world languages retro credits

Earning World Language Retro Credits : 

Earning World Language Retro Credits How to make your world language work for you

So what are retro credits? : 

So what are retro credits? Many colleges and universities want to reward incoming students for the world language(s) that they learned in high school. Since “retro” means “before”, this means that the work was done before entering college.

So how do they reward me? : 

So how do they reward me? These colleges and universities will grant actual college credits for the work done in world language(s) at the high school level. World languages are the only high school subject that colleges will recognize with actual credits. Generally, most colleges in Wisconsin will grant anywhere from 4 to 16 college credits for this work. These credits are free of charge. They don’t cost a thing!

Which Wisconsin colleges and universities grant retro credits? : 

Which Wisconsin colleges and universities grant retro credits? Here are some institutions that grant retro credits…

…and here are some more … : 

…and here are some more …

…and some more! : 

…and some more!

How do I earn these retro credits? : 

How do I earn these retro credits? You will enroll at your college or university during your senior year. Once you have been accepted, you will be invited to visit the campus to meet with an advisor. At this time, you will talk about a placement exam.

When do I have to take this test? : 

When do I have to take this test? Students usually can arrange to take the test starting in the spring semester of their senior year or during summer orientation. If you are going to any Wisconsin state university, you can take the placement test on any campus. Calendars for tests are posted on-line. You can take the placement test at Madison, LaCrosse, Eau Claire, Platteville, Whitewater, etc. regardless of which state school you plan to attend.

What can I expect on the test? : 

What can I expect on the test? This depends somewhat on the school that you choose to attend. Frequently, a good share of the test is on grammar and reading comprehension. Rarely there is an oral interview component.

What happens after I have taken the test? : 

What happens after I have taken the test? The college or university will score your test. Based on how well you perform on the test, you will be placed in ONE world language course at the appropriate level during your first semester. Being placed into a 100 level course (low) will likely earn you 4 retro credits. But being placed into a 300 level course (high) can earn you 16 credits…the equivalent of a full semester of credits!

Is that all there is to it? : 

Is that all there is to it? No. In order to actually earn the credits, you must agree to take this ONE course during your first semester and earn a B or higher. If you do earn an A or a B, at the end of this course in your first semester on campus you will automatically be granted the credits!!!!

How does this benefit me? : 

How does this benefit me? Once you have earned an A or B in that course that first semester, you will automatically be granted the credits. This puts you ahead of all the students in your class. You can go from being a freshman to a sophomore that easily.

Slide 13: 

Because upper classmen register before students with less credits, you will be able to take courses ahead of the students in your class. If you earn 16 credits, you can even graduate a semester early.

Are there other benefits besides early registration and graduation? : 

Are there other benefits besides early registration and graduation? Yes. A student who earns 12 or 16 credits is well on his/her way to completing a minor in the language. He/she might need to take only one or two more classes to complete the minor. A minor in a world language complements many other majors.

Slide 15: 

Graduating early also saves you lots of money in unspent tuition, housing, food, transportation, etc. And who doesn’t like to save money?