Any idea about foreign language? How many years do kids have to take? My son is a junior and took French in 8th, 9th and 10th? Should he take it again as a senior? Or has he taken enough? He will likely apply to DUS next year? Or could he take Spanish 1 as a senior?
Taking Spanish 1 (or any intro level class of any new foreign language) will not be a factor. Colleges look to see the highest level of one language completed – the ability to succeed with increasingly complex work is important.
How many years of HS French have been completed (what is the highest level class taken)? How many years of foreign language does Penn State look for (check school website or google the common data set)?
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What school within the university is he applying to?
In general, another year of foreign language would be helpful.
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Penn State. Will apply to DUS. Has taken French 1 in 8th, French 2 in 9th and French 3 in 10th.
The Common Data Set for Penn State says 2 years required and 3 recommended. Trying to figure out if he has “3” years of a foreign language or if he only has 2 since one year was in 8th grade.
Yes, I saw the same thing. The common data set says “high school units”, so I would see your son has having two years of high school French although the more advanced level of course work is to his advantage.
In applying to DUS, I would see the third year as being preferable. However, the only way to know for sure is to ask the college. I would call the Admissions Office and ask an admissions counselor. That’s what they’re there for.
Best of luck. 
I think Penn State will consider that your son has taken 3 years of foreign language. I agree that he may want to check with Penn State admissions for a definite answer.
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Typically if a student completes Level 3 of a foreign language that is considered three years. Is the 8th grade course on the HS transcript?
I expect he is fine for Penn State as he certainly meets the requirement. Your son can always check with the admissions office to see if they consider him to have taken 2 or 3 years of foreign language.
Check the requirement of any other college he is interested in as well.
Yes, reaching level 3 in HS is okay for DUS admission.
HOWEVER
If he takes French 4 his foreign language requirement at PSU will only be 1 semester.
If he stops with French 3 he’s good for admission and will have to take 2 semesters of foreign language (College French 002 will be easier with 3years of French, then on to French 003 Spring semester).
Note that college foreign language is much faster paced than HS foreign language: College Level1 would be similar to HS year1+2, College Level 2~= HS3+4, College 3~=AP
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Will likely take Spanish in college. He wants to be done with French.
There’s a 2-semester intensive sequence that allows him to cover the foreign language requirement for graduation in 2 semesters (he can then take Spanish for the professions if he wishes).He can also just take the Spanish 1-2-3 regular sequence over 3 semesters or take the Intensive Sequence 1-2 over the summer then take Spanish 3 in the Fall.
However it’s intense so having HS Spanish 1 would give him a headstart (they’d cover all of Spanish 1 in about 1 1/2 month). Just HS Spanish 1 would place him in College Spanish 1 anyway.
HS Spanish 1 would not help with admissions but would help with college success.
Thanks. This will be very helpful for discussing this with my son.
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