<p>I know that many universities recommend having at least 2 years of a foreign language, but is it a hard requirement? Will having only one French credit be detrimental in the admissions process? How much will it help to have a second credit in French?</p>
<p>If the college requires two years of a single foreign language, you should assume that you can be rejected simply because you don’t have two years unless you have a valid excuse, such as that your high school does not offer foreign language. Some colleges may be a little lenient but don’t count on it; having whatever high school courses are required by the college for admission is very important.</p>
<p>If a college only recommends two years, you will still be considered but will have that weak factor against you while you are competing with practically everyone else who has met the recommedation.</p>
<p>Note, in the usual case if a school is using “two” years that school will be one stating it as a requirement not just a recommendation. It is when the school is one that says “three” or “four” years of a single foreign language that it is often stated as a recommendaiton rather than a requirement. Thus, having only one year is likely to limit your options significantly.</p>
<p>^ Thanks for that.</p>
<p>I go to school in Canada, where most students only take French for the one year; it is not factored into postsecondary admissions the way it is in the states. If I do get another credit in French, will it be enough to increase my likelihood of being admitted into a good school?</p>
<p>Is the “one year” of French in your Canadian high school a beginner course, or is it a more advanced course for those who have previously had French in elementary and middle schools?</p>
<p>We start French in the fourth grade, and although it is fairly basic, 9th grade French expands upon the knowledge learned before high school.</p>
<p>The reason it’s ‘recommended’ rather than ‘required’ at most schools is that there are many exceptions. Kids who are bi-lingual for example (and you can take the SATII or AP exam in that language to prove it). ASL can be counted for the language requirement. And finally, an otherwise outstanding applicant who doesn’t have the ‘recommended’ number of years of a language may still be considered by all but the most selective schools.</p>
<p>So the question is, how good is your French? Could you get a 600 or better on the SATII?</p>
<p>I think that I will get the second credit, just to be safe. I’m good with languages, so I don’t think it will be particularly challenging to take another course; it’ll just be a little bit of an inconvenience on top of everything else.</p>
<p>Would you need to score in that range on the sat reading only or on the full sat subject test?</p>
<p>Right, I would definitely recommend taking the second course. I’d imagine that not having a basic requirement like the full 2 years of language would set you back a bit at admissions, despite any good reason for it, due to the sheer number of applicants that most schools get.</p>
<p>Personally, I think you’d be doing yourself a disservice to take an easy class instead of challenging yourself with a class you really want to take. Even top schools admit kids from Canada. I think they understand the situation. Before you screw up your schedule to please a school you may or may not get into anyway, call and ask them.</p>
<p>The main reason I’m bothering with the second year is because next year I’m moving, and I will be graduating from an American high school, where students are essentially expected to take a foreign language for at least 2 years.</p>
<p>If you started French in 4th grade in Canada, it is entirely possible that when you go to a US high school, your correct placement will be higher than French 2.</p>
<p>You may want to check your knowledge of French using old US standardized tests:</p>
<p>[French</a> SAT Subject Test - SAT French Practice Questions](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board)
[French</a> with Listening SAT Subject Test - SAT French Practice Questions](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board)
[AP:</a> French Language](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>AP French Language and Culture Exam – AP Students)</p>
<p>If you find them easy, then your French ability is likely at the equivalent of level 4 or 5 or higher in US high school French courses.</p>