AP exam to meet Foreign Language requirements for admissions (Non-native speaker)
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Anonymous
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We have not been able to get a straight answer from counselors or anything online. We are not native speakers of this language.
DC was in a language immersion program K thru 3rd grade. After that, he had access to books/media to continue practicing the language. He was tutored for 2 years leading up to 9th grade. At the end of 9th, without taking a COURSE, he took the Foreign Language AP EXAM and got a 5. His high school does not offer this language so he took year 1 of another language--the only foreign language on his HS transcript. Anyone have experience with applying to universities with an AP FL exam score and no/very few classes? Should he take additional years of the other language? He is leaning towards more of a STEM degree but may also be interested in Law/Public Policy. |
Anonymous
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I would lean toward having him take through level 3 of a foreign language during high school.
He can later use the AP exam score to place out of college foreign language graduation requirements. |
Anonymous
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*Edit: I would lean toward having him take high school courses through level 3 of a foreign language during high school.
He can later use the AP exam score that he took in 9th grade to place out of college foreign language graduation requirements. |
Anonymous
How is he meeting the High School graduation requirement for world language? |
Anonymous
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Op here. Thanks for the responses. They only need 1 year of language to graduate high school. However, I feel like they probably need more years of a class to be eligible/competitive for college admissions.
We have asked around and the question is whether the AP exam can fulfill the "2 years of language" or "4 years of language requirements." We haven't gotten clear answers. Just curious if others have run into issues when applying to universities if they only have an AP exam and 1 or 2 years of another language. |
Anonymous
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I think that’s going to depend on the college. Different schools have different requirements and preferences regarding FL.
But I’d think proficiency would generally count for something. Maybe one of his essays could discuss how he worked independently to maintain and extend the educational opportunities he had in his early years. Just to make it very clear that he’s not a native speaker, that the language was acquired through hard work and talent. |
Anonymous
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The most recent "Your College-Bound Kid" podcast address this. My take-away: for the most selective schools, it's safest to have three (or four) years of foreign language in high school, regardless of previous language acquisition.
https://yourcollegeboundkid.com |
Anonymous
What school system is high school in? Having AP language with score 5 is an impressive credential for admissions. But without any corresponding courses on HS transcript they would assume it's students nativel language. Look into your school system offers World language credit by exam. |
Anonymous
AP world language credential is precious for admissions consideration and for college credits, whether it is native or non-native. But colleges know that it is relatively easier for native speakers (especially Spanish speakers) to score a 5, and most dont have the four years of Spanish on their transcript. That said, there is potential that your student's AP language score 5 achievement would be perceived as native language, and student will have to go out of the way to explain somehow that it is not. While colleges say they want to see four or three years of world language attainment, they dont disclose the sequence in which world language achievement is evaluated, whether they look for minimum 4 to 3 credits on the transcript and then look for AP level attainment, or the other way around. If there is interest in pursuing that other language further at least for another two years, then the transcript would show at least 3 credits in same language, and the AP achievement in another language is already there. Many schools allow earning two three credits through exam only option as well, so look into that option as well especially if they administer exam in the same language as the AP credit already gained. |
Anonymous
So OP's kid needs 3 languages? Assume his native Chinese that he scored a 5 on the AP exam, English and you think he needs 3 years of a third language? Seems excessive, burdensome and punitive. |
Anonymous
Think of this as academic development rather than specific knowledge acquired. |
Anonymous
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I'd be tempted to call/email a college admissions officer (at like UVA) and run it by them.
A pp mentioned testing for credit and that is something FCPS offers. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages Teaching themselves a language could be a compelling essay topic, but if not, at the very least you'd submit the AP score to the school and can write about it in the section that offers students the opportunity to explain anything about their application, transcript, etc. |
Anonymous
| Just have your kid take a damn language already. The kid obviously has the aptitude. Why take any chances? And why not know three languages instead of two? |
Anonymous
one year of foreign language required by a high school doesn't sound right. OP, are you sure? And the fact that your kid got a 5 is not impressive when so many Americans are fluent in another language. Of course if your family speaks spanish you will score a 5. What you should be doing is 3 to 4 years of another language in high school. That's what colleges are looking for. |
Anonymous
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I think it depends on the university. He might have to take the university's language proficiency exam, no matter what.
IME, those exams can be passed with low to moderate effort. |