I am half Romanian, my mother being an immigrant. I can speak Romanian extremely fluently, almost as good as a native language. Will this help me in applying to an elite university?
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most international students are at least bilingual so a bilingual American will not really help you.
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No. Many applicants will have proficiency in another language, including some who can read, write, and analyze at a high level. And on top of that, related accomplishments.
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There are a lot of people who speak two or more languages. Knowing another language isn’t something that stands out, for any college.
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The lady who cleans my house speaks almost as many languages as Melania Trump. Most people I know are at least passably bilingual. It’s just not that big of a deal nowadays.
yes, it might help you. But you need to make sure you take a test to get it certified. Not really sure what the test is called but that will show colleges that you actually are billingual
@JerseyKid321 Welcome to CC. But please don’t pass along rumors. The answer is it won’t help and there’s no test. They take your word for it. Why? The answer is the same for both your points: because being multi lingual is VERY common.
Ok thank you.
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Well it certainly does not hurt. I would include it on your app.
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I can read and write in Romanian on a very high level as well.
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Your statement
“I can speak Romanian…almost as good as a native language. Will this help me in applying to an elite university?”
should read
“I can speak Romanian …almost as well as a native language. Will this help me in applying to an elite university” 
It is little things like good versus well in an essay that could tip you into the reject pile at elite schools.
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Have somebody besides you proofread your essay. There are some people that are super good at proofing, and some people don’t see stuff as well. It’s no ding on you to say that it isn’t one of your strengths, because I’m sure you have strengths elsewhere-just recognize you’re going to need help in that area and you’ll do fine.
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If only people on the internet didn’t care so much about the grammar on people’s posts… I agree with both sides to the argument, but is it really that important to point out these silly mistakes and then dwell on them for the rest of the thread? All this does is diminish the usefulness of the thread.
I don’t think it is much help. The assumption is that you absorbed from your family and growing up with it. It isn’t as if you went out and learned it from scratch (even if you did, it wouldn’t make much difference). I’d put it in your app, but it isn’t going to tip you on admissions.
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Lol @intparent .
I talked about my bilingualism in my common app essay, but that wasn’t necessarily the main purpose of what I wrote… Include it in your essays but in an INTERESTING way, because yeah, many people know more than one language.
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Not trying to be funny – but I assume that is how they will view it.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I believe the OP has received enough of the same answer. Closing, since there’s just nothing original left to say.
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