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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Np here
So when we say 4 years , does it mean if junior dc is done with Spanish 4 this year, then not necessary or particularly impressive to take ap Spanish during senior year if you are applying to say schools like uva who recommend 4 years???

It means Spanish 4. So if they started in 8th grade and have Spanish 4 junior year that’s 4 years.

But some schools have a possible 6 years of language offered. Wouldn't a college ding someone for not taking the most rigorous load through 12th?

Anonymous wrote:What is the requirement for number of years of language taken at Umd college park? Do they count the years of WL taken in middle school?

My son is at College Park. He only had 2 years of WL and he chose to take ASL instead of Spanish or another language. I know many kids there who were similar.

Anonymous wrote:enough about UVA, not important to most people.

Thank you. God, the endless boosting is so tiresome.

Anonymous wrote:Some colleges have language proficiency requirements. If you have only taken two or three years in college, you may have to take another year in college. My older DS DID NOT have to take a language at W&M because he took four years in high school, but several of his friends did. My younger DS is at a SLAC. I told him to take a fourth year of Spanish in high school but he thought it was "stupid." Well, he was the "stupid" one and ended up having to take a full year of Spanish once he got to college.

Thanks for this! I made my Senior take the 4th year of Spanish. He hates/bored by it.

He is applying to top schools and school counselor told him it was fine to stop at 3 years. Just not so from reading about the schools he’s applying to. I told him “better safe than sorry”.

enough about UVA, not important to most people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Np here
So when we say 4 years , does it mean if junior dc is done with Spanish 4 this year, then not necessary or particularly impressive to take ap Spanish during senior year if you are applying to say schools like uva who recommend 4 years???

The colleges are very unclear about this! But UVA does want you to take AP or IB Spanish if it’s available.

Yes, agree, it is unclear. My understanding is that they want four years of “high school-level” foreign language. School systems that offer levels 1 and 2 in middle school seem to universally count these as high school-level courses, meaning that going through level 4, even if that’s completed in sophomore year, would meet the standard.

However, as PP notes, many highly selective schools prefer to see completion of the highest level available. So at my kids’ school, that means six years of French for most kids: 1 and 2 in MS, then 3, 4, pre-AP, and AP in HS (although some kids are given permission to skip pre-AP).

Right, top schools like UVA want to see if your child exhausted the opportunities given. This is why they want to see the child taking “the most rigorous curriculum “ and that applies to foreign language (although some outliers will post unusual stories) but I also agree with the poster above saying if your child isn’t aiming for a top school then let her enjoy life but she should talk to her high school’s college counselor first to make sure she understands this. And yes post colleges have their own foreign language requirements after she arrives

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Most competitive admissions colleges want to see four years.

Define competitive

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?

Most competitive admissions colleges want to see four years.

Anonymous wrote:What is the requirement for number of years of language taken at Umd college park? Do they count the years of WL taken in middle school?

My DC took AP French in 9th grade and had four years of HS level foreign language from middle school (2 years French, 2 years Russian). Guidance counselor recommended taking another two years of a different language because colleges will want to see three years taken in high school (not middle school), including UMD.

MS credits count if they show on the HS transcript.

What if you take AP Spanish in 11th grade but do not take AP Spanish Lit in 12th grade ? Our school only sometimes offers Spanish lit due to interest or teacher availability. It might also be possible to do some type of Spanish independent study in 12th but it probably wouldn’t be at the level of AP Spanish Lit

Colleges recommend a certain number of years of high school FL., or a certain level of proficiency ---- because --- they want their incoming college students to be successful since many college majors have a foreign language requirement to graduate from that college. I know, a bit of a run-on sentence.

It's not just about getting into college, it's about getting out.

If your student wishes to pursue one of the college majors that does not have a FL requirement, high school FL isn't very important. Their academic background in the relevant subjects, though, need to demonstrate that they are good match. Colleges know many students later seek to change majors, so the incoming high school student who can easily do that, move between majors w/a strong well rounded academic background, is desirable.

As others have said look at the school’s common data set. For example, Old Miss does not require foreign languages - https://irep.olemiss.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/98/2023/04/UM-CDS-2022-23-PDF-1.pdf

Anonymous wrote:Np here
So when we say 4 years , does it mean if junior dc is done with Spanish 4 this year, then not necessary or particularly impressive to take ap Spanish during senior year if you are applying to say schools like uva who recommend 4 years???

It means Spanish 4. So if they started in 8th grade and have Spanish 4 junior year that’s 4 years.