Are foreign language CLEP exams valued by admissions?

I've got a solid grip on a second language and heard that you can take CLEP exams to prove proficiency. If I ace a CLEP Foreign Language exam, will admissions folks be impressed, or is it not that big of a deal compared to AP/IB courses? Any thoughts?

It's wonderful to hear that you're proficient in a second language! Colleges do value language proficiency, as it showcases self-initiative and dedication to a subject outside of the traditional classroom setting. CLEP exams can indeed be a good way to demonstrate that you have that proficiency, especially if you're home-schooled or your school doesn't offer AP or IB language courses.

However, AP and IB courses are more rigorous academically, and thus tend to be valued slightly higher from an admissions perspective. That being said, acing a CLEP exam in a foreign language certainly won't hurt your application – it adds another layer to your academic profile, and, again, depending on what resources you have had access to, could even carry comparable weight to an AP or IB course.

For more details, I would suggest checking with the admissions offices of the particular schools you're interested in to see how they view CLEP exams. Some colleges might even give you college credit for high scores, which could save you time and money once you're enrolled. Best of luck with your exam!