Foreign Language

ZJ494

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Jan 18, 2017
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I'm at a private Jesuit High School taking college prep classes, and as my foreign language I've been taking Honors Latin since freshman year. I have done ok in the class earning a B/A (depending on what grading scale is used) in it every semester up until Latin III. I am not doing as well this semester and was wondering if the Academy would count it against me for taking Latin and not doing well this semester? Or do they factor out languages when calculating their own GPA? Thanks in advance
 
I'm at a private Jesuit High School taking college prep classes, and as my foreign language I've been taking Honors Latin since freshman year. I have done ok in the class earning a B/A (depending on what grading scale is used) in it every semester up until Latin III. I am not doing as well this semester and was wondering if the Academy would count it against me for taking Latin and not doing well this semester? Or do they factor out languages when calculating their own GPA? Thanks in advance
The academy will use foreign language to calculate your GPA (at least they did for me) so continue trying to do well. One class, one semester, isn't the end all, be all, so I wouldn't get too worked up over this. Also, I'm not entirely certain, but I don't think the academy views Latin as a foreign language because isn't a modern language. Best of luck.
 
Well, the admissions pages just says two years of a foreign language... it doesn't say it must be a spoken modern language. Latin is a great foundation for improving your English skills and vocabulary, it's a big help in the sciences, and lays a foundation for learning other foreign languages, including the Romance languages, but also Russian and others. Latin does NOT appear to be taught at the academy. Your choices there will be Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Agree that one bad semester is not the be all, end all, but keep working hard at it.
 
Well, the admissions pages just says two years of a foreign language... it doesn't say it must be a spoken modern language. Latin is a great foundation for improving your English skills and vocabulary, it's a big help in the sciences, and lays a foundation for learning other foreign languages, including the Romance languages, but also Russian and others. Latin does NOT appear to be taught at the academy. Your choices there will be Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Agree that one bad semester is not the be all, end all, but keep working hard at it.
Actually, the admissions page recommends "two years of a modern foreign language". https://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/academic-performance/ (Fifth bullet point under prior academic record).

Now again, not the end all, be all. Latin still does provide a solid foundation for other things and I find it very hard to believe the academy would not take someone just because they didn't take a modern language. Nothing you could really do about it anyways. Just continue putting forth your best effort and that's all that anyone can ask.
 
Yep, you're right. Missed that key word "modern". Duhhhh.
I concur with your assessment on how they would actually treat Latin. I think I've seen some posts to that effect over the years.. but then my memory is weak and feeble. :D
 
Actually, the admissions page recommends "two years of a modern foreign language". https://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/academic-performance/ (Fifth bullet point under prior academic record).

Now again, not the end all, be all. Latin still does provide a solid foundation for other things and I find it very hard to believe the academy would not take someone just because they didn't take a modern language. Nothing you could really do about it anyways. Just continue putting forth your best effort and that's all that anyone can ask.
OP, please do not worry that you are not taking a modern language. If you do well in Latin, you will be fine. My DD did not have a language choice and took 5 years of Latin and 2 years of Greek. She made it into the Academy just fine. She was initially slotted to take Russian, but requested to change to Japanese, which was approved and she is loving her class.

Kinnem is spot on about having Latin in your pocket. It is a great foundation and will help when learning other languages. Keep working hard and don't let those grades slip. Get tutoring if you must, but don't back down. Latin builds upon itself and it willl get harder, which means greater effort on your part. You can do it!
 
Thanks for all the feedback, for my senior schedule (currently a junior) I'm dropping Hnrs Latin IV for Hnrs Computer Science
 
Do the best you can and understand one bad grade won't eliminate you from consideration. My DS went through IB/AP French and Spanish in high school. He decided to minor in Japanese at USAFA and loves it.

He also made a C and D in semesters in the two toughest classes at his high school. Both were AP classes and he made 5s on the AP exams. He was prepared and addressed the grades during his interviews. He also showed the competencies for the subjects in his ACT score being well above the average and his overall GPA being on the median. He got in and is doing well academically at USAFA. BTW, he validated both classes where he struggled in high school.
 
Don't fret too much. My DS has never had a single semester of any foreign language and was appointed into 2021 class.
 
Don't fret too much. My DS has never had a single semester of any foreign language and was appointed into 2021 class.
I think the foreign language requirement is more for university prep than SAs, ya? To be approved in Cali to attend a state school you have to have 2 years of a language in high school.
 
I think the foreign language requirement is more for university prep than SAs, ya? To be approved in Cali to attend a state school you have to have 2 years of a language in high school.

I know most universities stay firm on that requirement. It appears to me the USAFA is lenient if there is something valid to replace it. When we talked with admissions, we asked "Would taking two years of engineering courses in high school, instead of foreign language, decrease my chance of securing an appointment?" The response we received was "No. In fact, it may increase your chances."
 
That clarifies a few things, but does a low grade in the class compromise my chances because I'm doing way better in all my other classes in the low and mid 90s
 
That clarifies a few things, but does a low grade in the class compromise my chances because I'm doing way better in all my other classes in the low and mid 90s
As was said before, one low grade will not kill you, but if it starts to become a trend, that is a different story. There are many things that factor into an appointment, GPA is only one of them, albeit, a very important one. Just do your best, try your hardest and apply. That's really all you can do. Press on and aim high!
 
As was said before, one low grade will not kill you, but if it starts to become a trend, that is a different story. There are many things that factor into an appointment, GPA is only one of them, albeit, a very important one. Just do your best, try your hardest and apply. That's really all you can do. Press on and aim high!
Oh my! A Dr Who fan!!!
 
Is it possible to enroll in multiple language courses? If not, are language clubs a thing?
 
Is it possible to enroll in multiple language courses? If not, are language clubs a thing?
First year you'll only take one language class (have to do 2 semesters). To be honest (looking at the next 3 years for me) you won't have much room to take other language classes unless you come in with a lot of validation credits. As for language clubs, I honestly am not sure, but there's a huge club fair thing after basic that you get to see all the clubs, so they may be there. I only know of the Korean club..
 
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