<p>I was looking at the applications for Exeter and I didn’t see a spot for language and language recommendations. Is language counted as an extracurricular or not counted at all? I was also wondering where you would say if you had won any awards, like the National French Test awards.</p>
<p>There should be a spot on the application for awards. And I’m not sure language counts as an EC, unless you do it outside of school.</p>
<p>So would that mean language that is taken in school is discounted when applying? I’m sorry, but that does not make any sense to me. Isn’t able to speak a foreign language a trait that admissions would count.</p>
<p>yes it is not discounted. it is just not considered extracurricular. because if you do it in school then it is curricular</p>
<p>For example, if I am in theatre class at school, it is not considered and extracurricular. But if I’m in the school play on top of theatre, it is an extracurricular. Get it?</p>
<p>If you are fluent in a foreign language, you should probably mention it in the interview.</p>
<p>When I was filling out the application for Exeter, there was a spot where you could put your foreign language background that you are fluent in and your country of origin. However, if you take a language during school (chinese, french, spanish etc.) and you don’t speak it at your house then this is a class which you will mention on a sheet they give you to fill before the interview.</p>
<p>Foreign language is not considered EXTRAcurricular because it is a part of your curriculum! Anything that is a required part of your schooling is not an EC. I remember reading something on Exeter’s website last year titles “Ten things we look for” or something like that and one of the traits listed was the study of a modern or classical language. Do they discount it as much as they simply expect that you would be studying a foreign language.</p>
<p>Now, if you have taken upon yourself to learn a language because it’s not offered at your school, that’s a completely different thing. But simply taking French in school, especially if foreign language is a requirement (as it is in many states), is not an EC. </p>
<p>National French Test awards should be listed under accomplishments in the candidate profile with any other academic awards.</p>
<p>wait so if you are learning a language outside of your school, then would you put it down as an extra curricular???</p>
<p>Language isn’t required at my school. At my school it is considered an art extracurricular. That is why I was asking. However, I am taking Spanish over the summer even though it is not required. French isn’t required either. No language is required. I was wondering where to put that I have taken French and Spanish for a couple of years since from what I read online, Exeter only asks for math and english recommendations.</p>
<p>You can have one of your teachers simply write a letter reccomending you and include it in the application. And language is not required to graduate for my school either, but if you are taking it through the school it is not an extracurricular. I think you’re confusing the terms extracurricular and elective.</p>
<p>Sounds like a definition is in order here. Your curriculum is the courses you are taking at school, electives and all. Extra, as a prefix, means “outside of.” Therefore, extracurricular are those things outside of your classwork and usually refers to things like sports, private lessons, community service, church activities, plays, etc.</p>
<p>It does get a bit blurry with electives, however, when non-academics like band and chorus are offered as electives but still listed as ECs. Absolutely list outside coursework and/or independent study as an EC.</p>
<p>I would simply stress that you are not required to take them. If language is important to you, then be sure to stress that in your interviews.</p>
<p>Don’t overthink it. It’s not like they tally up applicant’s ECs and toss them if they don’t hit a minimum. As long as you spend you time in active pursuits, instead of watching TV and playing video games all day, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>I’m an international student who’s learning a language outside school(school requires English). My tutor is a translator. She spent three years in that particular country. I’ve been learning for a year and I’m passionate about it. </p>
<p>Do they really believe that I’m good at this? Do I need to submit an essay in that language? Take standardized tests? I spent a lot of time on it and just love it so much!!! How do I tell them?</p>
<p>I know that French for me is an elective. However, I was wondering if Spanish was because I wanted to learn the language over the summer at a local community college so I’m taking it this summer. I agree with neatoburrito when it comes to electives vs. extracurriculars getting confusing when music is an extracurricular even though it is offered at school, and language is not. I’m not saying language should be an extracurricular, though.</p>
<p>@Neato: So should I list AP classes I am taking out of school as an EC?</p>
<p>I’m not neato…but I’d say probably not. YOUR curriculum seems to include AP classes, for credit (one hopes) that you happen to take outside of the school you’re enrolled in. But it’s still part of your curriculum. The AP course grades and the test results may even appear on your school’s transcript – making that all the more clear.</p>
<p>The important thing is to place this information where someone who is looking for it will find it. An AP language class is one academic component of your overall academic track record. I would tend to keep it with the other academic items and not put it in a category where other applicants are describing how they put ships in bottles and how they’ve taken lessons on the hurdy-gurdy for the past 7 months.</p>
<p>If the AP course is taken at another school and it is not reflected in the transcript of the school you’re attending, you should make a note on your application that you take the course elsewhere and then arrange to have the transcript sent to the schools you’re applying to. But you would still include it within your academic section, if only to avoid the appearance of making your course load appear lighter than necessary. </p>
<p>Many students applying to BS (or college, for that matter) advance to a level in one or more academic subjects that their school cannot offer…so an accommodation is reached allowing the students to continue these academic pursuits outside of their own school.</p>
<p>Yes, technically speaking, it’s taken outside of your school…and outside of the curriculum offered by your school…but the reasonableness test needs to kick in when applying neato’s definition. This is an AP course…for credit…taught according to recognized standards…and offered by an accredited academic institution. So, even though the classes are taken outside the four walls of your school, it’s still within your curriculum and the accommodations required for you to take it are likely made with the blessing and cooperation of your school. That’s much different from German instruction offered by your local German-American club on Sunday afternoons (which would fall under EC).</p>
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<p>Edit: In general, if you don’t need to put academic-oriented items down as an EC, I would not do so. Again…this is a general point and not specific…but I think boarding schools want to admit students who can keep busy from 8 a.m. until lights out. Loading up on ECs with academic pursuits can – possibly – send the wrong message: that you’re not going to do so well during the 3 pm to lights out portion of the day. If it can legitimately fit under the academic section, I’d put it there so that the EC section can stand out and shine on its own.</p>
<p>2010 - No. See Dyer’s post. </p>
<p>That said, even though it’s not an “EC” (which people seem to overestimate the importance of IMHO) it shows that you set your own curriculum, so to speak; which is a very good thing.</p>
<p>Yeah I see what you are saying. I was going to self-study in my free-time so it wouldn’t show up on a transcript anywhere. I just can’t find a place to put it in the application. I just looked over the candidate profile and in one spot it gives space for this:</p>
<p>Please share with us any academic or personal achievements of which you are especially proud. Please also describe any academic honors received.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t seem like it would go under that. And then theres this:</p>
<p>EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS
In the grid below, please note your interests and activities in order of importance to you in areas such as music, drama, art, community service, debate, writing, athletics, employment, or hobbies. We understand that some candidates have more opportunities for organized activities than others, but we are interested in how you spend your time outside of the classroom. Please indicate in the right-hand column those activities that you hope to continue.</p>
<p>It seems like this section is more broad. It says “we are interested in how you spend your time outside of the classroom”. So techniqually it could fit into this category but I don’t want, like you said, to have academics mixed into my ECs. Do you think I could just write a little paragraph about how I am taking an AP out of school and attach it?</p>
<p>What grade are you in 2010 hopeful?</p>
<p>If you go with the on-line application, which definitely makes applying to several schools simpler–you won’t have room for a short paragraph there–it’ll cut you off. However, I’d still put it there, then maybe expand in an essay (you wouldn’t have to write a whole essay about just that, but could use it as an example to illustrate something about yourself.</p>
<p>@urbanflop: I am going into 10th.</p>
<p>@classicalmama: Thanks for the suggestion! I try and see if I can sneak it into an essay. haha. I could always just talk about it into the interviews too.</p>