Effect of supplemental language program on college apps

[SlitheyTove]

<p>D1, an about-to-be-high-school senior, attends a supplemental language program that meets one weekend morning and two evenings a week. She receives language credit that transfers over to her high school transcript. The program's been a mixed bag educationally and socially. Lately, she's really not been enjoying the program at all, especially as she no longer has friends who attend, and she asked me if she "has" to attend the evening program next year. She would take the weekend program, which would not grant her language credit.</p>

<p>We the parents have no issue with her dropping the program for the coming year, but I'm wondering what effect this would have on her college applications next year. For public schools I don't think it will be an issue, but for some of the privates, it might. Privates currently on her list, subject to change, are Tufts, U Rochester, GWU, and Muhlenberg. I'd think that another year of language would be especially useful for the Tufts application, but I don't know about the others. I'm thinking of suggesting to D1 that she talk to at an adcom at Tufts to see if they'd really like to see that final year of language (D1 is aware of the Tufts langauge requirement and is planning to study another language in college). Does anyone have any suggestions about, in general, taking or not taking the fourth year of language? D1 will have 5 AP courses each semester, so her schedule will continue to show rigor. </p>

<p>A side issue is that the supplemental program only issues credit at the end of the academic year. It won't show up on D1's midyear report, and I'm wondering if it's going to show up in time for her final transcript that will be sent to her future college. If only Tufts really cared, and D1 wasn't accepted to Tufts, I'd also give her the option of dropping the supplemental program after the Tufts decisions came out.</p>

[2collegewego]

<p>Does this supplemental course takes the place of a foreign language in school? If so, what is her current level?</p>

[rockymtnhigh]

<p>i have the same question</p>

[mathmom]

<p>My B+ student did not take Latin (or any other language) his senior year in high school. He had credit for 4 years since he'd started the language in middle school. He never had better than a B in Latin and he'd said he was interested in International Relations which at Tufts has an even more onerous language requirement than the university as a whole. They must have decided the rest of his application was strong enough, because they took him anyway. </p>

<p>Adcoms will hardly ever answer questions like this, because the fact is it might or might not hurt, depending on how the entire file looks. I have no idea what made my son appealing to Tufts - it might have been his optional essay (an alternative history of the US), or his recommendations (I think his history teacher liked him a lot and his math teacher wrote him a wonderful recommendation which he saw), or his common application essays which I thought were quite good. </p>

<p>It sounds to me like there is plenty of rigor in her schedule. My son was so relieved not to be taking Latin he really was able to enjoy his senior year. I'm pretty convinced he's not going to learn a language well until he goes for an immersion experience. (That at least was my experience.) His GPA was iffy - though the school weighting was in his favor, and his SAT scores ranged from fantastic (CR) to just barely in the middle 50% (Math).</p>

[SlitheyTove]

<p>Yup, the supplemental course swaps for language at her high school. She's in her third year.</p>

<p>mathmom, thanks for the Tufts applicant POV. I'll pass that along to D1.</p>

[2collegewego]

<p>There is a Tufts Adcom that used to hang out here at CC, on the Tufts board. You might want to check if he/she is still there. </p>

<p>In general, I would say that schools prefer an extra year of language and a level above 3. We were told as much at a recent information session at a top lac. <em>However,</em> if your daughter's focus is not languages and she has plenty of challenge in her curriculum, I think she could include a note that she dropped down to a non-credit in the language because she'll be taking 5 APs. </p>

<p>We had a similar situation with one of my kids and social studies. Kid only had 3 years of social studies and applied to top schools that say they require 4. Well, it didn't seem to affect anything at all-- however, kid had a very challenging courseload (including 7 years of science).</p>

[mathmom]

<p>AdmissionsDan still posts on the Tufts board regularly. By all means post there, but don't count on getting a yes/no answer! (I've met him in real life too, and he's very nice.)</p>

[calmom]

<p>Given that your daughter will have 3 years of credit (through the end of this year) -- and the ongoing language enrollment won't show up on the transcripts submitted to college until too late for consideration for admissions ... I think that you should allow your d. to drop the course. It sounds like she isn't getting much benefit from it academically -- and she isn't going to get the paper benefit of a fall semester grade, either -- so what's the point?</p>

[compmom]

<p>I would think 5 AP courses is plenty. If she takes language outside of school for non-credit, and guidance (Or your daughter) writes a note that she is doing that, that certainly can't hurt, but won't she have enough to do this year with all those AP's, applications and so on? I would think some free time on weekends might be welcome.</p>

<p>That said, if she absolutely loves studying the language, and it is an authentic interest, then she should take it. I think, as a parent, I would not advocate taking something like a language course outside of school, just to get into the school. It really isn't necessary. And dropping the class once she is in should not be an option. Sorry, but that just seems a little crass.</p>

<p>One of our kids took music classes on weekends in senior year. She didn't take any science at school at all, and took, I think just 4 classes, though they were all AP. The college was more interested in the work she did outside of school on music, I think, than the absence of science from her schedule.</p>

<p>The requirements aren't written in stone and there is room for individual variation.</p>

<p>One other thing: at many top colleges, kids take languages anyway, and many take a level that is not too taxing for them either. So that language class, as I said, may not be that essential.</p>

[SlitheyTove]

<p>
[quote]
And dropping the class once she is in should not be an option. Sorry, but that just seems a little crass.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My thought was she would drop the class if she didn't get in; if she DID get in, and she'd noted on her application that she was enrolled in the class, then she would finish out the year. </p>

<p>There's a general feeling here that the next year won't be necessary, so I'll pass that on to her. Thanks!</p>