<p>SO in ninth and tenth grade, I attended a school that was very new and small and I guess kind of experimental, but it was supposed to be advanced. In middle school, I had taken two years of Spanish, but the high school I was attending did not offer third year Spanish and the guidance counselor said that universities only required two years of a foreign language. During ninth grade, I took Latin, but didn't continue that language for a second year.
Fast forward to eleventh grade. I began attending a new school and wanted to take third year Spanish but was advised against signing up for it because it had been two years since I last studied that subject. Guidance councilor here said I would be fine with just two years, so I didn't worry about it that much. However, after signing up for classes I began to look at colleges (I'm interested in a few prestigious liberal arts colleges) and I noticed that almost every school recommends a minimum of three years of a foreign language. Now its the summer before my senior year, and I'm kind of freaking out. I don't think my school will let me sign up for third year Spanish next year because, once again, they'll say its been too long since I've studied the subject. I could take Introductory Spanish at a community college, but I think that would basically just be like retaking my first year of Spanish, and I'd rather spend my senior year in more advanced classes. So I guess I'm in a bit of a pickle.
My question is... how much is having only two years of a foreign language going to hurt my chances at admission to a selective college?</p>
<p>All other things being equal, the applicant that took 4 years of all core subjects (English, math, science, social science/history, and foreign language) will be more competitive than an applicant with holes in the transcript. It’s not a deal breaker for some schools, but it could hurt you.</p>
<p>I don’t know why you couldn’t spend some time over the summer to brush up.</p>
<p>It depends upon the school. If it’s a selective school that recommends 3 or 4 years of a language, you will be behind those who fulfilled those requirements, all other things equal or close to it. Yes, it can be a deal breaker at some schools. There are other schools that won’t care.</p>
<p>Some colleges require that you take 3 or 4 years of a foreign language and only taking 2 could limit your choices. </p>
<p>Ok… so should I take the class at a community college even if it isn’t a more advanced course than i’ve already taken? the colleges i’m really looking at are barnard and wesleyan.</p>
<p>For Barnard and Wesleyan, you will be at a disadvantage. If the local CC offers a placement test, take that, and then take the level that they place you into. I can’t imagine that you have forgotten so much that you would have to start from scratch.</p>