fake teacher recs - what should i do?

Applying to College
81

<p>"its just that for some reason CC regards cheating as the highest offense, while i couldnt even care less if others do it. sure, i would have reported this dude if someone else could take his spot at yale, but that wont happen anymore. this is different from a crime."</p>

<p>It isn't the highest offense. But I consider all offenses bad. This obviously includes cheating. </p>

<p>"This isn't a normal human being who will be angry but get over it. Normal human beings don't try to forge recs. "</p>

<p>Hmmm...I'm not sure that I agree. Again, none of us know this person. How can you claim that this person isn't normal anyway? I find it odd that people are making such huge assumptions about other people. I did it myself by saying that he probably won't assault you or murder you. I still think that's true, unless he's a psychopath. But forging recs does not one a psychopath make.</p>

<p>Seriously, I'm sure that he would be very angry. Maybe he would retaliate. But that's not a claim any of us could make. </p>

<p>But seriously, is this even relevant? Just do it totally anonymously. No problems then.</p>

82

<p>"EDIT to read "...one MORE cheater on their hands." As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I googled "Yale honor code" to see if there is one. I found a string of hits saying that Yale won't adopt one even though they have a longstanding cheating epidemic!"</p>

<p>Really?? Is Yale well-known for cheaters? :-(</p>

83

<p>
[Quote]
Hmmm...I'm not sure that I agree. Again, none of us know this person. How can you claim that this person isn't normal anyway? I find it odd that people are making such huge assumptions about other people. I did it myself by saying that he probably won't assault you or murder you. I still think that's true, unless he's a psychopath. But forging recs does not one a psychopath make.

[/Quote]
</p>

<p>To be perfectly honest, when I first read this, the word "sociopath" came to mind. If he really did do this, I'd be willing to bet that he is one. I know forging a rec doesn't make one a sociopath in and of itself, but by blatantly admitting to doing this, deciding to do this, not being able to see people hate him, bragging about it- I mean I'm **not **a psychiatrist, but I think it's pretty safe to say this person has issues. Though, this is only based on what the OP told us. Of course I'm not saying I know the person, but it's always safer to err on the side of caution. If there were even a 1% chance the person would take serious retaliation if he found out it was you, would you take the risk? I know I would either make sure that it's 100% anonymous or not do it all. Again, I too doubt it will result in something as murder, but I do think he will take a level of retaliation. I too agree that he better do this anonymously but he has to make sure it's totally anonymous. AKA, he has to make sure he isn't the only one he knows that this Yale student cheated, otherwise, it is not truly anonymous. Though I do agree with your premise that it should be done extremely anonymous.</p>

84

<p>
[quote]
Really?? Is Yale well-known for cheaters? :-(

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Don't know about that but it's well-known for having its students come on CC to stalk other posters (I'm speaking from personal experience :( )</p>

85

<p>"Please, do not worry about your safety excessively if you report this anonymously. This kid got into Yale. He's clearly not a criminal."</p>

<p>? A few years ago a Harvard senior stabbed to death her roommate.</p>

<p>Ted Kazinski (sp?), the Unabomber, was a Harvard grad.</p>

<p>A decade or so ago, a girl was accepted to Harvard who had killed her mom. </p>

<p>Just because someone gets into an Ivy doesn't mean that they aren't a criminal. </p>

<p>"uly 3 (Bloomberg) -- No matter which prison former Refco Inc. Chief Executive Officer Phillip Bennett serves the 16-year sentence he received today in Manhattan federal court, chances are he will be the only one there with a master's degree from Cambridge University in England.</p>

<p>The head of what was once the biggest independent U.S. futures broker, Bennett also was ordered to forfeit $2.4 billion in assets for what prosecutors said was ``among the very worst'' white-collar crimes. He faced a possible life sentence after pleading guilty to bank fraud and money laundering.</p>

<p>Bennett, 60, joins at least a dozen other wealthy corporate executives with degrees from elite institutions such as Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School who've been incarcerated for white-collar crimes this decade. Exceptional intelligence, self-confidence and feeling special, common among those educated at such schools, can turn into deviousness, arrogance and entitlement, said Tom Donaldson, a professor of ethics and law at Wharton in Philadelphia.</p>

<p><code>If the devil exists, he no doubt has a high IQ and an Ivy League degree,'' Donaldson said.</code>It's clear that having an educational pedigree is no prophylactic against greed and bad behavior.''
Bloomberg.com:</a> U.S.</p>

<p>But the schools do try to avoid having such students/alum by doing their best to weed out cheaters, liars, forgers, assaulters, etc. in the admissions process.</p>

86

<p>"Maybe his school didn't keep track of whose recommendations got signed off. My school, for example, has four different GCs (although each student is assigned one); it's possible that someone could slip through the cracks on something. "</p>

<p>It's likely, though, that the teachers remember whom they wrote recommendations for.</p>

<p>Also, to successfully forge the letters, the student probably mailed them himself, and didn't allow the school to mail them.</p>

87

<p>"AKA, he has to make sure he isn't the only one he knows that this Yale student cheated, otherwise, it is not truly anonymous. Though I do agree with your premise that it should be done extremely anonymous."</p>

<p>Hmm...I still think that submitting it anonymously should be fine. If there is a true security risk, he could just ask the board not to even mention that they got a tip at all. I don't see why that wouldn't work, but I'm not a sociopath either.</p>

<p>NSM, I know. There are always exceptions. But statistically, it is unlikely that this student is a felon (as in committed a felony), convicted or not. Again, you never know. But I think the OP is the one who gets to make the call.</p>

<p>Look, it is possible that there is danger involved. If he submits the notice anonymously, the danger becomes largely irrelevant. I don't think it's the major issue here. If we are going to discuss this at all, it would be how to have the anonymity as secure and watertight as possible. I'm sorry that I said things that were clearly wrong about whether this kid would retaliate.</p>

88

<p>See, I think that the anonymous aspect would become irrelevant if the OP went to the teachers and/or guidance and clued them in. Then, the offender would only know that guidance knew about what he'd done, and there would be several possible explanations as to how they could have found out. (For example, another kid could have asked a teacher for a recommendation, citing this kid as a reference, which would prompt further investigation.)</p>

89

<p>^ Exactly. </p>

<p>I agree with you, but it doesn't seem like anyone else does. :p </p>

<p>If he is worried about safety even a teensy bit, I would suggest the following: Create new email on a computer other than your own. Send email explaining situation, saying that you will remain anonymous, and asking them not to mention that you tipped them off.</p>

<p>The end.</p>

90

<p>collegebound2009, I admire your integrity and your desire to make things right. It’s often harder to take the moral path. </p>

<p>Here are my recommendations:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Yes, do report him. It’s important for many reasons, and many of those reasons have been articulated in the posts here.</p></li>
<li><p>I think it would be important to report him in two places—to the head of the admissions committee at Yale AND to your school’s college counselors. This puts the responsibility for finding a solution in two places. Also, your school needs to develop a tighter system regarding the handling of college recommendations so that this sort of thing won’t happen in the future.</p></li>
<li><p>Report him anonymously to both places. You can do one letter addressed to both Yale and to your school’s college counselors so that each place is aware that the other knows the issue. </p></li>
<li><p>You could also send a copy of your letter to each of the teachers he plagiarized.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t worry about what Yale or your school will decide to do. Once you’ve reported the issue, it’s up to the two schools to decide, and no longer your responsibility. You will have done the moral and right thing. Whatever the schools decide to do is not your responsibility.</p></li>
</ol>

91

<p>Snitches get stitches.</p>

92

<p>^ Oooh, do it on paper, not by email. That is a great idea.</p>

93

<p>You're just putting yourself in unneccessary danger. Just hope he doesn't put two and two together and just pounce on you when your not looking.</p>

94

<p>crap...i was in NYC for like the rest of the day. i would read through everything now but my eyes are tired x_x (2 AM)</p>

95

<p>
[quote]
If the devil exists, he no doubt has a high IQ and an Ivy League degree

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This statement alone is enough grounds to say Donaldson is an idiot, even if it's a disastrous attempt at sounding flippant.</p>

96

<p>lol, anyway, I think most of the opinions have been shared. Perhaps I can summarize:</p>

<p>Do it anonymously. Contact Yale and the school explaining the situation. Be done with it.</p>

<p>There is some risk involved in contacting Yale, I think. However, if you are basically sure, then I would go for it. If there is an element of doubt, contact the school first and go from there.</p>

97

<p>I would be safe and don't worry much about it. The kid must have worked hard to get into Yale. Teacher's rec is only a very small part of the admission process. If he was telling the truth that he completely lied on the rec. he wouldn't have told a lot people. So even if you do it without giving your name, he can probably find out its you. If he told a lot of people that he faked his teacher's rec. I wouldn't be surprised that he is just kidding. Seriously, you gain nothing from this, the school isn't going to thank you. No one is. The guy's parents and freinds and even he/she would hate you. You are going to screw up someone's life and with all the hard work he put in school. I wouldn't be surprised if he snapped and went after you. For your own safety, I would just forgot about it and moved on. Also reporting this event this late means that he got litterally got no where to go for college. It will be like trapping him. If you did before he accepted the offer or allowed him a chance to go to another school, it would have been a lot safer. Doing it now its like sticking it in his face then smacking him around. Seems more like doing it out of spite than anything.</p>

<p>Its like would you risk getting yourself or your family hurt for no gain? Ihope the answer is no.</p>

98

<p>"Seriously, you gain nothing from this, the school isn't going to thank you. No one is. "</p>

<p>Mememe. All mine. Mememe. All about me. I don't things for other people. All me.</p>

<p>"You are going to screw up someone's life and with all the hard work he put in school."</p>

<p>Completely irrelevant. He signed the contract and agreed that his admission could get rescinded if he forged anything. HELLO? Does no one else see this? I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS!!!</p>

<p>Seriously, I don't see how he could trace it back to you if you submitted everything anonymously and asked the school not to mention the tip. Am I wrong in believing this?</p>

99

<p>Just do what Baelor said...</p>

<p>"Do it anonymously. Contact Yale and the school explaining the situation. Be done with it."</p>

100

<p>xbankx - Your post reminds me that the world contains divergent views, mine (baelor's) and yours (zzzboy's). Yours just happens to be revolting, wrong and scary. I envy you the confidence to declare your selfishness so publicly. The idea that your first and last thoughts on what to do when faced with a moral dilemma are "what's in it for me?" is sad, and the fact that apparently so many other posters share your view is illuminating on society in general (many posts ago I promised myself I wasn't going to go there!). </p>

<p>At the same time, I am grateful that you and others have declared your views so articulately. I am serious. Without these wildly divergent views this thread would be worthless. And, to be candid, before you, zzzboy and others started pointed out the personal safety issues it never crossed my mind and I could see why it might be a concern. </p>

<p>We are all making assumptions that OP will have to clarify when he gets back from clubbing in NYC. One critical one is what type of person is the actual cheater. What no one seems to remember is that OP hated the cheater even before cheater revealed his secret to him, but cheater considers OP a friend. That could mean lots of things, and their relationship is a huge factor in how to go about doing the right thing.</p>

<p>I still maintain though that zzzboy and now xbankx are the people who walk past and pretend not to notice the group of boys beating up the old lady, rationalizing that it's not THEIR grandmother, why should they get involved.</p>