Didn't take any Languages in HS

Applying to College
1

Hi everyone,

I’m a U.S Student living abroad.
I’ve lived in Armenia for my entire life and attended an Armenian Elementary and Middle School. Armenia places a high emphasis on educating the student in many languages, so from first grade until 9th grade, I took high-level French, Russian, English, and Armenian. I’m perfectly fluent in Armenian and English, my Russian and French are on the rustier side. I went to the most competitive middle school in the region, and I took all four of those languages.

When I transferred to the international school here for high school you could say that I was ‘exempt’ from taking languages because I had my entire life. I took Russian in Freshman Year, and I didn’t do too well, because I was adjusting to an American School.

Throughout high school, I didn’t really fit languages into my schedule because my guidance counselor and principal said that I had enough credits from middle school to just not take them at all. I took the most competitive AP courseload available instead and excelled. I ended the junior year with a 3.99 GPA.

Since I’m applying to highly competitive schools in the U.S, do you think it would matter to them if I didn’t take any languages in high school? a lot of schools I’ve read about have emphasized at least two years of a foreign language. But considering my international background, and the fact that I’ve been taught several languages since I was 6 is there a chance they might understand? I’m sure my guidance counselor will mention this in his recommendation letter.

Also, I’m applying to an International relations major…

2

Get external certification for French and/or Russian. Use the Alliance Française or the SAT Subject/French, or the Russian Proficiency test offered at Russian Cultural Centers.
I assume you’ll have a grade in Armenian (Literature, language…?) and a grade in English.
On the CommonApp there’ll be a space where you can indicate classes taken before grade 9, where you can write down French 1-5 and Russian 1-5 (or whatever is appropriate).

3

Also, is Armenian the primary language of instruction in your schools, so that English is a foreign language in that context?

4

from 1-8th grade, Armenian was the primary language of instruction. At my current high school, it is English.

5

For Armenian and English I don’t think it’s a problem, I’ll just mention that I was educated 8 years in Armenian, and 4 in English. Do you think I can take one of those Duolingo proficiency tests for Russian and French?

6

If AP and SAT subject tests are available in your area, then taking them for French may be a more recognizable rating of proficiency to US universities.