Foreign Language: Preparing for College

By Sara Cronin

 

Foreign languages are an excellent way to add to the high school transcript and enhance the application for college. There are numerous languages available to study at the high school level, although most public schools offer the traditional Spanish, French, German and occasionally Latin. At private high schools the foreign language offering may become more diverse with Chinese and Russian as some options. What is necessary and how many years a university requires for admission is often a challenging question to answer. Each college and university varies in their 'minimum' requirements. Often the more competitive institutions require a foreign language, but requirements also vary as to the number of years that is expected.

 

The majority of high school students who pursue a foreign language study Spanish. This language is often chosen (1) because it is perceived as the easiest of the Romance languages to learn and (2) because it is the most widely spoken foreign language in the United States. In order to show advanced knowledge of a foreign language, high school students often pursue the study of a foreign language at the honors or AP level in their junior and senior years of high school. The College Board offers the SAT Subject Tests in numerous different languages: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, Modern Hebrew, Italian, and Korean. Obtaining a solid score on the Subject Test is often a sign that a student has an initial mastery of either the written or spoken language, or both. As well, research has shown that students who study a foreign language perform better on the regular standardized testing.

 

In order for a student to be considered a viable applicant it is essential to have a well-developed high school curriculum. This means that for the most competitive institutions students should have a solid foundation in a foreign language. However, the foreign language requirement does vary considerably for admission to many colleges and universities. For the most competitive institutions students should have four to five years of each of the four core subjects (English, social studies, math and science) as well as four years of a single foreign language. Some institutions many not state a specific requirement regarding foreign language, yet in order to be competitive in the admission process, applicants should have at least three years of a language.

 

Consider the following admission requirements at various schools across the country:

Georgetown requires a minimum of two years of a modern foreign language.

 

Cornell requires a solid academic foundation including three years of a foreign language.

 

Stanford University's website states: "Foreign Language: three or more years of the same foreign language. Your study of a foreign language ought to include the development of four basic skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension."

 

Colby College strongly recommends a minimum of three years of a foreign language with additional work in a language encouraged.

 

Dartmouth College states: "Although there are no specific subject requirements, applicants are urged to undertake the strongest course of study available in their secondary schools. Most applicants to Dartmouth present very strong secondary school transcripts that include four years of English and mathematics (usually through calculus), at least three years of social science and laboratory science, and at least three years of a foreign language."

 

University of Virginia requires a minimum of two years of a foreign language; however students are strongly urged to take the most rigorous courses available to them.

 

In all cases, in order to be considered the most competitive applicant, a student should take the most rigorous coursework available which often means four to five years of a single foreign language. To enhance the foreign language experience, students often take advantage of language immersion programs. There are numerous opportunities available. See the article titled "Studying Abroad to Boost Your College Application" for further information about study abroad opportunities.

 

The reality is that the elite colleges really want students to take foreign language all four years of high school or until the student has proven a fluency with a 700 SAT II or a 5 on an AP exam. Unless there is a unique reason (a student doubles up in an academic field - science or math - in replace of a language) or there is a serious language learning issue, we encourage students to take language throughout high school. There are numerous ways to enhance and improve foreign language preparation including study abroad, immersion camps and hosting an exchange student. No matter how you go about improving your language skills, all students should consider the importance of studying a second language not only to improve your credentials for college admission, but also to prepare yourself for the global marketplace.