Foreign Language Requirements

Applying to College
1

<p>As I plan out my schedule for next year, I was looking at the CDS for Stanford, MIT, and Duke. All three require "3 or more years of the same foreign language" in High School</p>

<p>I got nervous because I just finished Spanish 3 in Sophomore year, yet started in Freshman year with Spanish 2. Therefore, I have passed through level 3 but have only "taken" 2 years of Spanish in High School. I was not planning on continuing on with Spanish next year. Does this mean I need to continue on with Spanish 4 next year to even be considered for those schools? Or are those numbers simply recommendations?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Does it say require or strongly recommend? Either way, you should continue next year. They don’t mean up to Spanish 3, they mean three actual years of studying Spanish in high school.</p>

3

<p>All language requirements or recommendations of all colleges refer to level completed not how many years you actually take in high school. With Spanish 3 you have met the three year requirement or recommendation of those colleges.</p>

4

<p>Thanks to both of you, but I am getting conflicting answers.<br>
Also, Drusba, would you recommend that I continue anyways? Even though I have filled the requirement</p>

5

<p>Level completed is generally more important, but completing level 4 should look better at the most selective schools than completing level 3.</p>

<p>Be aware that some schools have a foreign language graduation requirement that is higher than their foreign language admission requirement.</p>

<p>MIT appears to recommend only two years of foreign language:
[What</a> To Do In High School | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/highschool]What”>What to do in high school | MIT Admissions)</p>

<p>Stanford has recommendations, but not requirements:
[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>Since you are in California, UCs and CSUs have a validation policy where completing a higher level of foreign language validates the lower levels. I.e. completing Spanish 3 automatically fulfills Spanish 1 and 2 as well as 3 for UC and CSU admission requirements.</p>