What are the foreign language requirements for top privates (HYPMS, Duke, UPenn, etc) and UCs (UCB, UCLA, etc)?
For examples, I took Chinese 3 in 9th grade for credit. I also took the AP Chinese test and got a 3. Would that fulfill the requirement? I have not taken any other foreign language courses for credit.
Would this significantly hurt my chances?
"Would this significantly hurt my chances? "
yes, especially if Chinese is your native language.
But to answer your question-
TOP Colleges want to see students take AT LEAST 3 years of a Foreign language in HS.
Would taking Chinese 3 in 9th grade fulfill that req?
no, no, no.
A test does NOT substitute for 3 years of classes!
test?
I took a Chinese level three course in 9th grade. I heard this counts as taking three years of classes, but I wasn’t sure.
Well, certainly the 3 does you no favors, being in the bottom 20% of test-takers.
From Stanford’s admissions website:
". Our most competitive freshman applicants often have four years (grades 9-12) of English, four years of math (including calculus), four years of social studies, four years of science (including biology, chemistry and physics) and four years of a foreign language.
There is flexibility, however, in how we view an applicant’s curriculum. For example, an applicant may be competitive with just three years of a foreign language through 11th grade but also with five math courses taken in the last four years. Conversely, an applicant may be competitive taking two languages all four years and just three years of social studies. "
http://admission.stanford.edu/basics/selection/evaluate.html
“AP scores that are reported are acknowledged but rarely play a significant role in the evaluation of an application. Grades earned over the course of a term, or a year, and evaluations from instructors who can comment on classroom engagement provide us the most detailed insight into a student’s readiness for the academic rigors of Stanford.”
Thanks for the info.
However, my real question is whether taking a LEVEL THREE Chinese course in freshman year counts as taking three years of foreign language or not.
no it does NOT.
not to TOP colleges.
they are very specific with what they expect students to do during HS.
"I heard this counts as taking three years of classes, but I wasn’t sure. "
you were misinformed, sorry.
It depends. If you’re a native/heritage speaker, no.
Yes, for UC and CSU purposes. Level N of a foreign language validates levels 1 through N-1 of the same language for UC and CSU purposes. The minimum for UC and CSU purposes is level 2, although UC recommends level 3 or higher. AP score of 3, sufficiently high SAT subject test scores, or college foreign language courses can also count for UC and CSU purposes. See http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/csu-uc-a-g-comparison-matrix.pdf .
Other schools may or may not be similar (and may or may not have hard requirements in this area like UC and CSU do), although they are more likely to consider level completed more than number of years. However, super-selective schools (which includes all that you named other than UCs) will be more impressed by completing level 4 or higher (depending on where you started and what levels are offered in your school; MIT appears to be an exception, recommending only “two years”), and will be more impressed by learning a non-heritage language to a high level than showing a high level in a heritage language that you got a head start in by learning at home.
Colleges may also have foreign language graduation requirements that require a higher level than their admission requirements or recommendations.
My son took Spanish 3 as a sophomore (level 3, but only 2 years in HS) and was ready to end. We contacted several schools to find out if reaching level 3 was equivalent to taking 3 years. All the schools we contacted said yes. So, I would imagine you might be okay too. However, you should contact the schools you are interested in to confirm. (And I think ucbalumnus gave you good advice on what is more impressive)
Thanks @ucbalumnus and @ClaremontMom
If you just took level 3 class in 9th grade without doing 1 and 2 in middle school, then it would only count as 1 year of foreign language.
Essentially, the top private schools think you are becoming more well rounded by learning an additional language for 4 years. If you know Spanish or Chinese or whatever other language well for some reason, you are then expected to learn something else for 3-4 years.
There are middle schoolers taking AP Spanish language exam in Houston because they are native speakers. This does not make them as having taken 4 years of Spanish by end of middle school.
You’ve probably gathered this already, @panicatcollege, but the competitive colleges are looking for evidence of rigor. Most US students are monolingual, so taking 2-4 years of a language that they have learned (presumably) only through school is part of that. If you are bilingual, then the AP will likely tick the box for most colleges- but then the question is, what do you do with that space in your schedule? (which lots of less fortunate monolinguals would love to have!) Top schools will expect to see something that challenges you.
Yes, reaching level 3 in a FOREIGN language is considered equivalent to 3 years. Top private colleges will want to see 4 years or AP, and your native language would only count as a supplement, not a replacement. So, if you speak Chinese at home, taking AP Chinese would only matter to top schools if you also have 3+ years/level3 in a foreign language you learned from scratch, in middle school, high school, or in immersion.
If you reached the AP level in 9th grade because you were in an immersion program in K-8 and are NOT a native language speaker, then the situation’s different.
“So, if you speak Chinese at home, taking AP Chinese would only matter to top schools if you also have 3+ years/level3 in a foreign language you learned from scratch, in middle school, high school, or in immersion.”
Get it OP?
Ok, here’s the situation.
I am Chinese, but not a native speaker since I was born in the US and was taught English as my primary language.
I’m not looking to impress colleges with my foreign language achievements; I just want to know if I have completed the minimum requirements.
I took Chinese during middle school at a different place that was not my middle school. They only offered high school credit (the school is approved by my high school) so I took Chinese 3 for credit in 9th grade.
My schedule is rigorous and I chose not to take more years of foreign language so I could take other classes. I was just wondering if that is acceptable.
It is generally acceptable, but taking level 4 or higher would look better for the most selective colleges. However, it also depends on what you chose to take instead of the higher level Chinese courses you did not take.
I think you should be fine, it is certainly acceptable. I would just not advise it (maybe it is too late) as barely meeting the requirements for courses, especially for schools like Ivies, Duke, Stanford, is not going to look good unless you have something extremely outstanding and eye-catching in your application.