS took 3 years of French and was accepted to P, Y, and S.

Was this recently?

He was class of 23. Have another DS applying this upcoming year, also with 3 years of french. The way I see it is that if you were already going to be accepted at one of those schools, theyre not going to reject you because you didnt take a year of french. neither will you be accepted just because you took an additional year. theyre more focused on institutional priorities and needs and the things they put on their websites are just formalities.

+1

Let the other DCUM "4-yeat" language purists stay ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Harvard recommends 4.

https://college.harvard.edu/guides/preparing-college

[Anonymous]

Princeton wants to see four years of same language.

[Anonymous]

Stanford wants to see three or more years of same language https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/first-year/prepare.html

[Anonymous]

Dartmouth requires three years but "prefers" to see four of the same language

[Anonymous]

MIT 2 years.

https://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool/

Caltech, no recommendation
https://www.admissions.caltech.edu/apply/preparing-for-caltech/selecting-high-school-courses#:~:text=All%20students%20are%20required%20to,humanities%20and%20social%20sciences%20classes.

[Anonymous]

My kid is stopping after 11th grade but will have taken top three levels of Spanish - 4Honors and The two AP’s. She could take Spanish 5 (a topics course for kids who don’t do AP) but would much rather do a more rigorous course in another subject like AP Music Theory. I’m assuming this is a smart strategy. Any thoughts ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!!!

I assume you are at Walls since your child has a senior project.

Wash U likes Walls - especially if you apply ED.
Explain not taking a 4th year of language in the other info section of the common app (Optional Essay).
My DS stated that he had a schedule conflict for Latin and an AP class and selected the AP class as he wanted to get a deeper sense of the content before college as it was an area of interest. Write it fact based - not excuse based.
I think my DS had a header like: 12th Grade Course Selection

OP here- yes, DS is at Walls and I love this for the extra statement.TY!