<p>MacTessa2, I would post that question to the guidance counselor. I think our school doesn’t allow retakes if you pass with a D. I think elizabethh’s solution (a BYU online course) is a good alternative even if it doesn’t appear on the transcript. You could always have it sent in separately and list it in the application under senior year courses taken (if, in fact, it’s taken senior year).</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. The GC had not heard that any schools didn’t accept a D. If I show her a list and ask for some options to correct the D such as the BYU on-line course, maybe she will consider it. Or else he can just do the course on his own, hopefully showing the colleges that he did attempt to learn from his mistake and improve himself, even if his h.s. wouldn’t put it on his transcript.</p>
<p>My ds received a D in his sophomore year in English. He was sick at the time and I was happy to have him pass. Unfortunately, he can not retake the class and therefore is stuck with the grade on his transcript. His GC felt that most schools would accept the D and she also addressed it in his letter of recommendation. It definitely has me worried and we’ve asked every school upfront if it would be an issue. Not a single school has admitted that they won’t accept the grade. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets into the schools we expect him to.</p>
<p>It’s nice to see some company here…my S (HS sophomore) had the following happen:</p>
<p>-grade 9 at a new private school: Bio = D, F; English = D, D
(this is a kid who tested into honors freshman English at our public school but we ultimately decided not to send that yr; turns out he had lousy teachers at the private)</p>
<ul>
<li>summer after grade 9: retook English at the public school = A-, A</li>
</ul>
<p>-grade 10 (now, back at the public school): retaking Bio</p>
<p>In our district, you can repeat a course in which you get a D or F. The original grades stay on the transcript but the credit hrs are zeroed out. The new grade replaces the old and is the only grade that goes into the GPA (thank heavens).</p>
<p>We are, however, facing a problem similar to mom2sons (#18)-- S is taking Spanish 3, was woefully underprepared in Sp 2 at the private school, and is struggling. He will have a D for first quarter. If he ends up with D (or worse) at the semester, he will not be able to make up Sp 3 in summer school because it isn’t offered.</p>
<p>So, what do we do then??</p>
<p>BfloGal -</p>
<p>Many colleges required 3 years of foreign language for admission - so that’s the first thing you need to investigate for your son’s potential colleges.
Also, in our state (Texas) 3 yrs of language is required for the “Scholar” diploma. </p>
<p>You might want to see if he can withdraw from Spanish 3 and re-take Spanish 2 no credit, since that is clearly what he needs.</p>
<p>Alternatively, don’t take the 2nd semester Span 3 this year, and preprare by taking Spanish 2 over the summer, tutoring or other self study. </p>
<p>Then, take Spanish 3 next year. Retake 1st semester Span 3 next year if his schedule allows.</p>
<p>I wish we had thought to ask to do this with my son. His Spanish 2 teacher was way to easy on everyone, and less than 1/2 the class went on to take Spanish 3. Many were unprepared.</p>
<p>Thanks mom2sons. We did investigate him dropping SP 3 and retaking Sp 2, but then he would lose the credit hours for Sp 3 (and not get any for retaking Sp 2). And since he is already retaking Bio (and therefore losing the credit hrs from when he took it last yr), this puts him at risk of not having enough credits to graduate.</p>
<p>He wants to stay in Sp 3, and I guess we will gut it out (with the help of a tutor), and if he fails it he will have to retake it next yr I guess. But then of course he will lose the credit hrs from this yr. Maybe we are looking at a jr college course over the summer??</p>