Foreign Language Requirements

<p>What are the usual foreign language requirements for college admissions these days? Does it suffice to show the required number of years of study via the hs transcript, or do you need to prove proficiency to the college via some test?</p>

<p>Years of study, unless the college asks for a subject test in a foreign language.</p>

<p>I have a question relating to this topic: do colleges usually consider "years of study" as ones done in high school, or the level of foreign language accomplished?</p>

<p>Generally high school years (with 8th grade if you took French/Spanish/whatever I in 8th), unless you're fluent in the language.</p>

<p>The level is subjective- at one school I went to, they're French III was far easier than the French II at another. This is where AP scores generally standardize skill level, but even that is subjective as most colleges don't consider AP scores in admissions.</p>

<p>How many years of study are required? How many are desirable? Will it be detrimental to have only 3 years of foreign language? </p>

<p>My D wants to try some other electives and while she does well in foreign language, she doesn't really like it. She says that she will take the fourth year, though, if it would be wanted by colleges. </p>

<p>Can anybody share their experiences with foreign language requirements for college admissions?</p>

<p>See, I only have 2 years of a foreign language (honors) in 9-12th grade. But at my middle school, which was part of a high school, I took levels 1 & 2 at a high school level, with high school students. Should I put that down in the optional/additional comments section or no?</p>

<p>I took a high school foreign language course in 8th, 9th and 10th, but in 11th I couldnt due to a scheduling conflict with a much more important class (the language was only college-prepatory not even honors level - i just slept in the class, so I chose APUSH instead). However for me, I'm planning to self study the regents examination for the foreign language and instead continue on to take the next level in 12th grade, basically allowing me to skip this year's language (at least if next year there's no scheduling prob w/ BC Calc or something, which I'm sure we can all agree is more important)</p>

<p>Certainly, AP Calc is more important for most people (unless your goal is to be a translator or something.) But what do you all think about the fourth year of language vs. some other elective (fine arts, social science, extra science course, extra writing course, CADD, etc) Can D safely let the foreign language go yet?</p>

<p>^Sure, so long as she's not worried about losing the opportunity to be able to apply to some schools.</p>

<p>Some colleges do require 4 years of a foreign language; most top schools require 3 (with a fourth year "strongly recommended").</p>

<p>Maybe she should take that 4th year then, just to keep her options open. Perhaps giving up band would be better. It's just so hard to make room in the schedule to try some new things. If you can't try out some new stuff in your high school and college years, when can you?</p>

<p>BTW, thanks for the input! :)</p>

<p>It's stated in the application. I think it varies from 2 to 3 yrs among different colleges.</p>