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Foreign Language advice PLEASE!
goatgirl
20 replies8 threads Junior Member
My HS uses foreign language in calculating class rank. This stinks because some people had languages classes available during middle school and are now done with their language requirements. My middle school didn’t have them available and now I have to do my Spanish classes during HS. The fact that they’re regular classes (with no multiplier) drags me down in the ranks because others are taking AP electives that’s have a huge multiplier. I am a strong student and have a decent shot at upper tier schools like Rice and Vanderbilt but I know colleges prefer more than two years of foreign language. I’m almost done with the two years required by my district. It’s a conundrum because if I take a third year of Spanish, just to “look good” for colleges, the regular class will definitely yank me out of my current rank of #2 (out of 790 students). In addition, the Spanish teachers at our school stink. They don’t teach well and love handing out B’s. (Not all teachers are equal, right? Bear that in mind in this case) What would you do? Take the class but lose your rank? Or hold tight to your rank and be done with Spanish? Can you think of any alternatives? Thanks for your advice.
14 replies
Replies to: Foreign Language advice PLEASE!
For the most part class rank is finalized after you apply to colleges so it isn't a big factor for college admission.
In terms of a bad teacher - I would never tell a college admissions officer you were afraid to take a class because you might have a bad teacher or that you got a B because of a bad teacher.
If you don't want to continue foreign language in your HS perhaps you can seek out an accredited online class, a summer program, or a CC class (if those options are affordable to your family).
Assumes facts not in evidence. The OP lives in TX, so GA Tech automatic admissions policy is not applicable.
I was in a situation similar-ish. I've been top 2 and wanted to maintain the rank, but I didn't take Spanish in middle school and therefore I had only academic options. I decided to do Dual Enrollment in French. Is is possible for you to continue your language through a DE program so you can hold on to your rank and continue world langauge?
Living in Texas probably puts class rank first and foremost in college-bound high school students' minds (at least those aiming for the more selective Texas public universities, where class rank is used instead of GPA and can fill up much of the class with automatic admission by class rank). Seems that a lot of ugly or counterproductive class rank competition or gaming stories on these forums come out of Texas.
What is missing from the OP's post is how far his/her rank would drop if s/he continued taking unweighted foreign language. If it is a big drop (perhaps falling out of the top 6%/10% automatic admission range), then the OP has the ugly choice between:
A. Continue foreign language, for better preparation for college generally and for admission to most highly selective colleges other than the more selective Texas publics.
B. Stop foreign language and take more weighted courses keep top-end class rank to maximize admission chances to the more selective Texas publics (and their more selective majors/divisions).
If you take Spanish in the summer will it be included in your GPA rank calculation?
My suggestion would be to work on your Spanish outside of class, and work on your Spanish over the summer. Watch TV shows in Spanish. Find opportunities to talk Spanish with native Spanish speakers. With some work you should be able to improve your grades in Spanish, and also learn something useful.
https://commonapp.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/#d0000000eEna/a/0V000001Avzq/PBXzR0UOtu4hSdgTXHDH9Sk6bTeQ6w8l2NQblq_KoZ0
Really, this looks like a lose-lose choice.
I was just using Georgia Tech as an example (why I used "eg" instead of "ie").
The state of Texas has an interesting law which benefits valedictorians of Texas high schools with graduating classes of 50 or more:
Texas Education Code 54.301 as revised October 26, 2019.