Hey guys, I’m a junior in high school, and I’m really worried because I’ve only taken two years of a foreign language (French), The thing that is freaking me out is that I want to go to NYU, and on the collegeboard site it has it listed that NYU requires three years of a foreign language. I’m not sure what to do! I took French in 8th grade and freshman year of high school. I think it would be too late for me to go to French III because I didn’t take it sophomore year or this year, so I probably forgot everything. But, now I’m scared that I’ll be immediately disregarded just because of the fact I didn’t take a third year of french.
What should I do?
I’d take as much time as you can to review, then take it this year (if you have time to change your schedule, that is) or next.
If it’s a requirement, you should definitely take a third year. Most Ivies require four years!
Some states require three years just to graduate high school. Hopefully, this isn’t your case.
I know TN requires two of one, and VA requires three of one or two of two.
Texas requires only 2 languages and that lulled me into a false sense of security. 
apparently my school will not allow me to take a 3rd year of French because it wasn’t consecutive… But I think I can take Latin? Would that count towards the three years?
Latin’s pretty hard, and when colleges say three years, they mean of the same language.
So I’m not sure what to do? I’m really freaking out.
You can try taking a summer class (French 3) at a local community college.
If your school won’t let you into French 3 - do ask the guidance counselor and explain you want to take Fr3 and 4 - your only optionis to dual enroll at a community college. Does your HS offer this option? Typically the class is paid for by the HS and it counts as credits for your HS graduation, too. You have to take the class after your HS classes are over or in the evenings.
In your case, you’d have to take French 2 this semester or next, French 3 in the Fall next year or over the summer (college classes cover much more than high school classes, so that Level 3 is considered equivalent to Level 4 or 5 in HS).
You can also attend an intensive summer program, such as Middlebury’s or Penn State’s, but those are expensive, those last 6 weeks and are super intense (4 hours of class in the morning, 4 hours of hw/activities in French each afternoon). Middlebury’s program is selective.
Finally, you have Concordia Language Villages, which is a lot of fun and should allow you to bypass French 3 if you attend and should allow you to enter French 4 in the Fall.
Community college would be the most expensive option.
When colleges say they require 3, it means they require 3 but want 4 or higher. Most top 50 colleges will want to see 4, but if you’re aiming for the 30-60 range, you may get by with 3.
NEVER confuse HS graduation requirements and college entrance requirements.
Assuming you want to attend a top 50 university/LAC, here’s what’s expected:
- 4 units of English, Science, and Social Science/History, with preferably AP English Language, one AP science, and one AP history if you can handle them.
- math up to precalculus or calculus; AP statistics should only be considered a complementary class to precalc or calc, OR the class to take if you can’t handle recalculus or calculus.
- Up to level 3, 4, or AP in a foreign language, or up to level 3 in two foreign languages (2 years in one + 2 years in another one can subsitute for 3 years in one)
- Science should include Bio, Chem, and Physics. Physics can be Honors Physics, AP Physics 1, or AP Physics 2.
- An art class is well-considered and is an actual requirement if you want to attend college in CA. Band, choir, etc, also count.
I’m really frustrated that the counselor mentioned none of this any of the times I was planning for my classes. The only thing I am lacking in right now is the language, so could exceptional grades and high rigor make up for the lack of a 3rd French? For example, this is what classes I have taken or will have completed by graduation:
-All Maths available and at the highest level (K= advanced, L= on-level) (Algebra I K, Geometry K, algebra II K, pre-cal K, Calculus AB or BC)
-All english available and at the highest level (English I, II, III AP, and IV AP)
-All social studies available and at the highest level (AP Human Geography, AP world history, AP US history, AP US government, AP macro economics)
-4 years of cross country/track (it is a class period here)
-4 years of digital art (Art I, II, III, and Art AP IV)
-7 science related courses (Honors Biology, Chemistry K, physics K, AP biology, Anatomy and Physiology K, principles of Health Science K, and AP psychology)
-2 years of a language (French I, French II)
-and 1 year of 2 required classes at my school (speech and PACE)
My GPA is currently 3.95 UW
Could this possible make up for a lack of a language? If not I think I have to talk to my counselor about summer courses…
It might, depends what colleges you’re aiming for.
If you can’t take a community college class Winter Quarter or Spring semester, look into the various solutions above.
Depending on your school, your GC may know your state flagship + state directional’s requirements… many flagships are okay with 2 years provided you’re not interested in Honors College and don’t live in MI/VA/CA/NC. But even out of these states, the flagships want to see 4 years (NY, PA, MD, WA…)
I’ve talked to my parents about it, and they are going to help me enroll/look for community college classes in French. Thank you so much for the help!
Glad it turned out well! Better figure it now than be stuck later…