Anonymous wrote:DH's counselor at a just-missed-Ivy college says the only extra worth having is a minor in math or foreign language. Based on that I'd suggest OP's kid minor in Spanish and be golden.

DH's counselor is an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously majoring in Spanish creates an opportunity to engage with:

Latin America
Spain
Latin American Immigrant communities in USA.


What about Spanish interests him?

He just loves the language/culture and foreign language comes very easily to him. The classes don't feel like classes.

That’s fantastic! I guess it depends on what outcome you’re chasing - job prospects and career opportunities, unclear; broadening your mind and love of learning, priceless.

If I had a kid at an Ivy who decided they wanted to double major in Spanish I'd say more power to you. What is wrong with you people?

Majoring in a language isn't just about becoming or being fluent in it. It's more than Duolingo.

DH's counselor at a just-missed-Ivy college says the only extra worth having is a minor in math or foreign language. Based on that I'd suggest OP's kid minor in Spanish and be golden.

Anonymous wrote:Spanish just language classes or is he able to take Spanish literature courses?

A Spanish Majors at an Ivy should be all literature classes.

I would 100% encourage any humanities major as a double major. It will improve your critical thinking skills and exercise a different part of the brain.

Zero, unless planning to teach at an ELL rich school.

Suggestion: if he wants to keep pursuing it, encourage him.

The value of a second language -- no matter what it is -- cannot be measured.

to be fair, that was a different time.

there are so many very skilled kids with ivy degrees with native fluency in these languages.

I got a lot further than I should have as a white woman who went to Princeton and spoke Mandarin. Now, companies who need math with Chinese fluency have a zillion resumes.

In my day, there were people who wouldn't hire immigrant and first gen kids with native fluency bcs they felt riskier from a culture pov - which was bullshit of course. That included the government. we've all gotten a little better in this area

If your DC is at Dartmouth, I think it makes sense and I recommend it (I doubled majored in Spanish and a social science at Dartmouth). If they do a foreign study program, they will have a ton of credits from the prereqs and the three class credits. For me, I just needed to take 4 more classes after the FSP and got the double major. The Spanish professors are amazing and I was exposed to so much history, literature, art, etc. Companies with a global reach (e.g. Chase, JPMorgan, etc.) were more interested in my resume.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously majoring in Spanish creates an opportunity to engage with:

Latin America
Spain
Latin American Immigrant communities in USA.


What about Spanish interests him?

He just loves the language/culture and foreign language comes very easily to him. The classes don't feel like classes.

Then I vote yes! DCUM is awful ... I can't believe people are telling you it doesn't add value. It's adding value to his brain and his quality of life!

you can only take so many classes in college. if you dont care about 18th Century Spanish literature (a class I took), then skip the Spanish double major and take something ELSE!! the Spanish double major doesn't add a lot to your marketability, although being fluent in Spanish does .. which you can indicate elsewhere. There's honestly a short amount of time you even keep your major on your resume. TAKE WHAT INTERESTS YOU!

I seriously don't get this. My brother is one of the most successful people I know. Studied STEM in college but threw in an English Literature major on the side because he enjoyed it. Didn't hold him back and I would say has vaulted him past many other tech drones.

Adding Spanish to math/data science looks "not focused?" !!!!

My dd is minoring in Spanish and still getting a lot of Spanish. I am not sure a double major makes sense in terms of added coursework v. value compared to a minor only.

Spanish just language classes or is he able to take Spanish literature courses?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obviously majoring in Spanish creates an opportunity to engage with:

Latin America
Spain
Latin American Immigrant communities in USA.


What about Spanish interests him?

He just loves the language/culture and foreign language comes very easily to him. The classes don't feel like classes.

Then I vote yes! DCUM is awful ... I can't believe people are telling you it doesn't add value. It's adding value to his brain and his quality of life!

There are about 3 responses about of more than a dozen that said it’s not useful without qualifying that he should still do it if he likes it, and several giving an unqualified “go for it!” But yes, DCUM is awful. 🙄