<p>I'm a Canadian born Korean, and Korean was my first language, although now I'm more at ease in English. I've heard that colleges don't care if you score well on your native languages because that's what you're expected to do. I know some Korean kids who have only immigrated in the last couple of years, and they've easily scored 800s. Is there any distinction between people like them and people like me?</p>
<p>I have SAT II scores of 800 (U.S. History), 720 (Lit), and 690 (Math 2). I'm pretty confident I can get 800 on the Korean test, thus bagging me a couple of perfect scores for the schools I'm interested in, like Amherst, Williams, and Brown. However, if the Korean test will mean little due to my ethnicity, then I'd have to concentrate more on the Math 2 test I'm retaking, or the Lit test I may retake (should I? any thoughts?). If the answer is yes, then I can relax more because I won't have to retake my Lit and not worry so much about my Math 2.</p>
<p>I heard that colleges generally won't be impressed if you take a SATII language test that reflects your nationality..
hence you can take it, but it won't mean anything if you score an 800, and colleges will think less of you if score anything less.</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn't take it. The curve on it is extremely brutal as most get an 800. anything less than an 800 is AT THE 50 PERCENTILE!</p>
<p>I have many friends who have 800s on the korean language test,
but because they're Korean, they haven't gone anywhere</p>
<p>I'm Korean as well, and don't plan to take it....</p>
<p>But you can if you want ^_^</p>
<p>actually ive heard the opposite...colleges nowadays know that lots of foreign kids don't really speak their native language at home anymore...i mean the colleges know the kids KNOW the language but they don't use it...I feel that taking the sat2 for korean would prove to the colleges that you really know your stuff...anyway just my 2 cents...</p>
<p>my korean brother..how do you not get 800 on math2c.. haha jk</p>
<p>i hear 800 on Korean SATII is not something admissions officers are awed by if your nationality is korean. but hey, its an 800. if you're CERTAIN you will get 800..go for it..but if you have the slighest doubt.. i wouldn't do it.</p>
<p>lets say theres 2 kids w/ identical GPA/EC/recommendations/blah blah</p>
<p>so the decision comes down to their SAT scores..and suppose their sat1 score is identical.. and the only difference is their sat2. which would they rather choose? a korean kid who got 800 on Korean or a korean kid who got 800 on literature/chemistry/biology/anything other than korean?</p>
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[quote]
so the decision comes down to their SAT scores..and suppose their sat1 score is identical.. and the only difference is their sat2. which would they rather choose? a korean kid who got 800 on Korean or a korean kid who got 800 on literature/chemistry/biology/anything other than korean?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, I do have an 800 in U.S. History... =)</p>
<p>
[quote]
actually ive heard the opposite...colleges nowadays know that lots of foreign kids don't really speak their native language at home anymore...i mean the colleges know the kids KNOW the language but they don't use it...I feel that taking the sat2 for korean would prove to the colleges that you really know your stuff...anyway just my 2 cents...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's true too. I know a couple of Canadian born Koreans and they wouldn't be able to score high on the SAT II Korean.</p>
<p>Another question relating to this topic is how strong in an SAT II pairing of 800 and 720 (U.S. History and Lit, respectively)? I think I can bump up my Math 2 to my practice levels (~750), but I don't want to create false expectations. If a 800-720 tandem is unimpressive, then I'd have think about retaking the Lit, in case my Math 2 score is subpar and my Korean test is practically moot in the eyes of schools.</p>
<p>well what are you planning to major in?</p>
<p>English. Plus, anybody know the scale? I have a REAL SAT II book, and the scale goes something like this:</p>
<p>80 - 800
79 - 800
78 - 800
77- 800
76 - 800
75 - 790
74 - 790
73 - 780
72 - 770
71 - 770
70 - 760</p>
<p>Wow, i'm a south korean born korean and i don't know a word of korean... i was adopted... i wonder what they'd say if i took Korean for Sat2s</p>
<p>Honestly, I agree with some and have conflicting opinions about this. i know handful of people that know korean or other foreign language because they are natives to that country of just learn if from parents. But some immigrants take their language so lightly that some are so bad at speaking (let's say korean) although they were born there - which I think is stupid- I know a girl that was in ESL but she speaks korean so badly, I could hardly make out what she's saying. I'm pretty sure colleges know it - people that take their culture for granted and not. I think the best one is to take three sat ii's one for you language to show that you aren't one of those people( mentioned above) and having two high scores on other two could actually improve your chance than a person that didn't take it at all</p>
<p>hopeful219,</p>
<p>I agree with you, in that I think it's important to show that I have some ability in my native language. There's really no way for colleges to know if you are able in your native tongue if you have spent all your life in an English-speaking country. I'm sure they do not assume that all Asians are perpetual foreigners who always have a firm grasp on their native tongues. There are many Asians with immigrant parents who are barely able to speak their language. </p>
<p>Thanks for all your thoughts, everybody. Hopefully, I'll pull off an 800!</p>
<p>nbachris2788 : if you are fluent in korean, then you are probably going to get 800 - just make sure you know the grammar and stuff = if you are used to hearing it, then you would do well :D good luck!</p>
<p>hopeful you wouldnt happen to be korean?</p>
<p>thats cool :p hahah</p>
<p>hey you guys...maybe we should start a korean thread if there isn't one already...</p>
<p>haha I'm up for it. :D</p>
<p>What do you mean a Korean thread? Like a culture thread?</p>
<p>like...a thread where koreans can freak out over colleges together..haha...i'm new to this so yeah....</p>
<p>haha yea I'm Korean-American and I'm taking it on the 5th :D I speak it fluently but when it comes to grammar and writing, not so good T_T so yeah. hopefully I'll do well lol</p>