<p>Most of you know that I applied to a local day school. I am also applying to Andover Summer Session. I’d like to major in Speech and Debate and minor in International Relations, but if I go to the local prep school I’d like to start at French II. In the syllabus for French I at Summer Session it says it prepares students for French II. This is a minor course, so unforunately I’d have to drop IR.</p>
<p>My question is - How should I ask the people at the school if this is acceptable to take French I at a summer program and enroll in French II in the fall without sounding incredibly forward?</p>
<p>First of all, you need to avoid using the term “credit” as it could imply that you’re seeking course credit towards graduation. You need to phrase this as a placement question. And getting the correct placement is of mutual importance, so don’t think you’re being pushy. And instead of asking, think of it as collaborating with the school to determine the wisest placement. I would inquire what considerations they base they placement decisions on…and see if anything you’re doing dovetails with what they base their decisions on.</p>
<p>This is far different from asking what would help you get admitted. When you’re having a discussion about placement, you’re working together as part of the same team.</p>
<p>Most likely, your prep school will give you a placement test for french to determine placement. Wait until after you get accepted at Andover for the summer and get accepted at your local prep to initiate placement discussions. Many students who took a language in middle school end up retaking that level at a more demanding program. You can also compare the syllabus of both programs to see if the same topics are covered. If french 1 is a minor course at Andover, it might not be the regular high school equivalent. </p>
<p>I spoke with my son’s current school to find out how middle school credits are handled because he took 3 high school level courses in middle school. His old school noted that these were high school credits on his transcript, and he placed out of these at his new school. In this case, these courses will be on his high school transcript with the grades and with notations of in which grade they were completed. I thought that high school courses taken in middle school would not be on his high school transcript, but in his case they are. This may vary by school.</p>
<p>Thanks…</p>
<p>I emailed Andover Summer Session and they said they allow schedule changes through late May, so that leaves me plenty of time to make a course change if I am admitted to the prep school.</p>
<p>When I gave the principal the school report form he said there are scholarships available for summer programs because a lady died and left some money for Dundee, so hopefully if I don’t get enough financial aid I can get some of the school scholarship money.</p>