Foreign Languages for Med School

[thereshope]

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Hello, friends! This is my very first post on SDN!

I was wondering which foreign language is recommended for admission into reputable medical schools and for the practice of medicine in general. If it were entirely up to me, I would learn as many languages as I could. I am currently conflicted between French and Spanish. I am interested in learning both, however, I do not have time to take both languages and be proficient in both because of the many many pre-requisites I have to take along with GE and major courses. I know Spanish is probably more recommended for practice in the United States but I'd rather learn French over Spanish as my family is of Middle Eastern and European origin. Will taking French limit my chances of getting into a reputable medical school?

Thank you in advance for your responses! 🙂

 

[gyngyn]

All languages are important. Learning French will not harm your chances.
Spanish, however, is the most useful second language to speak as a physician in the US as it is the language spoken by the largest number of non English speaking patients.

 

[TXKnight]

Hello, friends! This is my very first post on SDN!

I was wondering which foreign language is recommended for admission into reputable medical schools and for the practice of medicine in general. If it were entirely up to me, I would learn as many languages as I could. I am currently conflicted between French and Spanish. I am interested in learning both, however, I do not have time to take both languages and be proficient in both because of the many many pre-requisites I have to take along with GE and major courses. I know Spanish is probably more recommended for practice in the United States but I'd rather learn French over Spanish as my family is of Middle Eastern and European origin. Will taking French limit my chances of getting into a reputable medical school?

Thank you in advance for your responses! 🙂

Knowing a language besides english, any language, can not limit your chances. Only bad grades,MCAT, lack of EC's, lack of interviewing skills or criminal record can; those are your only things that can prevent you from matriculating. In addition,all medical schools in the US are reputable, every single student has to pass boards and what not to practice. To answer your question, you are asking what language to learn, but you already answered your own question --Spanish is more "useful" in the US (by a wide margin) and you already know that. However, since you don't want to study Spanish then learn french; it seems it's more useful for you and helps you to communicate with your family abroad. French is a beautiful language (so is Spanish)
BTW learning one will help you with the other a lot (i know both)

 

[Benedictus123]

" Will taking French limit my chances of getting into a reputable medical school?"

What?

 

[Goro]

STRONGLY agree with my colleague.

All languages are important. Learning French will not harm your chances.
Spanish, however, is the most useful second language to speak as a physician in the US as it is the language spoken by the largest number of non English speaking patients.

 

[snorlax]

You won't be successful at learning a language if you don't have the motivation to learn it. Study the language you are most excited about first. They are both romance languages, and you can pick up the 2nd one very rapidly if you learn the 1st one very well.

 

[thereshope]

Knowing a language besides english, any language, can not limit your chances. Only bad grades,MCAT, lack of EC's, lack of interviewing skills or criminal record can; those are your only things that can prevent you from matriculating. In addition,all medical schools in the US are reputable, every single student has to pass boards and what not to practice. To answer your question, you are asking what language to learn, but you already answered your own question --Spanish is more "useful" in the US (by a wide margin) and you already know that. However, since you don't want to study Spanish then learn french; it seems it's more useful for you and helps you to communicate with your family abroad. French is a beautiful language (so is Spanish)
BTW learning one will help you with the other a lot (i know both)

this was really helpful. thank you!