<p>So here's my dilemna, I'm curremtly a sophomore in high school and I took Chinese 2 last year, skipped to AP chinese this year and will probably get a 5 on the exam, I am Chinese but was never fluent that is why I decided to take Chinese in high school</p>
<p>Can i stop here because I showed mastery of the langauge or will Ivy leagues look down upon the fact I took my native language and only two years of it at that.
I'm thinking about taking Spanish if two years of chinese is not enough, I can probably fit 3 years of spanish in before graudation. Is it worth it? Also since the first two years of spanish will not be honors or ap, it will bring down my weighted gpa thus affecting my ranking. I dont know if it is worth it. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>And one ore thing, will taking spanish through dual enrollment ( at local community college) still count towards the foreign language recommendation, because then this will help boost my gpa, or do the courses have to be taken at the high school</p>
<p>At Harvard, specifically, receiving a 5 on a foreign language AP exam is one method of fulfilling the language requirement. The second option is to achieve, at minimum, a 600 composite on a single SAT II foreign language exam. The third method is to perform at a satisfactory level on a placement exam (600 composite out of 800) and then subsequently pass the verification exam during orientation in the fall. The fourth method is to take (and pass) two semesters of a single foreign language. </p>
<p>Harvard’s hope is to have all undergraduate achieve at least a basic mastery of a single foreign language (aside from English, of course). It is irrelevant if this language is the student’s native language.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you enroll in Spanish if the prospect of doing so would satisfy a genuine academic curiosity. If you are merely considering Spanish to potentially fulfill the foreign language requirement at your eventual place of attendance, it would not be obligatory if you have proficiency in Chinese.</p>
<p>Currently, Harvard requires a 700 on the SAT II Language Test, an increased change from the previous 600 from two years ago. The details are included at the Freshman Dean’s Office webpage in the Language section.</p>
<p>Currently, Harvard requires a 700 on the SAT II Language Test to fulfill the language requirement, an increased change from the previous 600 from two years ago. (Or 5 on the AP, etc, as mifune detailed.)</p>
<p>The testing options are included at the Freshman Dean’s Office webpage in the Language section.</p>
<p>Hey guys, thanks so much.
And mifune, your right I dont particulary have a special interest in spnaish I was merely worried about the 4 recommended years. And I’ve heard stories about asians taking the chinese sat II and harvard not liking it because its a bit like cheating.
But they also have never taken chinese in school and i have,which makes a difference i guess.
In this case, I’m gonna stop after this year and focus on my other interests.</p>
<p>^ Similarly, I have only taken 2 years spanish (senior now) and was not able to take another 2 years spanish due to schedule conflicts (who would pass up AP stat or multi calc for a measly spanish class?) Im taking Chinese II for fun though.</p>
<p>Communist, you are really missing an important point here. You aren’t similar to the OP at all. The OP took only two years of Chinese, but achieved a decent level of mastery in it, enough to get a 5 on the AP exam. You have only taken two years of Spanish, and you haven’t achieved mastery in it.</p>
<p>Harvard, with its admissions guidelines and its general education requirements, makes a strong statement that second language acquisition has a high academic value. You are not acting like you understand or accept that notion.</p>
<p>The answer to your question – “Who would pass up AP stat or multi calc for a measly Spanish class?” – may well be “Someone who wants to go to Harvard.” I don’t think it’s that stark, but I do think you have probably hurt yourself with your curriculum choices.</p>
<p>As listed on the link mifune provided, you must either:</p>
<p>a) Have an above-a-certain-score SATII on a foreign language subject test (don’t need to be submitted during the admissions process----I’m sure you can send it in later),</p>
<p>b) Have a 5 on a language AP,</p>
<p>c) Pass the Harvard foreign language placement exam with a certain score to show proficiency in a foreign language,</p>
<p>Or you must complete a year of foreign language while at Harvard before your junior year. From what I heard though, the foreign language classes there are quite enjoyable overall.</p>
<p>Oh, okay, thanks so much for clearing it up for me! Does the foreign language you take at Harvard must be one you studied previously, or can it be one you’ve never tried before?</p>
<p>No, you can certainly take any language you like! If I have time on my schedule, I was thinking that maybe I’ll try taking some language that no one has ever heard of, just for fun…</p>
<p>Guys, this has all helped alot.
So to reiterate, if i get a 5 on the ap chinese exam my language requirement is fine?
I just dont want anything as stupid as this to affect my chances.
Do you guys think they’ll still look down at my two years or should the 5 on ap exam make up for any of that.</p>
<p>And Calico, I completely agree with you, I would love to take a uncommon language at Harvard (if i get in). Seems like it would be very interesting!</p>
<p>@JHS I am completely fluent in Chinese, and will take the AP Chinese test next year. However, I disagree with you on your suggestion over curriculum. I was only able to take 2 years of spanish due to schedule conflicts (i.e. I took harder classes, if you didn’t understand in the first place). Your logic is completely wrong, AP statistics and mutivariable calculus is much more important than a Spanish 3 class that I would have taken, and carries much more weight on the GPA scale.</p>