Foreign Language Question

Applying to College
1

Hey all,
I’m currently a Junior and I’m currently stuck about the Foreign Language requirements. I’m planning to apply to top colleges and some “recommend” 3 - 4 years of foreign language. I’ve heard from different people that literally means having 6-8 semesters of foreign language or completing he 3rd level/4th level of that language in school. In my situation, I’m an ABC (American Born Chinese) and my school has put a Passing Grade for Chinese I and II, since I learned Chinese at Sunday school. I could do Chinese senior year, but if I get a 4-5 on the AP Chinese test would that fulfill the requirement? Any help is appreciated.

Top Colleges I’m interested in applying:
Some UCs
Vanderbilt
U Chicago
Stanford
Cornell

2

For the UC’s, you can fulfill the Language Requirement as follows:

SAT Subject Examination::
The following scores satisfy the entire requirement:

Chinese With Listening: 520
French/French With Listening: 540
German/German With Listening: 510
Modern Hebrew: 470
Italian: 520
Japanese With Listening: 510
Korean With Listening: 500
Latin: 530
Spanish/Spanish With Listening: 520

AP or IB Examination:::

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Exam in Chinese Language and Culture, French Language and Culture, German Language and Culture, Italian Language and Culture, Japanese Language and Culture, Spanish Language, Spanish Language and Culture, Spanish Literature and Culture or Latin;
score of 5, 6 or 7 on an IB Language A2 HL exam

3

Colleges like to see that you took a language course for 3 years of high school. if your gpa and sat are high enough, not taking a language will not matter. However, as these are top schools, they will be looking for good grades as well as a rigorous and diverse course selection. in short, if you are smart, volunteer, and play sports or work, one language class won’t make the difference.

4

Thanks for the help. I’m still unclear if getting a 3-5 in AP test or scoring 700+ on Sat 2 would be a benefit and substitute if I didn’t take the language class.

5

For the UC’s, the AP test or SAT II scores fulfill the 2 year requirement. 3 years is recommended to be competitive so you might want to take 1 year at your HS.

6

Well I’ve technically taken 2 years of foreign language. So if I take the Sat test or AP exam, would that make up for the third year?

7

What foreign language courses (what levels) did you complete in high school (or college courses taken while in high school)? Did you also take any standardized tests in foreign language?

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1802227-faq-foreign-language-p1.html

8

I’ve passed Chinese I and II. I have not taken at standardized tests.

9

Since 3-4 years are recommended for most competitive schools, you want to take Chinese III and if possible IV to meet this requirement.

10

since you are chinese, you should assume that the colleges will know that and assume that you have had the advantage of being able to speak it for a long time. So they will expect that you will score hi on tests.
ANY college that RECOMMENDS taking at least 3 years of a FL in HS means they WANT to see 3 years at LEAST on your transcript
. IF you CAN take Chinese 3 then do so- dont sabotage your chances of acceptance. TAKE Chinese Sr yr and in the fall , take the Chinese subject test.

11

When you list the languages on common app, it will ask if it’s spoken/ written/ read at home. As a native chinese speaker, you will answer yes. While it seems you can satisfy the requirements for the UCs, it’s not going to do much for schools that recommend 3 or 4 years of foreign language but with otherwise impressive credentials, I am sure an AO will see past that.

12

Since you have only level 2, that is likely a disadvantage in admission to more selective schools. If you can take level 3 or 4, that may help.

13

Thanks all for your comments and suggestion. I will take Chinese III senior year, and I will probably move up to AP Chinese since I’m proficient with the language.