first language on common app?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Ok, so what is the first language on the common app mean?</p>

<p>Is it the language that you spoke first or the language that you know best?</p>

<p>I know that there is a little box next to it that says it means its the first langage that you spoke, but when I put that, wouldnt colleges get confused and want to me to take TOEFL or something?</p>

<p>Because sometimes it means the language you know best, and in no where, do I even list that I know english.</p>

<p>The reason I ask is because
Brown</a> Admission: Components of the Application
if you just read a college website (i just chose brown because it popped up), you will notice that they say, "If an applicant's "first language" is not english, they have to take TOEFL..."</p>

<p>well, mine isnt...because the common app's interpretation of first langauge (told me to put the language I spoke first) is different than brown's interpretation (the language you know best)...and that could lead to some problems.</p>

<p>or cornell
<a href="http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/admissions/Apply/upload/Application-Guidelines-for-Freshmen1.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/admissions/Apply/upload/Application-Guidelines-for-Freshmen1.pdf&lt;/a> and many others</p>

2

<p>I think they’re also going to look at the amount of time you’ve been living in America, so they’ll probably assume you can speak English pretty well.</p>

3

<p>^well, thats never asked on the common app…</p>

<p>its not going to be that big of a deal (i hope not), but the common app’s explanation of first language contradicts many college website’s definition of first language…</p>

4

<p>Just go with the language you know best. Ultimately, it’s the admissions office’s decisions—and they’re not going to disqualify you if you clearly speak English fluently.</p>

5

<p>I agree with the above post. However, in my case, i put the language I learned first even though I’m much better at english now. I had a total immersion of one language for 10 years then switched to English. Your quote from Brown says that if your CR is >600, you don’t have to worry about it.</p>

6

<p>I also put the language I learned first, even though I’m much better at English.</p>

<p>I figured they had my SAT scores, my essays, and the fact that I am attending an English-speaking high school. </p>

<p>They will understand, right?</p>