<p>I agree with blossom. I would also wonder how much of the non-response is motivated by resentment.</p>
<p>Ditto. Find a sympathetic School Board Member. Better yet, if the individual school or the district has a corporate sponsor/contributor/mentor etc., contact that person or entity and ask for advice. If the person/entity is supportive, then IMMEDIATELY write a letter thanking that person or their advice and CC the letter to the principal or superintendent.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, I am afraid that elevating the problems will simply backfire. What kind of LOR do you think will be produced when obtained under “duress.” What do you think any of the school officials would say when discussing this candidate with potential adcoms? </p>
<p>The reality is that this candidate will need to present himself as a special applicant to the schools. He needs (with the help of others) to present an application file that borrows heavily from the experience of homeschoolers. Since his talent is writing, he needs to discuss all his difficulties in a well-crafted ADDITIONAL essay, as well as include the documentation of his multiple requests to his former school. This student is not trying to hide parts of his past; he simply can’t get the typical documentation.</p>
<p>In the meantime, he should complete his applications with the information he does have. I assume that, despite the absence of an official and sealed transcript, he must have some evidence of his grades and test scores. Further, since it is a given that the LOR will be problematic, he should seek to obtain LOR from other sources and let the school record speak for itself. Fwiw, the LOR from teachers should not have a large impact on his application; LOR from people who know him TODAY and can talk about his GAP year are far more important. </p>
<p>Were I in his shoes, I’d forget all the political hoopla and concentrate on developing the very best application possible, all the while communicating directly with the DIRECTORS and DEANS of admissions at each of the targeted schools, as they are the people who can waive requirements and assign an adcom to help on special cases. </p>
<p>I believe people might be amazed on how responsive the most selective schools can be! Schools spend a small fortune looking for great candidates, and it is in their best interest to work with the ones who contact their offices directly.</p>
<p>Mombot: “I would also wonder how much of the non-response is motivated by resentment.”</p>
<p>I’ve been reading this thread, about this very depressing situation, and wondering why the school personnel are not doing everything they can to help this recent graduate succeed. If they showed him off while he was there, wouldn’t they also want to brag about sending a student off to a prestigious college as well? I think that Mombot may have the answer. A student getting A’s there is one thing, a student heading off to Wesleyan or the equivalent is something else. </p>
<p>There are lots of good suggestions here. Please keep us posted about this young man, for whom we are all rooting. And thank you for helping him.</p>
<p>Crossposted with Xiggi’s post - excellent advice!</p>
<p>“Unfortunately, I am afraid that elevating the problems will simply backfire. What kind of LOR do you think will be produced when obtained under “duress.” What do you think any of the school officials would say when discussing this candidate with potential adcoms?”</p>
<p>A LOR that has been reviewed by a school board member or school superintendent would be very appropriate, and that’s likely what will happen if the student asks them for help and provides proof of his accomplishments.</p>
<p>It will be important for the student to calmly and factually tell the colleges about the problems he has encountered. Still, the student will need official transcripts, and the school superintendent or school board member can make sure those transcripts are sent.</p>
<p>Also, if the student doesn’t tell the school superintendent or school board, those incompetent people at the high school are likely to continue not doing their jobs and hurting other students. Since it seems this young man is very accomplised, he is in a good position to have his complaints make a difference for himself and for other students. I highly doubt that he’s the only one who has been hurt by the GC and principal’s incompetence and indifference.</p>
<p>I agree with those who suggest that resentment is causing the faculty’s actions. I have seen this before, and have seen such people stopped only when parents or students went over their heads to superintendents and others. I have seen inner city students who have been crushed by the resentment and hostility directed toward them by faculty who should have been proud of the students’ performance. Unless the students and/or their parents have the guts to go over the faculty’s heads, those destructive faculty continue to mistreat students.</p>
<p>If he’s in a big city, the School board/superintendent issue is out. Contact from a local elected official and a certified letter, followed up by fax, is the next step. If that doesn’t work within 48 hours, the NAACP must be brought. in. This actually is a time-sensitive situation and his future can’t be compromised. I’m spitting mad over this.</p>
<p>An additional thought … unless this candidate prefers to maintain full anonymity, I think that posting the list of the 8 schools on the board might help. Adcoms DO read this forum and some parents or students might have contacts with the targeted schools. At this stage, finding a couple of advocates might be work wonders.</p>
<p>“If he’s in a big city, the School board/superintendent issue is out.”</p>
<p>Not necessarily true. The school board/superintendent can care very deeply about issues like this.</p>
<p>However, I agree that the student needs to contact all officials who may care, including the city council. The NAACP also can help as can the media.</p>
<p>With jobs on the line, and higher ups, the media, etc. watching them, the GC and principal won’t dare give a deserving student a bad recc.</p>
<p>I also agree to post the list of the schools. Many people here have contacts and inside knowledge. Posting the schools won’t hurt the young man.</p>
<p>however- even in our dysfunctional district, I have gotten personal replies from the director of academic acheivement who reports directly to superintendent. I would also disagree that the school board is out, they should be very responsive as this young man is a shining success story and should be extolled.
Another idea is testifying at a school board meeting. Meetings are public, and at least in our district, members of the community can sign up to speak regarding district/education issues. At the very least, before and after the meeting ( or during break) is a good opportunity to meet with the board, give them copies of documentation & reporters are generally in attendance as well.</p>
<p>"“If he’s in a big city, the School board/superintendent issue is out.”</p>
<p>Not necessarily true. The school board/superintendent can care very deeply about issues like this."</p>
<p>They may very well care, but it would be next to impossible in a city like New York to gain access directly and in a timely fashion. Now if you had someone who could provide access, great. Otherwise, this would be a potential waste of time.</p>
<p>“I have gotten personal replies from the director of academic acheivement who reports directly to superintendent. I would also disagree that the school board is out, they should be very responsive as this young man is a shining success story and should be extolled.”</p>
<p>It depends where he lives. Thinking of New York, Newark, etc. I don’t think so. In a smaller place, maybe.</p>
<p>NSM, while I agree that “he is in a good position to have his complaints make a difference for himself and for other students,” time does not run in his favor. Further, at THIS time, he does not need to wage a battle for other students. </p>
<p>Inasmuch as an official transcript is a typical requirement, schools can and do waive typical requirements for special candidates. After all, schools do have to deal with international and homeschoolers. </p>
<p>I maintain that a boilerplate or “negotiated” LOR does not do a bit of good. The benefit of such letters in not to merely exist but to describe a student beyond the transcript and regular activities. I can’t believe that any school would frown upon the receipt of great LOR from outsiders (with an explanation) AND a copy of the transcript of a top student. </p>
<p>Last but not least, if there was a ever a positive role to be played by an interviewer, this would be it!</p>
<p>Zooser, I disagree. If the kid were in NYC, the Chancellor of schools would go nuts if he heard about this situation. Since I don’t know where the kid lives I can’t help identify the appropriate person, but in big cities the individual with the most “skin in the game” in dealing with these problems is always the superintendent or “the buck stops here” person.</p>
<p>Principals? They come and go; they’re protected by their peers; they’ve got complicated political agendas.</p>
<p>Zooser-- do you live in NYC? Mayor Bloomberg is the single most accessible elected official in the entire state of NY.</p>
<p>I would agree it does depend on where he lives. However, it is worth trying as that will give a piece of documentation to add to the packet.</p>
<p>I was just speaking of my experience in Seattle where my daughter attends what is described as an “inner city” school, but considering the FRL rate is lower than district average because of the magnet program which attracts the upper end, isn’t what would pass as inner city in LA or Detroit.
“slums” here are residences that sell for $250,000 rather than $500,000 for a two bedroom :rolleyes:</p>
<p>There is plenty of time for the school superintendent or school board, NAACP, media etc. to pressure the principal and GC to send transcripts and an appropriate recommendation. Once a top official or the media gets on the GC and principal’s tails, the things that need to be done can be done very quickly.</p>
<p>The colleges also can extend their deadlines, which I have seen colleges do for stellar candidates including excellent ones from the inner city. Colleges are probably more likely to do that than to accept report cards, etc., which the student may not even have. If he’s a typical inner city student, he may have moved a couple of times during high school, and those report cards may be lost.</p>
<p>I do live in NYC and categorically disagree with you based upon personal experience as a community activist. Mayor Bloomberg is accessible only on his terms, and superintendent Klein is currently on a tour of the outer boroughs and is incredibly hard to get at personally. Could it be done? Probably. But not timely, which is the issue, IMO.</p>
<p>I was trying to find info about districts in wa- and unfortunately ran across this.</p>
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<p>Oh wow, Emeraldkitty, that’s very disturbing.</p>