<p>I am a little bit confused as to the Harvard language requirement... </p>
<p>I speak Mandarin as a first language, english second, and french third. I understand that if i get 600+ on a SAT 2 language exam, then i get some sort of special credit? could someone clarify this for me? does this mean i can go into a higher level language course or does it mean i no longer have to take a language? what if i still want to learn a third / fouth language, does 600 + mean i can go into a second semester course instead of an introductory one?</p>
<p>thanks, any comments would be appreciated. i am trying to decide if i should sign up for the SAT 2 for june to take the french.</p>
<p>If your native language is Mandarin, you should be able to place out using Mandarin.. Look up the language requirements on the Harvard admission website. There is a section about native speakers of languages other than English.</p>
<p>Thanks. i got it. in case anyone else wants to know about it.</p>
<p>Language Requirement Waiver</p>
<p>The language requirement will be waived for any student whose native language is not English and who is proficient both in that language and in English. Petitions for waiver may be obtained from the Freshman Deans Office or the Coordinator of Transfer Student Programs and should be submitted to the Registrar of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, 20 Garden Street (hereafter referred to as the Registrar). No such petition will be granted unless the student has completed secondary school instruction in that language.</p>
<p>Placement tests are mostly just suggestions, and prereqs at Harvard are pretty lax; usually if you don't have them you can ask the professor for permission to take the course anyhow or explain why you think you should place into it. Prerequisites are generally there to protect you from courses that are too hard for you, not to keep down enrollment.</p>