How many years of foreign language does Harvard require?

Question

I'm planning my senior year classes and I'm getting a bit anxious about my course selections. I've already taken two years of Spanish, but I just found out that some colleges want more than that for foreign language. Does anyone know if Harvard has a specific requirement for how many years you need? 

If I just do two years, am I automatically at a disadvantage, or is there a way to explain it? My school doesn’t have a wide range of language options, so I’m worried I might be missing out compared to other applicants. Anyone with experience or advice about this would be super helpful. I don’t want to mess up my chances if this is actually a big deal.

Accepted Answer

Harvard does not technically require a set number of foreign language years for admission, but they do have recommendations that are important to understand when you're planning your courses. Harvard recommends that applicants take at least four years of the same foreign language if possible. However, these are recommendations, not hard requirements, and a lot depends on the courses your school offers and your overall academic context.

Having only two years of Spanish does not automatically put you at a huge disadvantage, especially if your school does not offer more advanced options. Colleges like Harvard use a holistic admissions process and review your application in the context of what was available to you. If upper-level language courses are not available, it's a good idea to show that you challenged yourself as much as possible within your school's offerings.

Many successful applicants come from high schools where the choices are limited, and they simply note these limitations in the 'Additional Information' section of the application. For example, "My high school only offers Spanish I and Spanish II, so I completed the entire sequence available."

Focus on overall academic rigor across all subjects, not just language. If you have room in your schedule and are able, you could take Spanish at a community college or through an accredited online program, but this isn't required if the options aren’t accessible or feasible for you.

To sum up, while four years is ideal, two years won’t ruin your chances, especially if you communicate your situation clearly. What matters most is showing that, within your school’s constraints, you chose the most challenging path available to you.

If you’re really passionate about languages, you could also find creative ways to continue your learning outside of class (e.g., self-study, language club participation, or community involvement) that demonstrate your interest.

But above all, do not let this one factor discourage you from applying. Make sure the rest of your schedule remains strong, and use your application to provide context where needed.