Foreign Language Requirements for Colleges

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I love languages. I'm wondering, though, about colleges with foreign language requirements. Do all schools require this or does it vary? Can anybody clear this up for me?

Hello! While college admissions requirements can vary greatly from one institution to another, many colleges do recommend or require foreign language study. Typically, highly selective colleges may require or recommend three to four years of foreign language study during high school.

For example, Harvard recommends but does not require four years of a single foreign language in high school. On the other hand, a college like MIT does not officially require foreign language study but recommends it. Meanwhile, state schools like the University of California system require two years of foreign language study with the recommendation of three years. Understandably this could be different for students applying to specific programs like those in STEM where a foreign language might not be as emphasized.

Remember though, even if a college does not require a foreign language, continuing to study one can still be beneficial for your personal development, and it can help demonstrate intellectual curiosity and dedication to rigor, which could work in your favor in the admissions process. It also often contributes to the holistic understanding of a student's high school course rigor.

However, if you do not want to take a foreign language in college, some colleges do not have a language graduation requirement. For instance, Brown University has no language requirement for graduation. It's best to do a little bit of research about each specific school's requirements.

Last but not least, if you love languages, many colleges love seeing this passion reflected in the activities you get involved in. You could consider joining a language club, teaching or tutoring in that language, and other activities that showcase your interest and commitment to languages. Your passion for languages can also be a unique selling point in applications and set you apart from others.

Good luck with your college research and applications! Looking forward to your success.