<p>I plan on applying to a competitive school (Ivy/Little Ivy) but by the time I graduate high school, I will have only completed 2 years of Chinese, as I am taking AP Chinese in my sophomore year. I know I will get a good score on my AP test, as I am already fluent in the language, but will the fact that I've only taken two years of language disqualify me from applying to these schools?</p>
<p>Every university is different. Some require 2, 3, or 4 years of courses, but usually this is just recommended. Also common is a requirement of say 700+ on a language SATII exam or a 4+ on an AP language exam. You’ll have to look into each individual university. As far as I have found, the universities are pretty lenient- the language portion is more of a strong suggestion than a requirement. A good score on the AP exam, a good score on a SATII exam, and describing yourself as bilingual will help a lot. However, some may require the courses. You just have to check.</p>
<p>Ex, from Princeton:
"This is not a list of admission requirements. We understand that not all secondary schools offer the same academic opportunities, and we give full consideration to students who don’t have access to all of these courses.</p>
<p>If possible, we expect students will complete the following courses before beginning study at Princeton:
four years of one foreign language
(among many other suggestions)"</p>
<p>I’m applying to Princeton with 3 years of language. I really don’t care. Engineering major anyway. If they ask for some reason, I’ll explain that I have no interest in Spanish and am looking forward to pursuing a different language at Princeton. I am sure they will understand.</p>
<p>The recommendation/“requirement” of 4 years of the (same) foreign language means that you’ve reached and completed the 4th year of the language as offered in your high school.</p>
<p>You can achieve that in many ways – as for example by taking four years of the language in high school; or, by having taken 2 years of the language in middle school and placing in level 3 (3rd year) of the language in your freshman year, and then completing level 4 in your sophomore year; or, by having completed a bi-lingual education through middle school and placing “beyond” level 4 of the language in high school. In that case you may follow-up with a literature course in the language and an AP exam – possibly in freshman year.</p>
<p>In any case it’s not the actual count of years taken in the language during high school that matters but the level you attain. Validate that level, especially if its the highest, by taking the AP exam in the language. And if your high school offers courses beyond level 4 of the language (as for example AP Spanish Literature, or Honors French Literature), take those.</p>