<p>Does that look bad? I am not very good at Korean but I want to improve to at least a 760 and so far I think my range is about a 700, but I was reading other threads and people advise "native speakers" not to take Korean SAT II because it is your native language after all. However, my native language is English, but I'm pretty sure when college admissions look at my ethnicity and my last name, they will not distinguish the difference between the two and look past it, and stigmatize me for taking the Korean Subject Test, when I'm... Korean.</p>
<p>What do you guys think?</p>
<p>It’s fine. My kids had a similar situation and noted in the Additional Information section why they had not spoken the language at home and instead took HS coursework.</p>
<p>AOs are pretty savvy these days to the fact that students are brought up in a range of circumstances and that many 2nd+ generation kids aren’t brought up speaking the native language of their country of origin.</p>
<p>I would take another language or subject test because being a Korean will weigh on the adcom’s mind when assessing your korean SAT score. Even though you might have been born and raised in the U.S. as with many foreign families, there’s a good chance that you have had more exposure to the language at a young age when the mind is most receptive to new languages. As a result it’s conceivable that you would have an unfair advantage over a non-korean who learns the language from scratch. Would it be fair if your score was judged the same way as someone who was never exposed to korean as a child?</p>
<p>So, you can take it if you want, but I would try to make sure you have two non-korean SAT IIs in the case that the Korean SAT isn’t taken seriously.</p>
<p>Colleges like to see students stretching their comfort zone and challenging themselves. If you view the Korean SAT II as a challenge for you, take it. </p>
<p>To be honest, though, the reason why the curve is so harsh on these things is that it’s all native speakers acing it. So your time may be better spent on another subject, but that’s just my opinion.</p>
<p>Take it. There are very few ways to demonstrate your proficiency in your other language. Your score is a solid demonstration of that. Not to mention that some institutions will use your score to waive a language requirement or for advanced placement - either of which can make your life easier down the line.</p>
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<p>Proficiency in language isn’t a requirement for college admissions. There are thousands of applicants who are proficient in languages not offered in the IB, AP or SAT. AdComs just have to take the student’s word for it.</p>
<p>Take it, but in addition to any that are required or recommended for the schools you are applying to. I.e. if they want to see two subject tests, take Korean as your third subject test, to demonstrate the language proficiency in the absence of courses on your transcripts (after all, it could be your third language, in addition to English and a foreign language you took in high school, which could look a little better than just English and one foreign language).</p>
<p>Some colleges do not like to see native or heritage language subject tests in lieu of other subject tests, but others may accept sufficiently high scores as satisfying a foreign language admissions or graduation requirement or for placement in foreign language courses in college.</p>
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<p>UC and CSU do not take the student’s word for it. They want to see some foreign language knowledge either in terms of high school course work, college course work, foreign language test score, or transcripts of 7th grade or higher study in a non-US school taught in a non-English language.</p>