So… I barely knew Chinese going into high school, and I wanted to get better. Taking Chinese as a foreign language class actually helped me expand my vocabulary quite a bit 
However, I didn’t realize at the time that it might look bad on college applications. I’m thinking about applying to Princeton or Columbia early, and my stats put me in the competitive range for these schools (though I know that they’re not the only thing that matters). What do you guys think? Thanks!
If you were born and raised in the US and picked up some Chinese from family you have no problem.
@TomSrOfBoston Thanks for replying! Do you mean I have no problem with my college application, specifically?
I know numerous Chinese people at my school who took Chinese all four years of high school, and I don’t believe this impacted their college admissions in any way. One of those people is attending UChicago next year. However, as always, the best bet is to call a college’s admission office and ask how they would view that.
I don’t see it as a problem. Many Hispanic students take Spanish.
Of course, it is best if you started with the appropriate level course considering your previous knowledge. Many heritage speakers taking that language in a US high school (or college) could start in a higher level than the beginner course, because they are already beyond the skill level taught in the beginner course.
It may be fine, but it certainly is not impressive to the admission officer. For schools that have SAT2 requirement, I remember see one said explicitly that native language would not be counted for fulfilling the minimal SAT2 requirement. However, I do know a lot of Chinese descendant students taking AP Chinese Exam (but take other world language in HS).
“” However, as always, the best bet is to call a college’s admission office and ask how they would view that. " The people in admissions are busy and are not there to chance you. It’s a little late to change this now so I would suggest you not pester admissions about it. Either they won’t care, or they will. Most likely they won’t since you were not a native speaker. What could they possibly say that would be helpful at this point or that would change anything you plan to do? Please let them do their jobs and hopefully have enough time to review your application carefully rather than spending their time dealing with pointless questions from other hyper anxious high school students.
Lots of white students take French. No one loses any sleep over that.
^ How many of those students already speak French at home? That’s the real issue, not whatever you happen to look like.
60% of my daughter’s AP Spanish class spoke at least some Spanish at home.
Post #8 & 9 are both commentaries that it really does matter what you look like. No one would give it a second thought to question the OP about the course if the OP was white.
…What? My comment stating that it doesn’t matter what you look like is a commentary saying that it does matter what you look like?
The French example is silly. That’s all. Kind of nonsensical, actually, considering not all white people are of French descent…
A French student who regularly speaks French at home taking French 1 for an easy A would be the problem (at least for selective schools who value course rigor). A Chinese student who barely knew Chinese before formally studying it should not be frowned upon.
No one thinks twice about a white student with the last name Boudreaux or Dubois taking French. Not even in Louisiana.
Now substitute the word French with Mandarin, and substitute the names Zhang or Wang.
With that, we appear to be at a stalemate, since you’re just tossing out whatever words come into your head without addressing the responses, and presuming to speak for what the entire population thinks.
Anyway, I think OP has their answer, since they are in fact neither white nor French, making that example – like I said – silly and nonsensical.
" I barely knew Chinese going into high school, and I wanted to get better. Taking Chinese as a foreign language class actually helped me expand my vocabulary quite a bit"
Don’t worry about this. Umpteen other first-gen and immigrated-as-a-little kid are in the exact same position as you. It is terrific that you chose to study your heritage language and to improve those language skills!!
The gist of OP’s question is:
Will taking Mandarin by a person with Chinese ethnicity look like GPA padding?
My impression, based in complaints I’ve heard from non-Asians, is that some people will indeed perceive it (fairly or unfairly) as GPA padding.
Unlike a white person with the last name Boudreaux or Dubois taking French, a Chinese-American student will find himself “explaining” the choice.
Hispanic students who take Spanish as GPA padding may be given a pass, because that demographic is often underrepresented, and selective colleges are typically keen to increase their numbers.
OP, not a problem. You took it to improve and enhance. Heritage speakers don’t necessarily have the grammar and vocab or the experience in reading,writing and lit, at the level you learn in class.
Just because a language is spoken in the home doesn’t mean that the student will ace the course. My SIL taught high school French and Spanish for 30 years in a school with many First Gen Hispanic students. They were shocked to find that the Spanish classes weren’t as easy as they thought they’d be.