<p>Hello CC,</p>
<p>I will be applying to Yale SCEA next year. My only concern is foreign language. I only took 2 years of Spanish in high school but 5 years of Arabic writing and reading outside of school. I speak 2 native languages and want to know how important foreign language is to colleges. Everything else is no issue (2300+ sat, 3.9+ gpa, top 10% of class etc)
Is any courseload a major determining factor?</p>
<p>Cmon guys…</p>
<p>Here is Yale’s take:</p>
<p>Balance</p>
<p>Yale does not have any specific entrance requirements (for example, there is no foreign language requirement for admission to Yale). But we do look for students who have taken a balanced set of the rigorous classes available to them. Generally speaking, you should try to take courses each year in English, science, math, the social sciences, and foreign language.</p>
<p>We encourage you to pursue your intellectual interests, so long as it is not at the expense of your program’s overall rigor or your preparedness for college. Be honest with yourself when you are deciding between different courses. Are you choosing a particular course because you are truly excited about it and the challenge it presents, or are you also motivated by a desire to avoid a different academic subject?</p>
<p>You should also bear in mind that many other selective colleges do have minimum course requirements for entering students. It is best to research each school individually.</p>
<p><a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/advice-selecting-high-school-courses[/url]”>Advice on Selecting High School Courses | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions;
<p>“Is any courseload a major determining factor?”</p>
<p>See page 2, upper right hand corner: <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2013/2013SchoolReport_download.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2013/2013SchoolReport_download.pdf</a></p>
<p>When you apply to college, your guidance counselor must complete a secondary school report (SSR) that asks them to rate the rigor of your course load, as compared to all other college bound students at your school. If the majority of students are taking four years of a language and you have only taken two years (not counting your studies outside of school) will they rate your couse load as (a) most demanding (b) very demanding (c) demanding (d) average or (e) below average? </p>
<p>Yale, and other select colleges, rely heavily on your guidance counselor and teacher recommendations. Honestly, it all depends on how your GC rates you. If they say you have taken the “most demanding” schedule at your high school, then having only two years of a foreign language should not matter. However, if they rate your schedule anything less than “most demanding” that does not bode well for you – at Yale, or anywhere else.</p>
<p>Believe the info in the above posts. My son only had two years going into his senior year. He chose AP music theory over foreign language his junior year and couldn’t take French any other time because of scheduling conflicts. He is taking a foreign language this year, so he will have three years upon graduation. He was accepted SCEA.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone! Momofmusician, I take great solace in your comments.
Kdog, Are you on the admissions committee???
And to answer the question to nobody in particular, I have, perhaps, the most rigorous courseload in a class of 200 at a top 50 public magnet school.</p>
<p>Nevermind kdog…
I didn’t know you quoted yale.</p>
<p>also because of scheduling conflicts, i only have three years of French and was accepted SCEA.</p>