<p>I'm from Canada, and the universities here are not exceptional at multiple things like Cornell is. However, Cornell is a very selective college. As a result, I wanted to try to find the right "major" for me in case I end up having to go to a canadian school like Waterloo. I took science and math courses in my grade 11 and 12, and did not take a foreign language in grade 10. I am applying as a math major at Cornell and my math marks are high in both school and the ACT(35 M, waiting for sept. ACT score). WIll I be at a disadvantage during the admissions process? What if I promise to take a foreign language in the second sem of my senior year, and then in summer school?</p>
<p>bump?</p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>You can’t “promise” a semester of foreign language. If it is a requirement and you don’t have it, or are not on track to get it, then yes, that will be held against you.</p>
<p>It is perfectly OK for you do communicate directly with the Cornell admissions office and ask about this. Ask to be put in contact with the admissions officer responsible for your part of Canada.</p>
<p>@AnnieBeats, do you know this for sure. I am applying for math, and thus foreign languages arent really necessary. Furthermore, is it a possibility that the three languages is a recommendation?</p>
<p>
Yes, it is a recommendation. However, Cornell also specifically asks you to address deficiencies in your preparation:
Bottom line, will you be at a disadvantage? Probably. Will this lead to an automatic rejection? Probably not. If you want further clarity, as mentioned above, call them.</p>
<p>@skieurope, why would I be at a disadvantage if I am a math major? Also what is a good reason for not taking it? In my case, I didn’t know what I want to major in, so I took lots of math and science courses. I didn’t waste an elective. Furthermore, the reason I wanted to know what I want to major in is so that if I end up going to a canadian university, I can make a better choice as to where I should go. I guess my explanation comes across as having a lack of confidence, but i need a backup plan if the unimaginable happens?</p>
<p>I am a bit confused. How many actual years of a single foreign language have you had? Are you saying that you have had three? or only two? If you have only had two, you are “deficient” and would need to explain. The only logical explanation would be that you are from Canada and three years of a foreign language are not as common there (but you better check to make sure that is correct).</p>
<p>
Cornell does not admit by major. It, and most top colleges in the U.S., are not expecting/wanting HS students to be so specialized. They want an appropriate depth in the 5 core areas: English, math, science, history/social science, and foreign language.
As an example: the school’s only German teacher retires, and the school elects not to replace her.</p>
<p>Also of note, Cornell has a foreign language requirement to graduate. The more foreign language classes you have in high school, the fewer you will potentially have to take in college, if you can place into a high enough level or place out altogether.</p>
<p>@Momof2back2back Only did one. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so I wanted to keep all possible STEM paths open, which I have done, however, that meant sacrificing 3 years of foreign language, which @skieurope is not common here because rarely do kids go to the US</p>
<p>why would I be at a disadvantage if I am a math major? because the college asks for three years and thousands of kids will give them 3 (and plenty will give 4)- including STEM kids with advanced math-sci. Adcoms will look at the transcript and see only one year. Did you take advanced courses beyond the usual curriculum or AP equivalent? </p>
<p>@lookingforward , school does not offer AP but I took enriched math and science courses, and have self studied for math contests, my math marks show improvement and are impeccable. Thousands apply as a math major??? I seriously doubt that.</p>
<p>His comment is not just about math majors, but STEM. Foreign language has as little to do with biology or chemistry or engineering as it does with mathematics.</p>
<p>The nature of education in top schools in the United States is that they expect you to be competent in many different areas, while also being exceptional in some way. Even schools like MIT and Caltech expect high grades in non-STEM classes.</p>
<p>Lookingforward was saying that your competition is stiff, because there are many people with excellent records in math and science, who have also taken foreign language. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible and you should certainly inquire directly about your own situation, but foreign language is definitely a factor. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>However, math PhD programs may expect PhD students to have a reading knowledge of one or more foreign languages in which math research papers are published (French, German, or Russian are common options).</p>
<p><a href=“https://math.mit.edu/academics/grad/timeline/language.php”>https://math.mit.edu/academics/grad/timeline/language.php</a>
<a href=“http://web.math.princeton.edu/~templier/language-exam.txt”>http://web.math.princeton.edu/~templier/language-exam.txt</a>
<a href=“Harvard Mathematics Department Graduate Information”>http://www.math.harvard.edu/graduate/</a>
<a href=“http://math.berkeley.edu/programs/graduate/phd-program”>http://math.berkeley.edu/programs/graduate/phd-program</a></p>
<p>Seems to me like your best bet is to acknowledge the shortcoming and explain what scheduling events led you to this choice. Also, I’m not sure where in Canada you are, but if you are fluent in French that might be worth mentioning as a possible mitigating factor.</p>
<p>@happy1 what does “scheduling events” mean? If it helps I can speak an ancient indian language, maharathi, but can’t read or write.</p>
<p>I meant that in terms of your setting up your HS schedule if foreign language classes conflicted with some math/science classes or something like that you might mention it in your application. And I don’t think being able to speak but not read/write an ancient Indian language language is worth mentioning. In any event at this point all you can do is apply with the schedule you have taken and hope for the best. Good luck.</p>
<p>On the common app, they’ll ask about languages one may speak, read, write. Different from having done a sequence of academic classes.</p>
<p>When there’s been a “sched conflict” over 3 years, the GC can confirm.</p>