I was homeschooled for 3 years up until the middle of my junior year which I then went on to attend public HS. I’m a senior now and because of homeschooling I never knew of the 2 year foreign language requirement that it seems all universities require. I have a 3.6 GPA, honor/AP student, and I’m in the top 100 out of 730 seniors at my school. Is community college really my only option just because I didn’t take 2 years of foreign language? Anything I can do about this? Should I try applying to universities anyway?
Look at the web sites of the four year schools that you are interested in to see if they require or desire frosh applicants to have taken foreign language.
Starting at community college is not the end of the world, since you can transfer as a junior to a four year school (though many four year schools will require you to have some level of foreign language in college if you have not had any in high school).
If you have heritage ability in any foreign language, then some four year schools may allow demonstrated proficiency through testing to fulfill the requirement.
Another argument against home schooling.
Is it possible to take 2 semesters of Foreign language at a community college nearby? This would equate to 2 years of FL in HS.
Most of the universities want their students to be well prepared for life.
When you have foreign language experience, you tend to learn about other cultures.
The very good universities recognize the need to have an inkling of a student’s ability to attempt another language. If you haven’t had that exposure, and other students have made the effort to learn, then the selection process is easy.
Your high school must not require that you have a two years of foreign language in order to graduate, or your counselor there would have found a way to fit this into your schedule. This means that your own guidance counselor should have experience with helping students find colleges and universities that do not require applicants to have studied foreign languages at the high school level as well as places that are known to grant waivers of their requirements for students with special circumstances like yours. So go talk with your counselor about this.
Shame on the person responsible for your education. A competent person would have looked to see what colleges need when you were in 8th grade. In my state you can only get a “General Diploma” with no foreign language.
Thank goodness for the internet. A simple google produced the following list of schools that will accept you without foreign language:
http://collegelists.pbworks.com/w/page/16119454/Foreign%20Language%20Not%20Required
It’s the responsibility of homeschool parents to know the state homeschool regulations, graduation requirements for the public school in case something happens and the children have to enroll, and admission requirements for whatever colleges they’re interested in. NYS doesn’t require homeschoolers to take foreign language, but my children will still have 4 FL credits when they graduate.
I think OP should try to fit in 2 semesters of foreign language at a local cc between now and next summer. That would count as two years.
Ouch to the comments about homeschooling. I homeschool/homeschooled my three sons. Oldest is at MIT; middle son will be at UPenn. Middle son didn’t do any foreign language until senior year. I explained one reason why we did it this way.
One semester here in California equals two years of foreign language and he met that. He was admitted to a lot of schools despite the lack of foreign language.
OP, there are schools that don’t require foreign language such as the University of Rochester. Use College Board Big Future and do some searching on requirements. If you can get in a semester of foreign language at a local CC in the spring, that will show some effort on your part. Your guidance counselor can address the issue of no foreign language. I say, find colleges that don’t require f. language, apply, and see what happens.
<<>>>
One semester of what? One semester of homeschooled FL equals TWO years of a FL?? Or one semester of a college FL (such as a CC), equals two years of a FL?
I also suggest that this student sign up for the FL classes at a local CC or online.
I am shocked that his parents didn’t know about the FL req’ts. Did they not go to HS in the US? Isn’t it pretty standard and been so for decades??? My parents had to take FL in HS and they would be in their late 80s and late 90s if still alive. Even if the OP’s parents didn’t go to HS here, as parents who decided to homeschool, they took it upon themselves the obligation to know what is req’d.
I am also surprised that his current HS isn’t requiring him to take a FL this year.
First semester of college foreign language in California CCs is usually seen as equivalent to two years of high school foreign language. Then each semester of college foreign language is seen as equivalent to a year of high school foreign language.
Some schools ‘require’ foreign language studies. Other ‘recommend’ a certain number of years. Find those schools. Also, we don’t know why you were home-schooled, but if it was health-related, or you have a special need, you may be able to get a waiver for extenuating circumstances.
I think it’s standard at many schools, but it depends on the district. I’ve been to schools where a few different languages were offered yearly from 4th grade thru high school, and others where only two languages were available and those only for two years in high school. The wealthier the district, the greater the opportunities.
My advice to homeschoolers is to always do more than the state requires. My children have 4 years of Eng, math, history, foreign language, and lab science, plus art, music, and technology. That’s several credits more than the state requires. I suspect some people don’t think about foreign language if it’s not part of the regulations (in NYS it’s not) because if colleges still required it then the state should too.
I think this student’s problem was created by both her parents and the school. If she entered high school in 11th grade, she should have been advised to sign up for FL 1 at the local cc so she could take FL 2 in 12th grade. If they didn’t recommend that but at least got her into FL 1 for 12th grade, then I’d suggest taking FL 1 at the local cc over winter session and their FL 2 in the spring.
Not every college or college pgm requires foreign language. One option is to only apply to them
That’s hardly a fair or valid comment. You can certainly make a valid comment against the home school administrator, but one bad apple…
Agree all homeschooling shouldn’t be indicted. This is one case where FL was missed and we don’t know what replaced it. Just telling the gpa, that it’s now an honors/AP track and OP is now top 10% isn’t enough for us to know what the strengths are or how competitive her current hs is. IOW, what tack she takes to explain the omission.
But yes, once OP realized the lack, he or she should have at least been in an online class or summer school or DE. If you can’t show the full requirement or recommendation, you at least show you tried to do what it takes.
There’s an easy fix : take foreign language at your cc - 1&2 will be considered to 3years in hs , winter + spring quarter or spring semester only (1ccsemester may suffice?). Or take 1&2 through flvs.
Another “ouch” on the homeschooling comment . . . that being said, as a homeschooling parent myself, I view it as my responsibility to know about this stuff.
Another possible work-around for the OP: Would taking a CLEP exam suffice? Could you CLEP out of Spanish 1 and 2, or another language, to demonstrate proficiency? That question will depend on where you plan to apply. Some colleges/universities may not accept CLEP. Furthermore, CLEP is for COLLEGE credit, not high school. But I was thinking you could do it similar to a dual enrollment option. Downside - you would have to self-study (perhaps hire a tutor or go to a language school?). FLVS could be a good option too. My son did Spanish I through them.
We have a homeschooling friend whose dad taught her an entire Latin I course in a month (highly educated guy himself). She went back to traditional high school in 9th grade and they wanted her to do Latin II so she could wrap up the Florida language requirement. She tested out of Latin I.
I’m a little surprised the traditional high school would give you a diploma without foreign language units.
Most states have a basic diploma that requires no foreign language and minimal math and science that is mostly used for kids who have special needs or who do not plan to attend college. Requiring less core courses allows for more slots for vocational type education. Some schools won’t even consider you without the 2 years of language. I know that is the case for the UC schools. I would register for an online or CC course now to show colleges a transcript that you are trying your best to get the requirement met. I would also consider explaining on the “other” section of the app why you are lacking FL. Definitely call admissions offices and ask though for competitive colleges you may be out of luck if you can’t get some credits this year.
For the vast majority of universities, you can fulfill your foreign language requirement at the university. University level languages are more fun and a lot more intensive. Some programs like engineering don’t require any foreign language unless you have a ‘core’ requirement. Just apply and don’t worry about it.