5 answers
Lily
Student
Ann Arbor, Michigan
1
Question
Asked
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How much do colleges actually care about seeing 4 years of language classes?
I’m conflicted with planning the rest of my high school schedule.
I am looking into college for either an area of history or film which I know are two very different options. I’ve also been looking into combining these two with a job as a documentarian. I have currently been contemplating either continuing the 3rd and 4th years of my language or opting to be in other arts and portfolio classes that could help me when applying to art/film school.
I’ve definitely been looking into uofmich as I live in Michigan but I’m really not even sure if it would be worth going there if I just want a film degree I could get somewhere else. I’m currently planing on taking an almost fully DP course schedule, the only things that would be non-DP would be my choir class and my Language/Portfolio arts class. Would it be smarter to keep my options open in college admissions and just take my 4 year language, or should I just go into the arts classes I actually want to take? How much do colleges really care about seeing a 4 year language?
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5 answers
Bright Komor
Nurse
261
Answers
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Updated
Bright’s Answer
Hey this should do
Colleges generally **value language classes** as part of a well-rounded education, but the importance they place on **four years of language study** can vary depending on the school and the applicant’s overall profile. Here’s a breakdown of how it typically plays out:
### 1. **Selective and Competitive Schools**:
- **Highly Selective Colleges** (e.g., Ivy League, Stanford, MIT) often look for **4 years of language classes** because they emphasize academic rigor and a broad curriculum. These schools appreciate applicants who challenge themselves in different areas, and **foreign language proficiency** is seen as an indicator of well-roundedness, cultural awareness, and intellectual curiosity.
- While **not a strict requirement**, completing **four years** of a language shows **commitment** and the ability to handle challenging coursework.
### 2. **Moderately Selective Schools**:
- For schools that are competitive but not as selective, colleges still appreciate a solid **language background**, though **three years** of language might be sufficient. The focus shifts more toward your overall academic performance, extracurricular activities, and test scores.
- If you only took **two years** of a language but excelled in other subjects or showed strong extracurricular involvement, that may still be acceptable, especially if you can demonstrate **interest** in language or culture outside of school.
### 3. **Less Selective Schools**:
- For less selective schools, **foreign language requirements** may be more about meeting basic admission criteria rather than being a major part of the evaluation. In these cases, **two years of a language** might be sufficient. However, taking **four years** still shows commitment and the ability to balance a full academic schedule.
### 4. **Impact on Admissions**:
- **Consistency Matters**: Colleges often prefer **continuity** in the language you start learning (e.g., continuing with Spanish if you began with it). Jumping from one language to another may not have the same impact.
- **Demonstrating Interest**: If you're applying to a college with a strong international or cultural focus, or if the major you're pursuing benefits from foreign language skills (e.g., international relations, global health), language proficiency may be especially important.
### 5. **Other Considerations**:
- If you’ve demonstrated **interest** in languages in other ways (e.g., studying abroad, immersive experiences, or self-taught skills), that can also be a plus even if you didn’t take four years of formal language classes.
- Colleges also tend to value **language proficiency** more for students who pursue **higher-level courses** or engage in **language-based extracurriculars** like language clubs or Model United Nations.
### Conclusion:
While **four years of language study** is often seen as ideal for more competitive schools, the emphasis on it depends on the specific college and your overall application. If you’ve taken fewer years but excelled in other areas, or have demonstrated interest in language or culture outside the classroom, colleges will often still value those experiences. So, it’s **not always a dealbreaker**, but the more rigorous your academic profile, the better.
Colleges generally **value language classes** as part of a well-rounded education, but the importance they place on **four years of language study** can vary depending on the school and the applicant’s overall profile. Here’s a breakdown of how it typically plays out:
### 1. **Selective and Competitive Schools**:
- **Highly Selective Colleges** (e.g., Ivy League, Stanford, MIT) often look for **4 years of language classes** because they emphasize academic rigor and a broad curriculum. These schools appreciate applicants who challenge themselves in different areas, and **foreign language proficiency** is seen as an indicator of well-roundedness, cultural awareness, and intellectual curiosity.
- While **not a strict requirement**, completing **four years** of a language shows **commitment** and the ability to handle challenging coursework.
### 2. **Moderately Selective Schools**:
- For schools that are competitive but not as selective, colleges still appreciate a solid **language background**, though **three years** of language might be sufficient. The focus shifts more toward your overall academic performance, extracurricular activities, and test scores.
- If you only took **two years** of a language but excelled in other subjects or showed strong extracurricular involvement, that may still be acceptable, especially if you can demonstrate **interest** in language or culture outside of school.
### 3. **Less Selective Schools**:
- For less selective schools, **foreign language requirements** may be more about meeting basic admission criteria rather than being a major part of the evaluation. In these cases, **two years of a language** might be sufficient. However, taking **four years** still shows commitment and the ability to balance a full academic schedule.
### 4. **Impact on Admissions**:
- **Consistency Matters**: Colleges often prefer **continuity** in the language you start learning (e.g., continuing with Spanish if you began with it). Jumping from one language to another may not have the same impact.
- **Demonstrating Interest**: If you're applying to a college with a strong international or cultural focus, or if the major you're pursuing benefits from foreign language skills (e.g., international relations, global health), language proficiency may be especially important.
### 5. **Other Considerations**:
- If you’ve demonstrated **interest** in languages in other ways (e.g., studying abroad, immersive experiences, or self-taught skills), that can also be a plus even if you didn’t take four years of formal language classes.
- Colleges also tend to value **language proficiency** more for students who pursue **higher-level courses** or engage in **language-based extracurriculars** like language clubs or Model United Nations.
### Conclusion:
While **four years of language study** is often seen as ideal for more competitive schools, the emphasis on it depends on the specific college and your overall application. If you’ve taken fewer years but excelled in other areas, or have demonstrated interest in language or culture outside the classroom, colleges will often still value those experiences. So, it’s **not always a dealbreaker**, but the more rigorous your academic profile, the better.
Gerald J Olseski Jr
Certified Peer Support Specialist
44
Answers
Riverview, Michigan
Updated
Gerald J’s Answer
It depends on which college you are attending.
Kim Matthews
Graphic Production Designer and Sculptor
51
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Dr H makes some good points here, and I just wanted to emphasize the point about how you might need to be able to speak, read, and write well in another language for your work. I'm assuming you're going to public school now, so that means you're not at the point where you're paying for your studies. Take advantage of that as best you can, and weigh your options carefully. Are there other ways to get additional training before you graduate, such as a summer internship or film workshop that has a scholarship program? The sooner you can connect with professionals working in the industries that interest you, the better. You might try doing some informational interviews now, and see if that helps you decide about your coursework.
Best to you.
Best to you.
Sydney Arrowood
Graphic Design
9
Answers
Burlington, Kentucky
Updated
Sydney’s Answer
As someone who's graduated from college now, high school classes really didn't matter very much. I couldn't take any art classes at all, but it didn't matter at the end of the day because I was learning and teaching myself the skills by drawing as a hobby. I took a lot of language classes and it saved me from taking any languages in college - though if I took some more art classes its possible I could have tested out of some of the lower level art classes. Granted, depending on the university you go to they may not accept the credits earned. More than likely, the classes you take in high school *probably* won't matter much.
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1334
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Lily,
Ah, the classic scheduling dilemma—stick with four years of a language or dive into the arts classes that actually excite you? Welllll,
Most colleges like to see four years of a language, but do they require it? Not always. Schools like the University of Michigan recommend it, but if you have a strong portfolio and solid coursework in your intended field (history, film, or documentary work), skipping the fourth year probably won’t hurt you.
That said, if you're aiming for a competitive school, having four years of a language can show commitment and academic rigor—plus, it might help if you ever make historical documentaries in another country! On the flip side, if an arts/portfolio class will genuinely strengthen your application for film school, that could be the better choice.
So, ask yourself:
1. Will skipping the fourth year of language hurt your chances at your top-choice schools? (Check their admissions pages!)
2. Will the arts classes directly benefit your future career and portfolio?
3. Which one excites you more? Because loving what you study usually leads to better grades and stronger applications.
Ultimately, colleges want to see passion and direction, not just a perfect transcript. So if skipping the fourth year of language means diving deeper into film and creating a killer portfolio, go for it! Just be sure to check that none of your top schools require four years of a language first.
And hey, worst case scenario—if you ever need that fourth year later, Duolingo’s got your back.🤡
Stay awesome, future documentarian!
If you need something i missed let me know too! 😉
Ah, the classic scheduling dilemma—stick with four years of a language or dive into the arts classes that actually excite you? Welllll,
Most colleges like to see four years of a language, but do they require it? Not always. Schools like the University of Michigan recommend it, but if you have a strong portfolio and solid coursework in your intended field (history, film, or documentary work), skipping the fourth year probably won’t hurt you.
That said, if you're aiming for a competitive school, having four years of a language can show commitment and academic rigor—plus, it might help if you ever make historical documentaries in another country! On the flip side, if an arts/portfolio class will genuinely strengthen your application for film school, that could be the better choice.
So, ask yourself:
1. Will skipping the fourth year of language hurt your chances at your top-choice schools? (Check their admissions pages!)
2. Will the arts classes directly benefit your future career and portfolio?
3. Which one excites you more? Because loving what you study usually leads to better grades and stronger applications.
Ultimately, colleges want to see passion and direction, not just a perfect transcript. So if skipping the fourth year of language means diving deeper into film and creating a killer portfolio, go for it! Just be sure to check that none of your top schools require four years of a language first.
And hey, worst case scenario—if you ever need that fourth year later, Duolingo’s got your back.🤡
Stay awesome, future documentarian!
If you need something i missed let me know too! 😉
Thank you, Dr!