I have a question about taking foriegn language class in high school

Applying to College
1

<p>hi. im currently sophomore in High school
I really wish to go to good colleges like Ivy league,
and i just found out that most of the good colleges is required for 2 or 3, or even 4 foreign language class during the high school year.
The problem is, i did not take any foriegn language class during 9th and 10th grade year.
The reason i did not take the foriegn language class is that
1) I am Korean, so i as english is my second language, i can speak 2 languages
2) I also studied at China for 5 years, so i can speak and use Mandarine Chinese(which isn't my native language). fluently and i am planning to take ap chinese in this may. </p>

<p>My question is,,
if i get 5 for ap chinese or 800 in SAT II Chinese test, do i still need to take foriegn class
for my junior year and senior year?
If i should have taken foriegn language in my 9th grade and 10th grade year, i am so regretting right now....</p>

2

<p>You should be alright considering your a foreign exchange student. They will be really impressed if you do well in a third language so I would sign up for it for your 11th and 12th year if you want to get into an ivy. Don’t sweat it though just enjoy school. You will most likely end up good situation regardless</p>

3

<p>The recommendation of 4 years of one foreign language does not mean that you have to take 4 years of the language in high school. You need to do that or the equivalent. Some students begin their language study in middle school or in elementary school. And some enter high school from an immersion program, where the second language is the primary language. What these students do is place into higher levels of the language in high school, and in some cases they place beyond the 4th year of the language – as for example into Honors French Literature, or AP Spanish Literature.</p>

<p>Your situation in Chinese is similar to that of an American middle school/elementary school student with considerable proficiency in the language when entering high school.</p>

<p>I suggest that you discuss this with your high school counselor. If your school offers Chinese, and you haven’t taken the school’s placement exam in Chinese, do that so it appears on your record. Then take the highest level of Chinese that your school offers consistent with your placement. </p>

<p>If your school does not offer Chinese then your approach of self study + taking the AP exam + getting a 4 or 5 on the exam should satisfy the requirement. (Note for example, that the California UCs explicitly allow that.) Better though is to take one year of the language at the highest available level (perhaps at a community college). Do this in addition to the taking the SAT II or the AP exam in Chinese.</p>

4

<p>Check with each university you intend to apply to. In many cases, there may be other ways of meeting a foreign language admissions (or graduation) requirement besides the specified number of years of foreign language in high school.</p>

<p>For example, the [University</a> of California system](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/california-residents/statewide-path/subject-requirement/index.html]University”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/freshman/california-residents/statewide-path/subject-requirement/index.html) normally requires the second year of high school foreign language for admission (though requirements may be greater for graduation at some campuses and majors), but there are ways to fulfill this admission requirement with SAT subject, AP, or IB tests.</p>

5

<p>so if i get 5 in ap Chinese Exam and 800 for SAT II CHINESE, (i am really confident…), then really good colleges like IVY league (My dream is UPenn), will accept that score as same as 4 years foreign language in high school?
Or… if i cant filled those foreign language requirement for good college, am i not even able to apply for these colleges?</p>

6

<p>Best, in reply to your specific question is to send a note to admissions at UPenn and ask that very question. But do you want to do that to every college to which you apply?</p>

<p>Best is if your high school officially recognizes that you have placed beyond 4-years of the language, and notes that on your transcript. Typically (as I wrote earlier) it means that you’re taken your school’s placement test, which may be informal. Work with your high school counselor, and the head of your language department on getting this official recognition. You may be surprised with the results of such a placement test. Perhaps they see you as only ready for Chinese 3, or 4. Formal language study often includes some literature of the language, and they may conclude that you don’t have enough of this dimension. Following an unofficial route (without your school’s involvement) is not wise.</p>

<p>In the case of AP exams, keep in mind that most (all?) admissions department don’t really consider the grade (send by you) as part of the admissions process. The SAT II is different. They do see and consider that.</p>