<p>Not sure I am in the right forum...</p>
<p>Does anybody on here know what is going on over in Delbarton country?</p>
<p>I have students there who aren't revealing, but I heard some serious allegations this morning from an aquaintance....</p>
<p>grade tampering?</p>
<p>inappropriate teacher-student issues?</p>
<p>I know nothing but these articles were at the top of a simple google search:
<a href=“http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/delbarton_ex-headmaster_under.html[/url]”>Delbarton ex-headmaster 'under tightest restrictions' after sex abuse allegations - nj.com;
[Under</a> the Green Wave Advocate: Christie Must Act on Delbarton Scandal](<a href=“http://www.underthegreenwave.com/advocate-christie-must-act-on-delbarton-scandal/]Under”>Under the Green Wave » Advocate: Christie Must Act on Delbarton Scandal)
[Delbarton</a> failed to learn Penn State scandal’s biggest lesson | NJ.com](<a href=“http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/01/delbarton_failed_to_learn_penn.html]Delbarton”>Delbarton failed to learn Penn State scandal's biggest lesson - nj.com)</p>
<p>Is this what you are referencing?</p>
<p>Yes…I knew about the articles…but apparently there is more to the story not released to the press…</p>
<p>What exactly have you heard re: grade tampering? Happens when student athlete’s grades aren’t good enough for school that wants to recruit them. Would explain why meathead jock got into Harvard last year - thank goodness the cure for cancer isn’t in this kid’s heands…
Latest allegations are sickening, realize abuse does happen, just wonder why it takes victims so long to come forward when the abuses within the Church have been made so public over the past decade.</p>
<p>As we consider Delbarton for my son, I have heard on multiple conversations the supposed bias favoring athletes & wealthy donor families. ( especially in terms of college selection & how the college counselor reserves/favors many spots for the IVY schools for bright athleters & rich students in cases when not enough spots for IVY schools)</p>
<p>Its obviously a Big Sports School combined with an predominantly Affluent student body. </p>
<p>I have no problem accepting this if in fact true since if that is how the school culture is, then, either I accept it going in with full knowledge of it OR I decide that this is not for our family.</p>
<p>I am also aware that in most if not all of these expensive, elite schools, there will very likely be some level of bias or special treatment towards children of the alumni, legacy & the big donors. That is no different than legacy admission cases for top universities.</p>
<p>But having a double barrier in terms of competing with strong athletes & wealth students are better known upfront so we can make an informed decision.</p>
<p>I can take certain kids being favored in terms of getting easier class credit or being chosen on limited summer opportunities. But its paying $30K per year, and hitting a wall in Junior year when you & your son can feel that your guidance counselor is steering you away from say UPENN or CORNELL & encouraging your son to go apply instead to BC, Villanova or Georgetown ( which are also excellent schools) . </p>
<p>Any feedback would be appreciated?</p>
<p>BTW, do they even actually give Financial aid to middle class families or is it more for qualified students from lower income families? Thanks</p>
<p>I don’t know Delbarton, but the situation can be found at a number of elite schools.</p>
<p>I was steered at Exeter and ignored the counselor with good results. That was back in the day when the world was less “enlightened” Certainly I would be an MIT grad if I listened to the counselor who told me to try for lower tier midwest schools (I had high grades and was on the dean’s list). I now reconnected with a classmate who - told the same thing, also matriculated to MIT. So it surprised me when - decades later, a CC mom told me this past fall that her son was in the same situation (at a similar tier school). And prepared me when my daughter was given the same advice by her “temporary” counselor abroad. Luckily for her and for me, she’s returning to her regular school in the fall and that counselor told her to ignore the advice she’d been given.</p>
<p>So your job as parent is to encourage your student to apply to those schools for which he/she has an interest. You have to be realistic - sometimes “steering” is because the grades or scores rule them out. Other times there are subjective opinions in place that don’t jive with how a college admissions council will decide.</p>
<p>It’s very hard for some high schools to say “No” to big money donors. They “may” be trying cull the herd to make the path easier for those precious poohs. Don’t listen - and it’s okay for your student to tell a college interviewer that they were steered away from the university but are following their own path. I take special note of those cases in my reports when all other factors suggest the applicant is qualified.</p>