<p>When they list that they require 3 years of foreign language, do they mean they require 3 years of actual foreign language, or it is just that you have to have taken the equivalent of 3 years of foreign language from grade 9? I only have two years because I skipped two grades - 9 and 10 - for my foreign language. I only took grades 11 and 12. Would that satisfy their requirements?</p>
<p>No, because you’ve only taken two years (11 and 12) of foreign language.</p>
<p>First of all, do you mean you skipped those years and went into an upper level class? Did you receive credit for the earlier levels? Second, it has been my experience that there are no hard and fast rules on application requirements. Explain, or have your counselor explain, why you only have 2 years of HS language. For example, my D took Spanish only in grades 9 & 10, but had received 1 additional year of HS credit for 7th & 8th grade Spanish, combined. </p>
<p>Remember, Chicago has a language competency requirement. If you do not place out on your language placement exams (or with an appropriate AP score, though I don’t remember those requirements specifically), you will have to either continue the language you have background in, or start a new language when you arrive at Chicago. Generally, competency requires completion of, or placing out of, 3 quarters of a language. My D placed out of 1 quarter of Spanish at Chicago via placement test and completed 2 additional quarters of Spanish. That satisfied her competency requirement.</p>
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Yes</p>
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No</p>
<p>I will try to explain this, but it’d be much better if UofC already understood my sistuation</p>
<p>"I only have two years because I skipped two grades - 9 and 10 - for my foreign language.’
What level of Foreign language classes have you taken in 11th and 12th grade? If it is the 2 most advanced classes in a foreign language offered by your school, [hopefully including an AP class], then this can be explained by your HS counselor in his letter of recommendation, especially if you will have taken the AP test by the time you graduate. I would communicate this information to your Chicago admissions rep as well.</p>
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<p>Yes, it’s the two most advanced foreign language offered by my school. I didn’t take it in grades 11 and 12. They are called level 11 and 12.</p>
<p>Even if you place out of a language you should still learn one 
Languages are awesome, and a life saver if you’re ever in that country. Plus you can study abroad! I’m planning on studying atleast Japanese all four years.</p>
<p>Also a quick question…I took up to Spanish four (I took Spanish I in 8th grade) and I was planning to take AP Spanish senior year…but because of scheduling problems, I had to have it dropped (It was either that or AP Chem, and I thought AP Chem was more…I don’t want to say important…Well, you know). Colleges keep saying (UoC especially) That they want you to take the highest levels offered. Will it look bad that I was in Spanish four and didn’t take AP Spanish the final year? That’s what I was worried about-Why I signed up for AP Spanish in the first place.</p>
<p>Litlhurry, as mentioned above, my D was admitted having completed Spanish III in 10th grade. She then dropped high school language classes altogether, as foreign language was not her best subject. She completed the equivalent of 3 years and was admitted. FWIW, she still placed out of the first quarter of Spanish at Chicago, successfully completed quarters 2 and 3 and is now starting a new language during her quarter abroad. Don’t sweat it.</p>
<p>'Yes, it’s the two most advanced foreign language offered by my school. I didn’t take it in grades 11 and 12. They are called level 11 and 12."
ok, so here is another question.
Is is possible for you to take a more advanced French class at a community college before you graduate, or online perhaps? [are you in the US?] It would show INITIATIVE to continue your education beyond what is offered at your HS [ something Chicago LOVES!] And you would then be able to show 3 years of Foreign language study on your application, which could be very valuable if there is no AP French class available.</p>
<p>S1 took two years of HS Spanish in MS, then Honors Spanish III in 9th grade. Quit to puruse journalism, because he wanted more writing than his English classes were giving him. Worked out quite well, and he got into Chicago EA. Did not take the language placement test, as he knew he’d have to take a different language in college anyway (math PhD programs generally want French, German or Russian).</p>
<p>I will hazard a guess that no one has ever been rejected from the University of Chicago solely on account of failing to meet the “requirement” of three years of language. On the other hand, I think the fact that they describe it as a requirement indicates that they really believe students should be working towards real competency in a second language (which of course jibes with the Core requirements).</p>
<p>Obviously, skipping years in a language and completing the most advanced offerings available at your school in a particular language is going to be good enough, even if it doesn’t take three years to do that. And taking one year each of three different languages should not be good enough.</p>
<p>Well if your school doesn’t require 3 years, they can’t hold it against you right? I took up to honors French 3 by 10th grade.</p>
<p>Not quite right. Very few high schools require three years of a foreign language, and some may not require any years of a foreign language. I think Chicago expects that its applicants will have done more than the minimum, if the minimum is not much. What it can’t reasonably expect is that its applicants do more than the maximum available at their schools. So if a high school only offers French up through French 3, and you complete that in two years, I don’t think it will be a big negative. Sure, maybe you could have taken more French through dual enrollment at a local college, or through online courses – and if you did, that’s probably a plus. But how feasible those arrangements are differ from school to school and student to student, and I don’t think anyone gets penalized for not going above-and-beyond in every area.</p>
<p>I only took Spanish 1 & 2 in high school and was admitted…so…yeah.</p>
<p>PS: I don’t know where you are coming up with the three years anyways…from the college admissions website:</p>
<p>Though no specific secondary school courses are prescribed, a standard college preparatory program is ideal: 4 years of English; 3–4 years of math; 3–4 years of laboratory sciences; 3 or more years of social sciences; and study of a foreign language.</p>
<p>Things maybe have changed? I don’t know…</p>
<p>Yurr, I mean I took Spanish 1,2,3, and 4 but then I also took Mandarin Chinese over the summer O.o Boy was that an experience >.<</p>
<p>Then again I’m passionate about languages, and that’s why I’m studying Northern Sami right now ;D Nobody has ever heard of it, and I’m learning it online using a translator program, but it’s only in Finnish, so I’m kinda learning Finnish too O.o</p>