About taking SAT II language test

[vyper47]

Hi,

I’m from Asia, and I’m preparing for undergrad study at the US. I am planning to take SAT II. French is not my native or 2nd language (english). But if I take SAT II french (simply cuz i love this language), and if I score around 700-730, will it help in my applications? I’m applying for Ivies and MIT, Stanford etc

[vyper47]

I heard that if a french guy takes french and even scores 800, it isnt worth it, as his native language is french. But mine isnt…will it be worth it?

[skieurope]

I heard that if a french guy takes french and even scores 800, it isnt worth it, as his native language is French.

Correct. Colleges are not impressed by applicants who submit a Subject Test in their native language. It’s like a native English speaker submitting TOEFL.

As an example of what colleges think:

May I take the SAT Subject Test in my native language?
Although not required, the SAT Subject Test in a foreign language is meant to demonstrate your achievement in a language that you have learned in school. You should recognize that if you have native fluency in a language, an SAT Subject Test can be put to better use by showcasing a different academic talent.

https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/ask/faq/topic/402

if I score around 700-730, will it help in my applications? I’m applying for Ivies and MIT, Stanford etc

Scoring 700-730 in French for that tier of schools is the same as submitting 700-730 in Literature or USH or Bio-M; it won’t hurt, but plenty of applicants will submit higher scores. However, for some of the schools, that score may exempt you, or reduce, the college’s foreign language graduation requirement.

[vyper47]

Thanks for the reply! I’ll try to do better than that…just gave the minimum score I’m looking forward to. I actually wanted to know that, if I take it, and score good, will the interviewers (or whatever they’re called) be like “wow, he’s an asian kid…but knows french!!!”

[skieurope]

will the interviewers (or whatever they’re called) be like “wow, he’s an asian kid…but knows french!!!”

Alex, I’ll take “Sentences never uttered by an admissions interviewer ever for $1000.”

Applicants (and their parents) need to eliminate the words “impressive,” “like,” “best,” or similar words from their vocabulary until after decisions are made. It is the rare application/course schedule/EC that will “impress” admissions. Perhaps the AO that read Malala’s application was “impressed” by her ECs, but she set the bar high. Students should do things that are right for them. So take the French Subject Test because you want to take the French Subject Test, or to fulfill application requirements, or in lieu of the college’s placement test, but don’t take it to impress anyone.

[vyper47]

Thanks for the advice! I’m taking it against the will of my family, just because i love that language!! Just askin, as some colleges like harvard etc require 3 sat subject tests. If I take the French test, it’d fill up one of those. Then I’ll take Math level 2 and physics as the other two. ;