Foreign Language Requirements for Top Colleges

Applying to College
1

<p>I am facing quite a conundrum...</p>

<p>I am going to be applying to Dartmouth, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, etc. I am currently a second semester sophomore. Now, this summer, I plan to take some classes at the Harvard Summer School if I am accepted. I am unsure about the foreign language requirements. My school (a small, private Christian academy in SoCal) only offers Spanish I-IV and American Sign Language I & II. Disregard the ASL. I am currently taking Spanish II. </p>

<p>For Harvard's Summer Program, should I be accepted God willing, I would take Statistics and Chinese I (I really want to learn Chinese... my mom is, after all, Chinese). </p>

<p>I would then skip Spanish III in the Junior year (since I would have a schedule crammed with AP/Honors Classes, as well as Honors Journalism and Honors Choir Accompaniment - Piano). Then, I would take Spanish III Senior Year. </p>

<p>But, will colleges like Dartmouth, Harvard, or Stanford be OK with me taking 3 years of Spanish and one year of Chinese, or do they want four years of Spanish? The requirements only call for four years of a foreign language. There is no indication that you have to stay with one language. </p>

<p>I believe three years of Spanish is enough to get by, and my mom and friends can help me with my Chinese once I have built a sturdy basis in Chinese I. But, I need your help.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

<p>PS: I am not concerned with academic or EC's as of now. They are very (I mean, VERY) strong. I would appreciate answers focused on foreign language.</p>

2

<p>You’ll be fine - you are taking a rigorous courseload and are continuing a single foreign language as well as beginning another. I don’t think the lack of a fourth year of Spanish is a big deal.</p>

3

<p>Did you post this same question on the Harvard forum? I answered there that Harvard recommends that applicants have taken 4 consecutive years of a language. Other colleges have different recommendations.</p>

4

<p>I think, yes you are taking a rigorous course load but I also agree that at these schools 4 years of a language would be preferred and actually, unless it’s a summer intensive like some school’s offer, why one summer of chinese? I don’t think there is a sturdy base built with chinese I, an introduction at best. However, if languages aren’t your forte, I can understand the three years… but just remember, if you take an entire year off from spanish, it will be difficult to pick that back up right away.</p>

5

<p>Take the four years of Spanish. This can only help you. The 3+1 years of language COULD hurt you in some way - so don’t take a chance.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>When you have a question like this, it’s best to start with the primary source:</p>

<p>[Harvard</a> College Admissions § Applying: Preparing for College](<a href=“http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/preparing/index.html]Harvard”>http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/apply/preparing/index.html)</p>

<p>[Princeton</a> University | Academic Preparation](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/preparation/]Princeton”>http://www.princeton.edu/admission/applyingforadmission/preparation/)</p>

<p>[Secondary</a> School Course Requirements](<a href=“Home | Dartmouth Admissions”>Home | Dartmouth Admissions)</p>

<p>[Academic</a> Preparation : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/prepare.html]Academic”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/uga/basics/selection/prepare.html)</p>

<p>Also, this is a FAQ here on CC, using the Search function for ‘foreign language’ would have gotten you many threads asking the same question.</p>