Hey, I was just wondering how colleges would react to this. First of all, are the SAT II foreign language tests in general regarded with as much importance as say Math IIC or Chemistry because I haven’t heard about many people taking them. And then, the obvious question is how will they look at this if I am Chinese. I know I have an advantage, but not too much. I came here when I was 4, and I’ve forgotten most of it and will have to study hard. But I don’t want this to be a waste of effort if the top colleges will totally disregard a high score because of my ethnicity.
<p>colleges won't know when you came. remember to inform them somehow</p>
<p>a lot of students who take the SAT II language tests are fluent or native on that language. scoring under 800 would put you at a very lower percentile. so, if you score 800, it would be okay. but if you're wondering if colleges will think youre taking the easy way out, i dont think they'll think like that when evaluating you.</p>
<p>Are you an American citizen? Did you take Chinese classes in high school? Nobody would assume that you can speak Chinese just because of your ancestral heritage. People with French surnames don't necessarily know how to speak French.</p>
<p>Yes I am an American Citizen, and I didn't take any chinese classes in HS. I'm basically going to grab a book and study, and elicit the help of my parents, who are fluent.</p>
<p>Colleges used to want applicants to take the SAT II Writing, SAT II Math IC/IIC, and another SAT II related to your intended major. Now that the SAT II Writing no longer exists since it has been rolled into the SAT I, they are probably only going to want two SAT II's. Of course, it is good to take extra ones provided you can do well.</p>
<p>Your ethnicity will have no bearing on how they view the SAT II Chinese exam. It is really no less of an accomplishment for you to learn Chinese than anyone else. I would list your self study of Chinese as one of your extracurriculars.</p>
<p>Colleges want to see that you took a language in high school. If you took French/Spanish/Latin or something else in high school, then good. If not, then it is necessary for you to make it clear that you did in fact take a language, Chinese, on a home-schooled basis. In this sense, the SAT II is almost required.</p>
<p>What is the language at home? If it's Chinese, then no, an 800 is not impressive. I'd stick to one of the "major" subjects myself, ie Biology, US History, etc... That's where the big boys play, and that's where Adcom can get an accurate assessment on how you do, in school, relative to other students taking similar classes. On the other hand, if you were to master Spanish or French, it'd look awesome! Percentile rates for top scores in these languages are much lower and in general, you only need something like a 650 to pass out of language requirements at the top, top colleges. Therefore, a score like a 650 is deemed good, think what an 800 would do for ya! Whoa.. As for Chinese, well, "it's been done." Points booster if you applied to a state school where they might input your standardized test score into a formula, but no so hot for a private school. Best of Luck!</p>
<p>TTG</p>
<p>maybe you should take the AP Chinese exam, which is first offered in 2007.</p>
<p>No way. The curve on that test is horrible. An 800 is barely over 50%, and my friend who ONLY got a 760 was like 36%.</p>
<p>take it as a fourth satII, but not as one of your "required" satIIs
colleges WILL think you are taking the easy way out if your satIIs are math, science, and chinese</p>
<p>take math, science, history/ecomomics, and chinese</p>
<p>I know two native Spanish speakers who took the SAT II Spanish as their third SAT II. Whether it reflected poorly on them in admissions is anyone's guess, but ultimately one ended up at Columbia and the other at Stanford.</p>
<p>I speak French (native), but I took the Spanish SAT II. I'm taking French as an EXTRA (in addition to Math and Literature). Maybe you could do that.</p>
<p>Yeh, I was wondering if it'll land me any bonus points with colleges. I will have my top 3 tests by November: Math IIC, US history, and either Physics or Bio (depends if I break 750 for physics, which is what I got on Bio). But another reason for me possibly taking Chinese is to cancel out my crap score 720 that I got on Chem. So, I have no idea now. And about speaking Chinese at home? If Hispanic people have Spanglish, then I've got Chinglish.</p>