Do colleges expect you to have taken Spanish in high school?

Feeling a bit anxious because I haven’t taken Spanish and I’m not sure if it’s a must-have for my college app. Are colleges expecting to see Spanish on my transcript, or is any language fine?

Colleges often look for students who have taken courses in a second language, as it's a common part of a well-rounded high school curriculum that prepares students for a global society. However, it doesn't have to be Spanish specifically. Any language is fine—what's important is that you've engaged with learning a language other than English and have reached a certain level of proficiency.

For many colleges, the recommendation is about two to three years of the same language, and for highly selective schools, four years or reaching the highest level offered at your school can be beneficial. If you've already taken another language, rest assured that this will be valued just as much as Spanish.

If you haven't taken any foreign language classes, consider how you might explain this choice in your application or how you've pursued language learning in other ways, like through self-study or cultural experiences. Remember, colleges are looking to understand the whole picture of who you are, not just a series of checkboxes for course subjects.