<p>Does anyone have a sense of how much the principal recommendation is considered in the NMF decision? </p>
<p>D is kind of on the wrong side of the principal at her school now. Short story is that she wanted more challenge than the (undifferentiated, so no honors or AP offered) English class she is in this year offered. She asked the teacher a couple of times verbally and then in writing to allow her to do some more difficult assignments (eg, essays instead of short answer assignments, essay instead of a drawing assignment the teacher made, etc.). She was polite (D is not a troublemaker, never had any disciplinary action in any class). Teacher did not allow any acceleration (but did do things like show full episodes o f the Simpsons in class). So after a full semester of this, she took her complaint to the principal, and asked if she could please take an external AP English class next semester that she had found instead. He said no, no outside credits accepted. So she asked to switch to a different English section (figuring the other teacher might at least allow her to modify some of the assignments). He said yes, but then was unhappy when he realized she would be changing other classes on her schedule and dropping 2nd semester of her foreign language to do this (she has tutoring and will pick up AP in the language in the fall, so we are not concerned about this). He advised against this change, and she did it anyway. Now he has the impression she is a quitter... although she met with the teacher three times over the course of the semester on this, and the teacher did absolutely nothing. I also suspect that he is worried that this schedule change will need to be explained to colleges, and the explanation might reflect badly on the school (and... it might, but she is obviously wary of sounding like a "sour grapes" person, so probably will phrase any explanation very carefully).</p>
<p>Anyway... she has a PSAT score that is 18 points above last year's cutoff for our state. So she ought to be a NMF. But I am worried that he will undercut her in the school official recommendation letter. I am pretty sure he does them personally, as it is a fairly small school.</p>
<p>Anyone know anything about the format of the letter, how it is considered, etc?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure she’ll be fine.</p>
<p>What happened to her grade in the foreign language that she dropped in second semester?</p>
<p>She dropped at the beginning of the second semester. So she has a grade for the first semester, and just does not have the class on her transcript at all during second semester of junior year. She will be enrolled in the AP course for that language in fall of her senior year (she is self-studying and working with her tutor to be ready for AP).</p>
<p>The only thing I can really think of to head this problem off is to talk to the school guidance counselor when it gets near the time for the letters to be sent. She knows about this class change situation, and that the principal did not want D to do it. I might just tell her I am a bit worried, and see if she can keep an eye on things… the letters might go out through the college counseling office even if the principal does the work. And maybe she can help remind him that it is in the school’s best interest to have more NMFs.</p>
<p>“Head the problem off” … You should take a cleansing breath, and stay out of it.</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about what the principal will write next fall, then I suggest that your D “keep her nose clean” over the next few months. If she has any opportunities to “mend fences” with the principal, she should do it.</p>
<p>If she doesn’t have any other conflicts, then it’s unlikely that he’s going to write anything bad 8 months from now. </p>
<p>The principal rec is more about discipline problems. If your school LIKES having NMFs (and usually privates do), then it’s in his best interest to write her a good rec. </p>
<p>lol…Of course, you could always home-school her next year and you’d get to write the rec. ;)</p>
<p>It would be wise for your high school daughter to learn now that no one has full control of her destiny. </p>
<p>If there is something she wants, she needs to assess the situation and ask herself, what can she do to optimize her chances of getting to the goal. </p>
<p>In this case it is her responsibility to take whatever action necessary to show the principal that she is a positive asset to the school. </p>
<p>The point is to learn when it is important to ‘make nice’ and when it is fine to hold your ground on principle. This is a time to suck it up. Not only is big money is at stake, but the honor of a National title is also at stake. Also, she can’t allow herself to be so selfish to think that is it all about her. If she hurts her chances at a college scholarship, it also hurts her family as they end up ‘paying’ literally for her mistake. </p>
<p>If she were my friend, I would tell her suck it up and go out of her way (!!!) to make pals with the Principal for the remainder of the high school. Maybe mom and/or dad can volunteer on a school committee to help keep the family name in check for future siblings, as well.</p>
<p>D is last, so no future siblings. Honestly, the NMF money is pretty piddling at the schools she is considering. Not that it isn’t important for her to succeed at this, of course. I doubt any sucking up will help. The principal doubled down on his support of the English teacher just today by publishing a schoolwide article praising her “experiential” English class – I am pretty sure he picked this topic in response to D’s pushback and subsequent class change. Interesting that he did not mention in the article that the teacher had the class watching a full episode of the Simpsons because it mentioned a work they had read… </p>
<p>As I think about it more, I can see that it hurts him to reduce the number of NMF’s from their school. It would look pretty petty (if it were known), as I am pretty sure her PSAT and probably SAT scores will be highest in her graduating class. Even if it isn’t known widely, the college counselor and a couple of other administrators would know. I think it is probably just best for her to keep her head down and out of trouble (and get a super high grade in the other English section).</p>