What level language is needed for semi-competitive college admissions?

[SJ2727]

@blossom

Reality check- it doesn’t matter if your kid is so outstanding in some other area that the Adcom’s agree that this is a “must admit”- his original concerto is debuting at Carnegie Hall once Covid is over; a recruitable athlete with sky high scores and grades; a published novel.

OP- if this is your kid, relax. No single “missing” element on the transcript is going to matter much.

If this is not your kid- you guys need to focus. **The point is not to check off boxes on a list- the point is to show a rigorous, academic preparation for college level work, **meaning don’t start cutting corners (miss junior year language to “prove”" something-- since a kid skipping a year generally means losing proficiency.

Agree. Data point of 1, my kid: 3 years FL, 3 years lab science (one being the sometimes questionable APES) admitted (unhooked) at a college that says at least 3 years but its most competitive applicants have 4 years of “demanding coursework” in these. If the college is holistic, the entire application matters. If you can do it, do it, but it is absolutely not always true that “recommended really means required” as is often stated on CC.