Do college admissions officers value students who speak more than one language?

First, let's talk about the less obvious academic benefits of learning a second language. According to the Center for Applied Linguistics, learning a second language, especially at an early age, affects overall intellectual growth and mental development. Studies have shown bilingual students perform better in school and tend to be effective problem solvers [source: Center for Applied Linguistics].

Furthermore, numerous studies show a positive correlation between learning a second language and college admissions test scores. According to data collected by the College Board, there is a positive correlation between the study of foreign languages and SAT scores. Not only do students who study a foreign language score higher than their counterparts who have not learned a second language, their SAT scores improved with each year of study. In other words, those students who took four years of a foreign language scored higher than those who stopped after two [source: College Board]. In addition, the data also show that students who studied multiple years of other subjects, such as science, had no significant increase in their SAT verbal scores [source: Weatherford].

Of course, admissions officers at most colleges and universities also look closely at the applicant's transcript. Here they not only see grades earned, but also the student's course load. And to some of these gatekeepers, students who go beyond the two-year language requirement and also take AP courses show they are serious about academics. Admissions officers recommend that students who are proficient in a second language, particularly those who hope to attend an elite college or to major or minor in a foreign language, take four years of the language, including an AP language course (if available) or sit for the SAT subject test in the language they have been studying.

Unfortunately, not all languages are tested by the College Board's SAT subject tests. The limited number of tests affects what languages students choose to study in high school, which may impact their course of study in college and ultimately their career. Take for example, a student who wishes to learn Russian in high school. Because there currently is no standardized admissions test for Russian, that student may be discouraged from studying this language and, eventually, countries like the United States, may find themselves with a dearth of Russian speakers as a result [source: Morgan]. You can find out which foreign language tests the College Board offers by visiting its Web site.

Although studying a second language may not be the specific factor that stands out on your college application, chances are it will make a difference on an application of a different kind. Let's look at how speaking more than one language can benefit your career.

Outside of college campuses, mobility and technology have quickly brought different cultures closer. People are more willing to move to different parts of the world, and companies are more apt to do business with people in countries that, until recently, were inaccessible. For example, a significant opportunity for business opened when China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 [source: Kessler]. Of course, crossing time zones and cooperating with colleagues in other countries is more effective if you can speak a common language and, at the very least, understand cultural differences.

But you don't have to leave home to benefit from the ability to speak a second or third language, especially if you work in one of the following industries:

[source: Balderrama]

For the United States, the need for fluent speakers of foreign languages became even more apparent after Sept. 11, 2001, when the country's deficiency in this area affected national security, in terms of being able to translate information obtained by U.S. intelligence agencies. Learning a foreign language not only aids in communication, but understanding and appreciation of other cultures [source: Morris].

In addition, as people continue to immigrate to the United States, schools and businesses become a mix of languages and cultures. North Carolina, for example, is experiencing rapid growth of non-English speakers from Hispanic and Asian countries, thanks to the agriculture and financial industries. When it comes to doing business in the global marketplace, multilingual speakers, who have an understanding of other cultures, have an advantage [source: Morris].

Andrew, the student who was accepted to Georgetown and graduated from the university's School of Foreign Service, thinks that foreign languages pose an excellent way for applicants to distinguish themselves, especially if they study an "unusual" language.

"Knowing a language is half the battle. Demonstrating that you are a 'global citizen' is the other half," he says, regarding both college and job applications. "That's the factor I'd look for. Does the applicant just know the language, or have they also used it to travel, volunteer in their local community or to perform a job they couldn't perform without the second language?"

"The application of the language and the awareness that contact with speakers of other languages can bring far more to an applicant's depth than merely having learned a second language."

For more information on the college admissions process, explore the links on the next page.