How Many Years of High School Foreign Language does a College Require?

High school foreign language requirements vary between colleges. Some less competitive schools have no minimum requirement, but many want to see three years of a language other than English in high school. Some are okay with only two years, and yet others prefer to see four years. When a college recommends a minimum of two years, sometimes that really means two but other times it can mean if your transcript is not that strong we really want three. Highly competitive colleges and universities expect a fourth year of foreign language even if it is not explicitly stated on their websites. What does all this mean? It means there is no easy answer and like most things, it is best to check with the admissions folks at the colleges you are considering.

Meeting the high school requirements for foreign language is only the first step. Once accepted, it is important to know if there is a requirement to take foreign language courses in college as well. Often that depends on the major a student chooses. When clients meet with me to discuss their high school courses, I strongly encourage them to stick with foreign language for the entirety of their high school career. If possible, taking a dual enrollment or Advanced Placement course in the language of their choice during senior year will impress the admissions committee and potentially waive a student out of a future foreign language requirement in college.

Colleges and universities rarely have a preference which world language an applicant studies. Many students do not have that many options in high school. Other students may want to align their choice with the career they have in mind. While English is the world’s most widely spoken language, with around 1.5 billion speakers, Mandarin is a close second with 1.1 billion speakers. It is the official language of China, the second-largest economy and the world’s largest trading partner. Students hoping to enter the global trade industry or international business would benefit greatly from studying Mandarin. Greek, Russian or French may appeal to literature majors. Latin, Arabic or Hebrew proficiency may help a future historian or clergy member. Lastly there is also Spanish, the second most popular language spoken in the United States and the most common language learned by middle and high school students. It is the official language of 21 countries, many of them in our hemisphere. This choice makes a lot of sense for anyone who wants to better understand their neighbors, enhance their career prospects and travel internationally.

Learning a language other than English is an important part of your education, and one looked upon closely by college admissions officers. Such decisions should not be made lightly, and deciding at what point to stop should be considered carefully. Having all requirements met except the high school foreign language requirement may lead to negative results in the admissions process.