<p>I'm looking to apply to many top 20 schools, but I have taken only two years of foreign language (freshman and sophmore years). Does this hurt my chances? Further, do any of the following factors impact the effect of my lack of foreign language education on my chances?</p>
<p>I am already trilingual, as I read, speak, and write English plus two other languages (native to my parents) fluently.</p>
<p>I am looking to become a computer science major.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Did you take one of the languages that you are fluent in? If so, it’s fine- you’re already trilingual!</p>
<p>If possible, try to get your native ability “certified” by a test of some sort. Many"Heritage" (non-native English speakers who immigrated to the US or whose parents are immigrants who passed on their native language in addition to English) speak and understand their parents’ native language well, but many do not read/write it well. You’ll need to demonstrate that it’s not your case. See if you can take a Subject test (check out the November and December dates, they have the most variety of languages).
When top colleges say " 4 years" for foreign languages, they mean proficiency preferably up to or including AP. If you have that level in one or two languages, and your 2 years are in addition to that required proficiency, it’d actually be very good for you, but there needs to be some kind of “proof”.</p>
<p>The language I took for two years is French (level 1 and 2), and my native languages are Turkish and Karachay (a really obscure kind of Slavic-Turkish language). I immigrated to the U.S. with my family when I was six years old, and I knew only Turkish and Karachay at that time.</p>
<p>I sympathize with colleges’ efforts to promote foreign language learning in the interest of gaining understanding of foreign cultures and greater communication abilities; however, it seems absurd to me that adcoms would penalize a student who knows three languages to fluency (having had to learn one of them, English, as a foreign language), has taken a fourth language for two years, and is replacing prospective future high school foreign language instruction with AP classes of personal and career interest.</p>
<p>I am confident that I am fluent in my native languages, and I hope that proof of fluency in my native languages will help my chances.</p>
<p>Any additional feedback would be appreciated.</p>
<p>As long as you note that you are trilingual and English is not your native language, I think you’ll be fine. There are many more important factors top 20 schools will use to admit or reject you.</p>
<p>As I said being trilingual will HELP you by setting you apart. However since you came here as a 6year old you will need to prove that you haven’t forgotten these two languages and can write/read them. If you can’t but can speak/understand them you need to fill out the common app indicating First language : Farchay . Language spoken at home : Turkish. This will clearly indicate that you are trilingual. If you took classes at a Cultural center you need to include that and indicate what level you reached.</p>
<p>Check the schools you are going to apply. Many schools recommend 3 or 4 years of foreign languages. Although not required, it may hurt your chance slightly when they are comparing you with other students with similar credential.</p>