Teacher recommendation letters banned due to work-to-rule protest. How will I apply to schools?

Applying to College
1

In Nova Scotia, Canada, there’s a teacher work-to-rule protest ongoing. One of the restrictions of the protest is a ban on teacher recommendation letters. I’m looking at applying to Harvard in October 2017, and Stanford & Columbia University in 2018 if I don’t get accepted. All of these schools require teacher recommendation letters when applying. If I’m unable to get teacher recommendation letters due to the work-to-rule protest by the time I apply, will there be a different option for teacher feedback due to my situation?

Several local schools here are considering on lifting their requirement of teacher recommendation letters, but I’m unsure on what this will mean for the U.S. schools I’m applying to.

2

The teachers will likely have a new contract by next October.

3

Yeah, it’s too early to worry about this - it’s unlikely that the protest will last that long. If it’s still ongoing by May, even, that’s when I might start to explore some options.

4

If the issue isn’t resolved you could simply explain the situation and ask what they’d like you to do.

5

I think step#1 would always be to talk to the schools you want to apply to. Due to the unique nature of the situation, some may be willing to work with you and use recommendations from an employer or maybe they will just weigh everything else on your application more.

But also like others said don’t worry too much right now

6

I wouldn’t count on this being resolved by October. S23’s school system had a work to rule in place for many months while he was applying for private school in the US. His application could not be completed without a recommendation, which his teacher refused to provide. After I showed up in the principal’s office begging for a recommendation, the principal phoned one in. At least the school was small enough that the principal was able to give a decent reference. S23’s application wouldn’t have been complete without it.

I would contact the admissions offices of the schools you are interested in now, rather than spending the next several months worrying.

7

I would wait. Admissions is very busy now. If still an issue in June, call them!

8

Thanks for the replies everyone! It’s definitely far from now, but months can pass by quickly and I’d like to be prepared if it doesn’t go how I’d like it to go. The protest has been going on for a month so far, but I’m hoping it’ll be resolved soon not just for teacher recommendations, but also Extracurriculars at my school.

I’ll wait to May or June, and if it isn’t lifted by then, I’ll talk to admissions at those schools.