<p>Hey, so I’m currently taking AP Spanish. However, I don’t feel in any way prepared for such a class and will probably end up doing poorly. I plan on getting a Ph.D. in mathematics in the future, and many programs require fluency in French. Thus, I’d like to drop AP Spanish and take French 1 in its place. </p>
<p>I will be applying to the top schools, MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. </p>
<p>I have the EC’s and classes to get into these schools, so I wanted to know if dropping AP Spanish (it’s only a week into school so they wouldn’t know this) would affect my chances of admittance.</p>
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I don’t think you have to be fluent, just proficient enough to pass a translation exam with the aid of a dictionary. German and Russian are usually also accepted, and I’ve seen a couple of schools that accept other languages in addition to those three ([url=<a href=“http://math.mit.edu/academics/grad/timeline/language.php]MIT[/url”>http://math.mit.edu/academics/grad/timeline/language.php]MIT[/url</a>] accepts Chinese, and [url=<a href=“http://www.math.cornell.edu/m/Graduate/language_requirement]Cornell[/url”>http://www.math.cornell.edu/m/Graduate/language_requirement]Cornell[/url</a>] seems to accept several languages, even Spanish).<br>
I don’t think it would have much of an effect. Four years of a foreign language is typically recommended, not required. If most of your ECs and advanced classes relate to STEM fields, they’ll be expecting more from you in those areas anyway. </p>
<p>Harvard, Yale, Princeton have foreign language requirements in order to graduate. You could lessen the amount of classes needed in college for a foreign language by continuing with AP Spanish.</p>
<p>3 years of one foreign language plus one year of a second is much less desirable from an admissions perspective than 4 years of a single foreign language. Additionally, one year of French in HS will not get you far; it is unlikely you would place out of any college courses, and you would wind up starting over from scratch.</p>
<p>As for Ph.D. requirements, halyconheather is quite correct; you do not need to achieve fluency, only reading knowledge. Generally the languages are Russian, German, or French, but different programs may have different requirements. Many colleges have specific language courses aimed for Ph.D. preparation.</p>