Question of fairness with the way Stanford gives credits on language fluency

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

I am posting this question so I can receive some input on this issue so I can better understand the rationale behind Stanford’s policy on this issue and whether some people think it should be changed. Please note that I start with a premise that a private college can generally implement its own policy on giving credits because if I don’t like it, we don’t have to attend Stanford, but this does not mean the policy should not be changed if it’s not “fair”. I also realize the concept of “fairness” is not cut and dry, so I guess I would like your opinions on whether you think my “wish” is fair? Or am I missing something in my analysis?

Here is our situation. First, I noticed that a Stanford bound STEM interested prospective freshmen can receive up to approximately 40 to 50 Quarter credits based on AP test scores (not SAT Subject test scores) but it is very difficult for non-STEM bound proofs to receive many credits in advance. Our kid received a score of 5 on AP Spanish test, and we were happy because this meant that our kid could not only waive out of Stanford’s language requirement but also receive 10 Quarter Credits because according to Stanford’s AP Credits policy, a score of 5 on AP Spanish test will automatically give him 10 Quarter Credits (in Spanish). But our kid is fluent in another language (he lived in that country for 9 years so he grew up speaking that language (let’s call this Language A) and is close to fluent in every aspect) even though he did not take any classes and there is no AP test for this particular language. However, he could have taken IB test for this language but IB test is available to only those students who took IB classes for this particular language. However, our kid’s high school is not IB school, and does not offer IB classes. Our kid also received a score of 800 in the SAT Subject Test in Language A.

Questions:

  1. Is the AP test score of 5 not "equivalent" to SAT Subject Test score of 800? Is the reason why AP Test score is used over SAT Subject Test score because AP Test measures one's language ability more accurately?
  2. If a student is fluent in a language offered at Stanford and Stanford even offers many classes in that language, shouldn't the student be able to receive Credits by getting tested at Stanford's Language Center when AP Test for that language is not offered by the College Board? I even wrote the College Board and asked them why AP Test is not offered for that language when that language is offered at many colleges now days. No response. But it's probably due to the demand and supply issue. (Note that I do understand where Stanford does not have the facility or skilled staff to test a student's ability in a particular language, it would be unreasonable to ask Stanford to test the student's language ability, but I already verified that Stanford possesses both the facility and skilled staff to test students in this particular language. I guess I find it weird that when my kid is more fluent in Korean language than Spanish, he is able to receive 10 Quarterly Credits for Spanish but he cannot receive any Credits for Korean language because no AP Test is offered, even when he is willing to take a language test offered by Stanford Language Center showing that he possesses fluency in Korean language that is equivalent or higher to AP Test score of 5. Note he already received a score of 800 on SAT Subject Test (I know receiving 800 does not mean he's fluent), but 800 on SAT Subject Test might mean he can receive a score of 5 on AP Test -- not sure.
  3. Hypothetically, if the College Board starts to offer the AP Test in Language A one or two years from now on, should the student be allowed to take the AP Test and get a score of 5 and be given 10 Quarter Credits?

After typing all this, I feel that it would be more helpful to disclose Language A: Korean language. Note Stanford offers many Korean language classes and the Korea has been even added to the sub-region of the East Asian International Relations Major along with China and Japan.

2

Note that at another Ivy college, they allow you to take a test at its language facility and is given the credits for that language class if you show them you are fluent without having to take any AP or IB Test. Therefore, this way of doing things is not unusual.

3

He has placed out of the language requirement. Why do you care if he gets an additional ten credits in another language? Do you want him to graduate in three years? Unless there are significant financial considerations, I would savor the Stanford experience, make the most of your short time there, and not be in a rush to get it over with. And for whatever it’s worth, at another Ivy college, NO credits are given for AP tests, regardless of the score.

4

At another Ivy college, credits ARE given for fluency by a simple testing at a Language Center. It’s very easy to see if someone is at a high level in a particular language if a test giver is fluent in that language. Why? I want my kid to be able to take as many additional elective courses (non-major) he finds interesting.

5

But that’s what I don’t get. If he has already placed out of the language requirement, how does getting ten more language credits increase his opportunity to take additional electives? Your argument doesn’t make sense to me unless he is majoring Korean.

6

That’s the question – what would those additional language credits count for or get him out of? If they wouldn’t be replacing any classes or fulfilling any requirements, he will not get any additional space in his schedule for having them.

I’m required to take 6 credits of social science classes for general education requirements. If I take 9 instead, those extra 3 don’t actually count for anything – I’ve already fulfilled the requirement. Unless I am specifically allowed to apply them to something else via a special agreement, they’re just on my transcript, not doing me any good.

7

No. The SAT Subject Tests test at the A2 level of CEFR and the AP tests at B1. So AP (and IB SL/HL for that matter) tests at a higher level than the Subject Tests. So, while not a perfect analogy, it’s like asking if an 800 on the Math 2 Subject Test is the equivalent of a 5 on AP Calc BC.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages
Obviously, Korean is not a European langugae, but the same analogy applies to the ACTFL proficiency scale.

I think you answered your own question: “private college can generally implement its own policy on giving credits because if I don’t like it, we don’t have to attend Stanford” Put another way, to quote Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest: “Ah, but nobody ever said life was fair, Tina.” It is what it is.

I think the answer has more to do with how many HS’s (or rather how few) offer Korean, than how many colleges. AP’s are designed to show college-level work completed in HS and are not tied with a particular college’s curriculum. The more jaded question is why the CB goes through the expense of offering Subject Tests in Korean (or Hebrew) when there are so few test takers.

Yeah, I’m not getting this either. Few students are trying to graduate in less than 4 years, so I’m not sure what’s the point in the additional credits. If the kid wants to take advanced coursework in Korean, there’s nothing to stop him, right?

8

All fair and good points. I guess not many language credits needed unless you plan on majoring in Korean sub-region IR or Korean language.