<p>During my freshman year, I took French as my foreign language, as I had never held a firm grasp of Spanish. I enjoyed the class, and hoped to continue learning French however, I transferred from a private to a public high school, which had just phased out its French program due to lack of funding. Rather than taking Spanish I as a sophomore, I decided to try to get enough students to enroll in the class for French II to be offered. Unfortunately, this did not happen, and instead I am taking French II online, which is an abysmal experience. </p>
<p>While the material and coursework is not difficult or worrisome, I know I will not be able to complete a third year of French before applying for colleges. I know a number of my ideal schools require that you have three years of foreign language to even apply, usually preferring four (which is unfeasible at this point). I only recently became aware of this issue, and would appreciate advice on how to approach the problem. I could try to cram in French III senior year, again online (the local community college conflicts with marching band schedule), but that would be rather hectic to fit in. Any advice would be welcome and appreciated. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Also, my apologies if this is the wrong forum for this topic, I’m new to CC.</p>
<p>I would email the admissions counselors of the colleges you wish to apply to and explain your situation to them. They’re really the only ones that can provide you with the answers you need.</p>
<p>Very few schools ‘require’ 3 years of a foreign language - most ‘prefer’ or ‘recommend’ it. Check the schools’ web-sites carefully. Questions like ‘you mean mean what you say on your website?’ are not likely to be appreciated. </p>
<p>It is not unreasonable to explain that you were faced with doing a 3d year of your current language on-line or starting another language from scratch and decided not to do either. Most school will accept that if you are otherwise a very strong applicant. </p>
<p>Be aware, however, that many schools will require that you take a foreign language if you are unable to test out of it. This might mean that you have to spend valuable time at college learning a language.</p>
<p>Looking at the colleges I’m considering, I was able to find an explicit requirement from Claremont McKenna [Admission</a> - Claremont McKenna College - Acalog ACMS?](<a href=“Claremont McKenna College - Acalog ACMS™”>Admission - Claremont McKenna College - Acalog ACMS™)) and Syracuse (backup school, my brother goes there and I’m well above their average acceptance [Requirements](<a href=“http://www.syr.edu/futurestudents/undergraduate/applytosu/requirements/firstyear_requirements.html]Requirements[/url]”>http://www.syr.edu/futurestudents/undergraduate/applytosu/requirements/firstyear_requirements.html)</a>). I couldn’t find it on their site, but according to CollegeBoard, Gettysburg College requires three years, but I’d be very happy to find something which says otherwise.</p>
<p>Would only two years of foreign language hurt my chances at other schools I am interested in? Places I’m looking at include Princeton(reach, but it’s worth trying!), Stanford(again, reach), Haverford, Amherst, Grinnell, Pomona, Vassar, Bates, UVA, and the University of Arizona(state school). None of these places, as far as I can tell, require more than two years, but a number of them recommend it. Is it worth somehow mentioning my situation to other places I apply to? </p>
<p>Finally, I realize that I will likely have to study language in college, and while the amount of time taken up by those classes is less than ideal, I am interested in continuing to learn French provided I have a teacher I can speak with and actual classmates. :p</p>
<p>Grinnell recommends but does not require 3 years of a language: [Requirements</a> for Regular Admission - Catalog | Grinnell College](<a href=“http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/catalog/admission/requirements]Requirements”>http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/catalog/admission/requirements). Since Grinnell doesn’t have distribution requirements, you are also not required to take any foreign language classes in order to graduate or to take any placement tests to place out of that requirement.</p>
<p>I googled ‘foreign language requirements grinnell’ and the info was right there. I assume it’s true of the other schools as well.</p>
<p>I know that the schools listed in the middle paragraph only recommend three/four years of language, but as I haven’t and that might prove to be a disadvantage for admission for some colleges, would it be a good idea to somehow inform the admission offices of the colleges where I apply of this situation?</p>
<p>It doesn’t hurt to mention it, and yes it might have some minor impact somewhere (how would we know how every admissions officer at every school would respond?) - but common sense says that if it’s offset with an otherwise strong academic record, rigorous course schedule, good test scores, solid ECs, etc…then it’s not a big deal. The problem arises only when you have a whole slew of little ‘negatives’ that start to add up.</p>
<p>Can you take a summer language course somewhere? Definitely ask your admissions counselors about this.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>
<p>@M’s Mom
Thanks for the helpful replies 
I think my application is otherwise pretty good — not flawless by any stretch of the imagination, but I don’t think this should affect my chances. Just wasn’t sure if LACs which put a large amount of importance on academic rigor might find this a weakness without a backstory, or if an explanation would even help. </p>
<p>@anniezz
It’s unlikely that it would work with my summer schedule — I’ll be in England for most of the summer, visiting my very sick grandfather. I’ll still ask about it, though :)</p>
<p>It is a disadvantage at top schools, I’d try to fit French 3 in. You’ll be competing with mostly kids with 4 plus years of a language.</p>