I have spoken to many people, college counselors and adults, about whether replacing AP Latin with another subject will harm my college admissions chances, and the responses I heard were split. Some said that it may harm while others said it may not. The consensus seemed to be that although taking the AP class would be better, I should do what I prefer. And although I somewhat prefer not taking Latin next year, I prefer getting into an Ivy college more. I have attached my two, potential schedules below, and I would really appreciate some guidance as to whether not taking AP Latin will harm my college admissions chances. (I also just wanted to note that I have only taken two years of latin, but I have gone through level three; I took latin 1 and latin 2/3). Thanks.
With AP Latin
Junior Year: AP BC Calc., US History (AP), American Lit., AP Latin, Group Theory, and Advanced Jazz
Senior Year: Multi Var. Calc., Honors Bio, Nonfiction Lit. History of the Middle East, Advanced Topics in Math (number theory), and Advanced Jazz.
Or without AP Latin:
Junior Year: BC Calc., US History, American Lit., Group Theory, AP American Politics and Gov. (Semester Course), AP Comparative Gov (Semester Couse), and Advanced Jazz
Senior Year: Multi Var. Calc., Honors Bio, Non Fiction writing, History of the Middle East, Advanced Topics in Math, and Advanced Jazz
Those are all theoretical questions. If you stop taking Latin after 3 years it is a tip off that you obviously dont like a foreign language since this is well within your control to continue or not continue.
These are lottery schools and they can ignore 90% of all applications as a starting point before they make selections for admissions. Most of the Ivies are primarily liberal arts schools. If you can’t manage 4 of years of language, then are they even right for you?
Harvard says they recommend 4 years of a language, they are an Ivy followed by other Ivies in their policies, written or unwritten.
If you deliberately choose not to follow their “recommendation” what can anyone CC do for you other than say may be it will work for you or may be it won’t?
The planning is entirely within your hands. If you were an Ivy adcom and you have kids applying with 5 years of language meeting your guideline, why do you need to make an exception for a kid with 3 who liked advanced Jazz and history of the middle east over Vergil?
Not sure what Group Theory is and why you’d take that and Advanced Jazz instead of a year-long science class as a junior if your ultimate goal is to get into an ivy.
That Brown link also asks for three years of science - even if you’ve covered two years of lab science already, consider at least one more, even if you have to drop jazz, advanced math or Middle East history - you can explore those when you’re actually at college; why sabotage your chances of getting in to the best college for you before you start?
No one here is an Ivy admissions person, so everyone is giving their best guess.
You have a choice. You can take what you want, an equally rigorous course load that you have more interest in or you can take the courses these colleges have said they prefer to see from applicants.
Some people get in by doing their own thing. Most people don’t get in and always wonder what little thing in their application may have caused it (the truth being, it could have been nothing they did or didn’t do. It could have been poor luck).
If you take AP Latin and don’t get in anyway, will you regret that you did it? If you don’t take the Latin and then don’t get in, will you always wonder if that was the one thing that prevented it?
You should look at the required/recommended courses for any schools you are considering. IMO if you are looking at the highly competitive schools your best course would be to meet the recommended course-load. These schools will be filled with more applicants that meet all of the course recommendations and have outstanding academics, recommendations, essays, ECs etc then they can take. Not meeting the school’s recommendations would not eliminate you from consideration but it could put you at a disadvantage.
i got a likely letter from columbia with only three years of Latin (didn’t take it junior year).
I had a conflict with my latin class and my Pre-calculus class my junior year. I came from a small school so there’s lots of scheduling conflicts.
Also, since I had another free period it was optional for me to replace Latin with something else. I took AP Economics (macro first semester, micro second semester) to replace that schedule conflict (my school’s scheduling is soooo weird).
My GC didn’t even mention me not taking latin my junior year in her letter of recommendation. Plus, I self-studied Latin and got a couple of national awards in Latin prior to applying. She did, however, mention me taking AP economics on my free time which I think showed favorably.
But yeah 4 years is ideal, especially if your school offers it. But if you absolutely cannot, then don’t sweat it.
I’d take AP Latin if I were you.
NOT taking 4 years of a language can be overlooked IF you have taken the most rigorous Language class offered.
I highly doubt you would be at a disadvantage if you [technically] take 3 years of Latin IF it ends with AP Latin.
But it may raise questions and put you at a disadvantage if you do not take it.