Why Study Latin?
(an argument from utility with appeals to authority)
Bryan Smith

The courses a student takes in high school will be used in years to come to judge his qualifications in higher programs of study. In the case of Latin studies, it may still seem odd to some that the study of this language presents an impressive suggestion to college and university admissions personnel; but in the ebb and flow of educational theories in America, it is again generally acknowledged that Latin is uniquely suited to training the mind in basic linguistic structures, cultivating precision and style in the use of words, while also unlocking the meaning of much of our native tongue. All of this is part of the “formative” argument for Latin and does not even address its cultural benefits.

A student can always be sure his Latin professor will encourage him to continue his efforts with Virgil, but what do the more disinterested in education have to say about students who study Latin? In 2002, The Texas Classical Association conducted a survey in which they asked admissions personnel around the country what they thought about students with several years of Latin on their transcripts. The following are some of the responses.

“Students taking Latin are typically scholarly. They pursue academic study in the purest sense, they are not simply fulfilling a requirement.”
Matthew Potts, Admissions Counselor, University of Notre Dame

“We consider students who study Latin seriously (with strong, steady performance) to be excellent candidates for Bryn Mawr.”
Elizabeth Mosier, Acting Director of Admissions, Bryn Mawr College

“This year, I was particularly impressed by a student with average test scores and grades who had taken Latin throughout middle and high school. We ended up offering the student admission, and I think it is fair to say that it was his commitment to Latin that tipped the scales.”
Andrea Thomas, Assistant Dean of Admission, Hamilton College

“This student is likely to be disciplined, have a strong basis for further learning, be a little more creative toward intellectual pursuits than most.”
Michael C. Behnke, Vice President for Enrollment, University of Chicago

“Classical languages on a transcript indicate seriousness of purpose and true devotion to a rigorous program of study.”
Fred Zuker, Vice President and Dean of Student Services, University of Dallas

“A background in Latin provides students with a stronger English vocabulary. Open any SAT prep book and you will see a crash course in Latin in the vocab section.”
Andrea Thomas, Assistant Dean of Admission, Hamilton College

“Vocabulary and grammar of the English language can be mightily improved through the study of Latin.”
Kathy Lindsey, Associate Director of Admissions, Middlebury College

“Our recommendation is that, in terms of high school preparation, students take 4 years of a single language, believing that achieving proficiency in a language is preferable to not quite achieving proficiency in two. We value the study of Latin very highly, at least on par with other languages.”
Steve Le Menager, Director of Admissions, Princeton University

“We add on extra ‘weight’ when we see Latin on a transcript.”
Philip Ballinger, Dean of Admissions, Gonzaga University

“That’s a student who is willing to step away from the crowd.”
Ray Brown, Dean of Admissions, Texas Christian University

Many of our students at St. Peter’s Classical School may recognize the implied argument above as an argumentum ad profundum. Nevertheless, what these authorities are noting may be more than a matter of mere appearance. Students who persist in their studies of Latin may find that, in time, they not only present the appearance of diligence, depth, and intellect; but also have, in fact, the real thing.