Hey Guys,
Quick question for my younger brother. I myself am not 100% sure so I thought I’d ask you all. So at his school it only offers him 2 years of a foreign language (it does offer 4 I believe, but his scheduling conflicts made it so that by the end of his high school career he’ll only have 2 years of a foreign language). So I know that number of years you should take for a foreign language depends on the college, but let’s say some school he wants to apply to requires 3 or 4, what should he do? Will they understand his situation? He said that he has the option of taking a foreign language class at some community college, should he do that? His guidance counselor did say 2 years would be okay but I don’t know. Thanks guys, I just want to give him some informed advice haha.
bump
Check with admissions at a couple of schools he is interested in. Sometimes they will accept a student who has not fulfilled a requirement and then have them take the equivalent coursework in college. For example, many years ago when I went to UIUC they required four years of a foreign language, but my HS only offered two. I took the remainder a UIUC. Two years ago my D15 was missing a 4th year requirement for her top choice, and they did the same thing for her.
You could also ask them about the likelihood of CC credits transferring – it would be less expensive and maybe less difficult to meet the requirement that way.
Usually, a semester of college language covers what a year (or sometimes more) of high school language covers. If he chooses to take college language courses after taking high school language courses, he needs to check with the college’s language department on proper placement.
Two years of language are okay for non selective four year universities. If he intends to apply to selective universities he cannot do just the minimum. If he can take high school. Level 1+2, then college level 2+3 he should be covered. He could further show his preparedness by taking the sat subject test in that language.
Thanks for your help guys!