Many Ivy Leagues smile upon 4 years of a language, but for me it is harder as I will complete my current language level in less than 3 years, and then I was planning on taking the AP test junior year. Would it have been better if I had stuck to a language for 4 years? or will getting the AP credit and only taking a language for 2-3 years be enough if I focus on other things like business and art??? Also, if you know of any concrete requirements for a language for any of the Ivies please let me know.
I took 2 years of language, then took the AP test for a completely unrelated language, and still got into my Ivy, so it seems like the ‘requirement’ is more of a firm suggestion. Two years plus AP should be fine, especially if you’re taking like Klingon 3, Klingon 4 and then AP Klingon, IMO.
How about Latin 3, 4, 5 then AP senior year?
The advice I have heard given is that they are looking for LEVEL 4. So if you max out your school’s language instruction at, say, Spanish 5, but you did so in your sophomore year, you can’t be faulted for that. If you take the AP and score a 4 or a 5, that then demonstrates that you are capable in that language, which is more than enough for the Ivies, IMO.
The way my school worked was that most people had a year of language completed by end of 8th grade - and recorded as such on their transcript, and took the AP test for it senior year. If you qualify for an AP test and only take 2-3 years, you should be fine.
The problem is I took Spanish 1 freshman year and Mandarin 3 sophomore year. I know taking 2 languages isn’t ideal but it’s too late for that I guess. My school maxes out Mandarin at 4, and I could just take 5 AP classes next year instead of Mandarin 4. I was originally thinking to take the AP test in Mandarin and get it over with as my school’s WLA department sucks, but now it seems dropping AP Bio for Mandarin 4 is the lesser of quite a few evils
Hmm, I’m guessing you aren’t a native speaker, because if you were, I would suggest just signing up for the AP test and getting it done like I did, instead of taking the actual class. I don’t know what to suggest in your situation, because I took 2 consecutive years of German (Maxed it out at my school), whereas you’ve taken two years of language, but one year in two different concentrations… I suggest emailing your desired school’s admissions office and asking.
Would it be correct to assume that you are a heritage speaker who could skip Mandarin 1 and 2? If Mandarin 3 was the correct placement, then wouldn’t Mandarin 4 increase your proficiency as well as increase the highest level completed of a foreign language (whether or not you try the AP test)?
It’s level achieved that matters.
If you want to apply to a competitive college, take Mandarin 4 or AP. Or complete Spanish 1+2 at a community college next year, they Spanish 4in hs or 3 at the cc. (one year of Spanish isn’t enough for anything.)
Note that for native speakers the most competitive universities ascertain whether you actually learned a foreign language.
yes, if you get through level 4 (or AP) that is all they want. Some people may do that half way through HS.