Best time to take foreign language & computer electives

[Michelle in AL]

Is there a best yr (9,10,11 or 12) to take foreign language? Dd is planning on taking 2-3 yrs of spanish. She will be dual enrolled for 11th & 12th grade. I seem to remember a possible option of somehow getting out of taking a foreign language in college. Is it by testing out? If so, it might be better to wait until the later high school yrs.

What about computer classes? Is it best to do these early do they can use the skills or more towards the end so they're fresher in their mind for college.

Thanks for your help,
Michelle in AL

[Michelle in AL]

Bumping this up to see if anyone can help, we're trying to put together the 4yr high school plan.
Thanks, Michelle

[In The Great White North]

If she wants to test out of Spanish, she'll most likely need all 4 years. I'd start with 9, 10, 11 and take the AP test. She can always continue Spanish in 12th grade and take it again if she doesn't get a 4 or 5.

You don't have to be in 12th to take the tests.

I know a lot of colleges want 2 years of a foreign language for admissions, but if they require a language for graduation, they expect more. Not all do.

For computer classes, the basic skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) she may as well learn it early and use it. Ds found he didn't need a class for that.

Java, HTML, or something like that can be done anytime and she only needs them if she's interested in computer science. I've never heard of a college requiring them.