<p>I am pretty angry. I just got the course catalog from Princeton today and they have changed their requirements. It used to be that an AP score of 4 or an SAT II score of 740 could exempt you from the foreign language requirement, but NOW they have changed it to an AP score of 5 and an SAT II score of 760!</p>
<p>I have never taken an SAT II in any language, but I did take the AP Spanish Test and (after a LOT of blood, sweat, and tears) received a 4 last year. This year, I discontinued Spanish. I dislike foreign languages and would MUCH rather take more interesting classes. I was so looking forward to being done and now this!</p>
<p>Those are just my thoughts. What do y'all think? Have you noticed any other changes that the Princeton admin have made? How do you feel about the new language requirement?</p>
<p>Couldn’t you take the spanish subject test and score a 760 or higher. I mean, it’s probably not something you want to do, but it beats having to take the course in college. </p>
<p>Man - I feel your pain. My son was in the same boat a few years ago - busted his gut to earn a 4 so he could avoid the foreign language requirement. He would have been deeply bummed if they changed the goal line on him.</p>
<p>Anyway, he wound up transfering to the Engineering school - no foreign language requirement. If you have a quant background or interest, take a lot at the ORFE program-</p>
<p>If you’re good enough to get a 4 on the AP exam, then you can probably place into a higher intro-level course which requires you to only take one or 2 semesters of a language. It isn’t that bad taking a language here; it’s just fast-paced.</p>
<p>There’s a placement test. If your really wanted to avoid the language requirement you could study for it and try to get a good enough score so you don’t have to take classes. At the worst, you’ll probably get placed into a higher level spanish class so you don’t have to take the full 2 years worth of classes.</p>
<p>And if you are suggesting that Princeton should hold anything less than the highest standards for its students, then you definitely do not have me on board.</p>
<p>SAT Subject tests are subject to a curve; I think part of the reason the requirement is set at 760 is because of the variation in scoring. Furthermore, AP/SAT II Language tests are probably the hardest tests to get high scores on since so many native speakers take the tests. A friend of mine who lived in Switzerland for 10 years (she learned French Grammar before becoming fluent in speaking so her grasp on the technicalities of the language are probably better than most heritage speakers), only got a 780 on her French w/ Listening test and she said it was pretty difficult. I think 760 is an extremely high standard for non-native speakers.</p>
<p>You’ll probably be able to test out of it. The requirement is met when you complete either SPA 107 or 108, and I was able to test into 108 without ever taking AP Spanish.</p>
<p>idk if anyone mentioned this, but the sat spanish test is actually offered throughout the year. the one with listening is only offered in november; the regular one is offered on most other sat test dates (i think the exception is march?). i took it in june last year. [:</p>