<p>When I say "knowing" I mean being fluent. I know it is not going to hurt but considering the fact that there are probably thousand other people with that many languages applying, will it even make any difference if you dont have 700+ SAt reasoning scores?</p>
<p>Everything helps. It's all part of a bigger picture. Don't obsess too much over individual aspects and know how to sell yourself as a complete package.</p>
<p>I don't know what you're asking. I think you're asking is if being fluent in three languages will make up for lower SAT scores, which I assume you define to be sub-700. </p>
<p>My guess is probably not.</p>
<p>Harvard is the only great school I know of that asks specifically how many languages in which an applicant is fluent.</p>
<p>Do you have 800s in respective subject tests to back up your fluency?</p>
<p>Columbia asks specifically how many languages an applicant speaks, and even what other languages are spoken at home. I dont need test on two of the three foreign languages because they are my native, and second native. ( and they do know where I am from to believe that I do speak those languages). In regards to a third foreign language,Russian, test in Russian is not offered so I dont have to worry about it.</p>
<p>Really?</p>
<p>Sorry, must have slipped my mind.</p>
<p>To answer the question you may subconsciously be asking, SAT scores are very important.</p>
<p>^that's what i was about to say lool</p>
<p>You're applying for admission into a well-rounded university, not a job as a CIA interpreter.</p>
<p>^ lol at the comment above </p>
<p>If you think your ability to speak three languages really defines who you are, and that it is your strongest selling point, then reflect that in your personal statement. At a glance the 3 languages does not seem exceptionally impressive.</p>
<p>I am applying for Political Science with a specific specialty in international Affairs and Foreign Service. I do certainly need foreign languages. </p>
<p>In regards to what Columbia2002 says, I would recommend you to contribute to discussions rather than be sarcastic. If languages DO NOT MATTER then this "well-rounded university" would not ask about them on the application. I never said that that was THE ONLY thing about me that I think would interest them. If you do not have an answer for this specific thread, please do not waste our time.</p>
<p>do you know three languages including english or in addition to english?</p>
<p>Yes speaking multiple non-English languages will help. Whether it is enough to overcome poor test scores no one can tell on this site or anywhere else other than the Columbia admissions committee. Good luck.</p>
<p>No. It does not include English. Application specifically asks languages "other than English" so I would not put English there. :-)</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am applying for Political Science with a specific specialty in international Affairs and Foreign Service. I do certainly need foreign languages.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You don't apply "for" anything. You apply to Columbia College, and you can certainly tell them what majors you're interested in. And while I'm no expert on the CU poli sci department, I'm not sure where you came up CU as offering "a specific specialty in international Affairs and Foreign Service." Hell, I've never heard of CU offering "specific specialties" in anything.</p>
<p>Political Science is a very general name of the major. It consists of four subfields: International Relations, American politics, Political Theory, and Comparative politics. Out of these 4 subfields you have to have at least 9 credits in one of them so that that becomes your field of expertise ( or specialty which means the same thing). In this case what I meant is that I plan to take those 9 credits in Int. relations ( or affairs, called either way) and therefore my specific specialty (specific area of expertise, look it up in the dictionary) becomes international relations. I will have to deal with "FOREIGN SERVICE" probably more than a person who took most credits lets say in American politics or something else. </p>
<p>I know you dont need to even know the major when you enter the college as the actual work on it does not begin until ones junior year ( as far as I know). However, although i am applying for Columbia College, lets not forget that the PRIMARY goal of that college is to give you a degree. If I was not interested in political science, and I did not know that Columbia was a great school for this major ( first school to offer polsci in the US) I would not even try to go there. I dont think that there anything wrong with me telling them why I want to go there and what I feel passionate about. </p>
<p>You may call it a "well-rounded" school ( although that definition is very vague)and well rounded schools should expect "well-rounded" students to have a certain path in life of which that beautiful "well-rounded" columbia college is only a small part.</p>
<p>Just because you have ""never heard of CU offering "specific specialties" in anything"" does not mean that thats not how it is. You have to get over the fact you are not the only person who knows everything necessarily in EVERY department just because you went there. You yourself provided a LINK which perfectly explains what I just told you, I dont know why would you be confused. Probably because I used different terms than what they use. I am slightly puzzled</p>
<p>Wait, why does foreign service equate to international relations?</p>
<p>When I hear foreign service, my brain jumps to a career occupation rather than an academic field. Diplomats, ambassadors and people working for the government are in the foreign service. That said, the IR field isn't comparable to foreign service. The two terms are about different things entirely. Given your logic, an american politics specialist would be a better candidate for foreign service because they will understand american interests and domestic politics better and better represent U.S. interests abroad as a diplomat or ambassador. </p>
<p>While it's true that many people interested in foreign service will have academic backgrounds in international relations, it's also true that IR is not a prerequisite to foreign service. In other words, correlation doesn't mean causation.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that you will probably change your subspecialty and even your major several times in college. Your language skills are useful towards applying to the college in general as C02 has stated, but will have no affect on your application in relation to your major.</p>
<p>If you're truly interested in foreign service, then Georgetown, not Columbia would be the best fit for your interests. They do offer a specific program for undergrads in foreign service. GU:</a> SFS: Undergraduate Program > Welcome to our Current Students home page</p>
<p>All that said, I think this argument is moot. The key thing is that the admissions officers know that most people will change their majors in college and place no weight on how your skills and abilities will contribute to your anticipated major. Rather, your strengths influence your application as a whole. While it's great that you're so passionate about poli sci, your languages will speak to your ability as a person in general rather than your ability to major in poli sci.</p>
<p>To answer your original question. No, it won't help you get into Columbia for poli sci/international relations. But, it will help you get into Columbia on the merit of knowing three languages and bringing academic diversity to the campus.</p>
<p>First of all Karot, I never said that foreign service equates to international relations. I said that people who take most credits in Int. relations "PROBABLY" deal with foreign service more than other sub field students. At the same time, I NEVER said that taking most credits in international relations will mean that I will NOT KNOW about american politics and its "interests" as I will still have to take some courses in ALL four subfields( including Am. politics) Therefore your argument - "they will understand american interests and domestic politics better and better represent U.S. interests abroad" - does not make any sense.</p>
<p>My recommendation: I know the previous explanatory post was very long but next time, please instead of SKIMMING through, actually READ what I wrote and stop misinterpreting everything that I say. Skimming through does not give you the right idea as I can guess.</p>
<p>and </p>
<ul>
<li>"officers know that most people will change their majors in college." OH well...... I guess I am not one of those "most people" who dont know what they want. I dont want to go somewhere without knowing what I want and without knowing what that school can do for what I want. Columbia is especially strong in pol.sci. and thats why I want to go there, not because I think its cool, or prestigious, or that Im just good enough for it ( "prestigious" is what most applicants have in MIND but never admit obviously)</li>
</ul>
<p>Let's take this one from the top.</p>
<p>What does "probably deal with foreign service" mean? Again, foreign service is a career choice. There is no class on foreign service, neither is there a degree on it offered at Columbia for undergraduate students. </p>
<p>
[quote]
as I will still have to take some courses in ALL four subfields
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</p>
<p>You will not have to take courses in all four subfields. You take political theory, and you get to choose two out of the remaining three subfields. Technically, I've already fulfilled the political theory requirement because Contemporary Civilization counts.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's very possible to NEVER take American Politics and still major in poli sci.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My recommendation: I know the previous explanatory post was very long but next time, please instead of SKIMMING through, actually READ what I wrote and stop misinterpreting everything that I say. Skimming through does not give you the right idea as I can guess.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My recommendation, learn how to skim. Learn to be humble when you ask others for help and do your homework before you duke it out with somebody in the poli sci department on the internet. </p>
<p>
[quote]
OH well...... I guess I am not one of those "most people" who dont know what they want.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's what you think right now. Are you saying that your wants will remain the same for the next four years of your life? No? Then maybe you're saying that you know everything about every single major, course and textbook offered at Columbia and have come to the conclusion that poli sci is undoubtedly for you because you know for a fact that everything else is not to your tastes? </p>
<p>
[quote]
Columbia is especially strong in pol.sci. and thats why I want to go there, not because I think its cool, or prestigious, or that Im just good enough for it ( "prestigious" is what most applicants have in MIND but never admit obviously)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So what? There are plenty of other schools that are equally strong in poli sci. How do you know that Columbia is strong in poli sci? Is it because of it's reputation? Because of the outstanding faculty? Because of it's consistently high rankings in peer reviews? All that goes into prestige, something which you, unfortunately do not have.</p>
<p>I think we've all agreed that knowing 3 languages builds your app, but is no hook, I knew rejected applicants knowing 5 languages other than english (fluent in 4 and english). If you want to get into the foreign service and put that in your applications, then knowing the 3 languages shows a push in that direction and is a sign that you've actually done something to move towards your goal. It builds a better picture. You aren't competing for spots in the poli sci dept or for spots in any concentration. They just accept you into columbia college based on a good picture. </p>
<p>I see a more fundamental problem which is that you're dogmatic about foreign service, and poli sci as a method to that end. I think the foreign service will be more likely to take a more analytical kid who can pull off the international relations knowledge and diplomacy + language. The foreign service is also pretty bureaucratic and hierarchal which would annoy the life out of me, i've had senior acquaintances who dreamed of working with the world bank or imf or with congressmen and just hated it and dropped the idea after a summer because of heirarchy and bureaucracy. but hey different strokes for different folks</p>