<p>I am currently an new international sophmore at a boarding school, I am wondering if I should take a foreign laguage class here, because the best colleges require applicants to take at least 3 years foreign language. But I only have 5 periods everyday, if I replace one class by a foreign language course I will miss the chance to take at least 2 AP classes. By the way, is there anyone going to Harvard without taking an foreign language course besides English and theirs' mother language?</p>
<p>The best person to answer that question is probably the college counselor at your school. Your situation IS different from that of most American applicants in that you are already learning a second language (English) while most Americans grow up in monolingual homes and attend English-language schools.</p>
<p>I know one kid, whose parents were citizen of Asian country and lived in here. The student came from one of the very rich family in Asia, and student attended a top 10 prep boarding high school. The student never took any foreign language. The Student reasoning was that since he was well versed in his mother tongue, it was not necessary for him to take any foreign language. His GC agreed with him and student did take any foreign language. He applied ED to Princeton and he was accepted. However, at Princeton the student majored in engineering. Probably for an engineering student who did not take any foreign language really did not make any difference. However, what would happen if the student were majoring in Liberal arts. I am still not so sure.</p>
<p>The answer is no, since you are already fluent in a non-English language, you need not take a foreign language. </p>
<p>For those whose other tongue is English, there is a one-year foreign language requirement that can be by-passed by scoring 600 or above on the SAT-II or on the Harvard language placement test. I do not know if international students are asked to take the test.</p>
<p>^. Can't edit. It should be "mother tongue."</p>