The Privacy Act & Vindictive Students

FredFredBurger
Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:20:41 +0000

I’d be more worried about students and the parents of students rather than teachers. A teacher holds little to gain and can lose her job if she was found guilty of going through your files or even telling admissions about her opinion of you. It’s not her place. Furthermore, most teachers have little reason to do something like that unless this student is a flagrant violator of school rules on commonplace basis-and even then they will not spare the trouble. The real problem lies with students in your grade who may or may not be vying for the same spots as you. If they wish to tell admissions stuff about you there is nothing you can do except do it back to them. Another thing is not to divulge your college list to people you know are capable of doing such a thing. Most importantly, one thing you should know is that some parents are crazy about their students admission and would do crazy things to ensure their kid is admitted i.e., sabotage a stronger applicants application. If something like this ever happens to you, though I think you’re just being paranoid, remember that a college will contact your guidance counselor before ever taking action on such information. Especially after you’re admitted.