<p>I will not be applying until this fall, but I would like some advice from any veterans or transfers. I am an English major aiming to attend UCI/UCLA (TAG @ UCI). IGETC has already been completed, two more English courses to complete until pre-reqs are done (tbc by end of fall 12). However, also listed as pre-reqs are two years of a foreign language. I have decided not to take those courses for the following reasons and would like to know how it would affect my chances of admission.</p>
<p>I took three years of Spanish at the high school level and would have been exempt from beginner Spanish courses, jumping straight into whatever comes after 3 years of high school Spanish. However, I did not take Spanish my senior year and my grasp on the language is not firm. I've decided to use Vietnamese to complete the foreign language requirement as I am a native speaker. Because I have no pre-reqs to pass me out of beginning Viet and my CC does not offer placement tests into the upper level classes, I've chosen to take the placement tests at the school I choose to attend. Starting Vietnamese at the beginner level would be a waste of time/money/units if I am already fluent in the language. My counselors have said that this would not reflect unfavorably upon me if this is my reason, but I am still concerned about how it would look to admission officers. </p>
<p>Would they consider my reasons if I stated it on the app? Will the TAG keep me safe?</p>
<p>Any advice from any English major transfers or anyone who's ever dealt with completing pre-reqs would greatly be appreciated.</p>
<p>The site below states the completion of two years of a foreign language is RECOMMENDED, but I would like some more information regarding the matter.</p>
<p>Transfer</a> Admission, Selection and Preparation</p>
<p>I am not an english major but an art history major (where you must learn at LEAST one other language, 2 is often recommended for most programs). </p>
<p>I think the whole point of these foreign language requirements is to learn a language FOREIGN TO YOU! Not to just squeak by because you already know a foreign language…IMO it reflects badly on you if you try to take the easy way out…what does that say about you as a student? As a person?</p>
<p>If you at all plan to go to grad school you will need to know most likely 2 foreign languages related to your area of study…unless you plan on focusing on Vietnamese literature I would start a foreign (to you) language now, while you’re still at CC.</p>
<p>Answering your question I think you will get into UCI with TAG without completing pre-reqs? Unless the Tag agreement says you must complete them, why wouldn’t you get in?</p>
<p>They will reject you without it. That’s how I got rejected by UCSB. I had everything done except the FL requirement. Granted I’m bottom of the barrel coming from out of state private school, but they are requirements for a reason and they want you to do them.</p>
<p>No, they do not look at you negatively for taking an easy foreign language classes that you are already fluent in. Might as well take them for the easy “A” which also boosts your GPA.</p>
<p>TAG, as long as you meet the requirements, is a guaranteed. If it wasn’t a guarantee then it wouldn’t be called TAG.</p>
<p>The thing is that the two years of a foreign language is recommended, not required. It does appear on ASSIST though, which is why I’m worried.</p>
<p>I realize that more competitive students who complete the foreign language requirement will probably have more edge, especially at UCLA, which is why I’m more concerned with the TAG instead. As long as it’s not a major pre-req like physics is for en engineering major or British literature for an English major, my TAG is not void, correct? Especially if I provide the reasoning stated above.</p>
<p>@House, I realize that I do have some advantage if I take vietnamese as a foreign language, but I am American-born and my English is certainly stronger. Yes, I am cheating a bit seeing as how I have some background and my parents to help me, but there is still much that I have yet to master.</p>
<p>I do plan on going to law school after my undergraduate studies and need a mastery of Vietnamese in order to serve the area where I now live and could potentially work.</p>
<p>Sent from my LG-C800 using CC</p>