Dropping language after second year - Will it hurt my chances?

writerbabe213 · 08-24-2009, 10:00 AM

I've been having some major problems with my French teacher, the one French teacher in my school. I'm not sure I can handle taking another year, so I'm think of dropping French 3 and doing AP Psych instead. What should I do? Will it hurt my chances at UCLA? That's my top choice. I know they say three years of one language is recommended and I remember one teacher telling me I better do it if I want a chance to get in, so...will it really hurt me???

writerbabe213 · 08-24-2009, 10:07 AM

P.S. I moved to this new school so I only had my french teacher for a year.

SeanWall · 11-13-2009, 03:14 AM

It will most definitely hurt you. 1 year when 3 is recommended is not good. I personally would take 4. Hating a teacher is no excuse to drop a class, I have had horrible teachers but I finished out the year. I suggest you do the same.

campbellmom · 11-13-2009, 01:48 PM

Definitely stick with three years of French! My S also disliked his French teacher (same one for French I and 2) and then wanted to drop French 3. But we said no, you have to stick with it and he did. We even called one of the colleges that he wanted to apply to and the advice was to take the third level of language, especially because he would not be a math/science major.

UCLA is extremely competitive and my guess is that the majority of applicants will have 3-4 years of foreign language (along with super GPA's and SAT scores.) If you are looking at certain CSU's, two years of language might be o.k. but look at each individual school's requirements.

For competitive schools like UCLA though, definitely do the three years of language.