So… I’ll be taking German in junior and senior year (from the very beginning), while I had taken another language in 9th and 10th. However, schools like Harvard recommend/require 4 years of a single language. But will taking a summer school course or going on an immersion program, and showing my competency on subject test/AP exam satisfy their foreign language requirement? I am currently studying in IB.
It is usually the level of the language it counts. Two years of two language does not equal 4 years of one language. You may take summer course, online class, or take it at a CC though. Each semester at a college would equal one year/level.
Is there a good reason for your shift of languages that your GC can explain for you? Like did you switch schools, did a teacher retire, did you have schedule conflicts? Most top schools recommend only 3 years of the same language, but a few like Harvard recommend 4. Ideally you should reach the 4th year level of a foreign language (as measured by high schools), so taking a summer school course or immersion program would definitely help.
Yea… I switched both my school and my board (CBSE to IB). CBSE and IB are both completely different boards, with one laying emphasis on grammar, and the latter on orals and conversational skills. So I was told by numerous people and teachers to switch and start a new language from scratch. Any thoughts?
Yes.
Be aware that colleges’ recommendations are just that…recommendations, and they are targeted at a specific group of applicants - namely U.S. HS students. As you are an international applicant, some things that a college lists as recommended preparation may not apply. For example, continuing to use Harvard as an example, they recommend 2-3 years of history, including US history. However, there is no expectation from Harvard, or any other US college, that US history be studied if the student lives and studies in a foreign country where US history is not part of the curriculum. Going back to foreign language, if English is not your native language, then 4 years coursework in your native language and in English may be preferable over any other language.
Having said all that, you need to be aware of the reality. Even if you were to have every ingredient of the recommended preparation, and even if you have stellar SAT scores and GPA, as an international applicant, your chances for admission are roughly half that of the domestic applicant pool. Good luck.
@skieurope Thank you! However, I am not an international applicant–I am an American citizen living in a foreign country, and have been brought up there for all of my life. But my main question is whether the fact that I switched schools and boards will provide some sort of explanation for my having switched a language.
Thanks again!
Thanks for the clarification.
Yes. The person who fills out the secondary school report should mention that.
What is the highest level you will reach in each of the two languages?
@ucbalumnus I’m not too sure what you mean, but I would have received an IB diploma with my German course in 11th and 12th. I’ve received a CBSE certificate for my previous language, but I’m not too sure how that translates. But I intend to further my course in German with summer school next year.
Have you taken an external test to show your foreign language proficiency? Can you take a subject test in the first foreign language you learned?
@MYOS1634 Yes, yes I have. I took a pretty big language proficiency test in my city, and did very well. I am actually planning on continuing a self study of my previous language along with German, and then taking both subject tests next year. What do you think?
Excellent then. Good plan if you can score well in TWO foreign languages as it’ll definitively help you Stand out.
If you are an American citizen living abroad you could probably also take the AP for the language of the country in which you live.
@Erin’s Dad I see. Thank you for the suggestion! But do I have to take it right after junior year, or can I also take it after senior year?
You can take AP tests at the end of any year of high school.
By “highest level”, I meant the level of the course. For example, if you had two years of French which were level 3 and 4 (because of previous French knowledge), that is better than if the two years of French were level 1 and 2.
But it does look like CBSE is something mainly used in India, so it is likely that you do know at least one language other than English or German to a level of skill higher than US high school level 2. The main issue may be showing something to prove that, although if your target universities get international applicants, they are more likely to know what CBSE means.
I see. Thank you, ucbalamnus . But will taking the subject tests for the two languages I had studied in high school, and doing well in them, make up for the fact that I didn’t take a single language?
At this point it is what it is. Showing mastery of both languages through standardized tests certainly won’t hurt. You might also ask your guidance counselor if he/she would address the reason for your changing languages in his/her recommendation (especially if the new school recommended you do so) or you could put a very brief explanation in the additional information section of the common app.
If you have certification for your previous language, you are good for that language. I would not spend any more time on that. Get certification in German and you should be good
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