I intend on applying to several top notch universities and they all recommend 3-4 years of a foreign language. I may not have room for the 3rd year, but is it that important to take one? Will only taking two years make or break me? Please help, thanks!
These schools have <10% acceptance rate and the vast majority of the applicants will apply with the recommended preparation. So, will you be at a disadvantage? Absolutely. Will it mean an automatic reject? No, but there had better be something wildly compelling in your application if you had any hope of admissions.
Ok thanks I’ll try to squeeze in a third year I know right now I won’t be able to take 4 but I don’t have anything to stand out so I need any help I can get.
There are a lot of ways to stand out. The classes you select will only be about 1/6th of your application. make sure your SAT/ACT scores are good and maybe consider showing your language proficiency with an SAT subject test in the language you are learning. They are quite easy.
Take it! Yes, they will look down upon you for not having 4 years of language. Of course that is if you plan to apply to top tier colleges.
If you absolutely can’t take it, and your reason is valid, make sure to put in info about why in “additional info” sections of the application. I wasn’t able to take AP French this year because of scheduling issues, despite being a National French Honor Society member and Ex-French Club President (only French students can participate in French Club). The scheduling hindered my ability to take the class and be a leader of the club and gain knowledge about another language and culture(s), and it wasn’t my fault. Thus, I made sure to explain the situation on my college apps, and everything turned out great
You may also take it at a CC over the summer.
What about if I have 3 years but they are: french 1 , french 2 , and next year my senior year, i’m taking AP French. will that hinder my application because i don’t have four years?
They ideally want to see fluency, that is why the 4th year is recommended. At 2 years you are at a serious disadvantage. Why aren’t you prioritizing core classes if that level of college is your aim? Foreign language is considered a core, not an elective. You should have room for core before you add electives, imo.
^^attaining level 4 or AP is considered 4 years (it is the equivalent)
Several most-selective institutions “REQUIRE” three years, while four years is ether “recommended” or “strongly recommended.” I don’t know if an application would be rejected for failure to comply with this mandatory prerequisite – that’s what requirement means – but it certainly could be.
@TopTier According to the common data set at Ivies, almost none of them require 4 years of foreign language. However they recommend it.
^ ^ ^
Isn’t that precisely what I indicated in post #9, @qpqpqp?
For competitive schools, treat all “recommended” as “required”.
Take 1 or 2 years over the summer if needed. You should definitely have 3, and aim for 4 if you possibly can.