Why Caltech is different--an open letter

<p>This happens in challenging schools across the country every year. It is just as devastating each time. I feel for her parents. Wish I could turn back the clock and protect her somehow. But, how? Really tragic. May she rest in peace.</p>

<p>Still no news on what happened. Not sure if this is going to just go by the wayside quietly since finals are upon us soon (ditch day was last week), and most of the undergraduate student body will be gone once summer arrives.</p>

<p>The link isn’t working, do you know how to fix that?</p>

<p>^^^^^ what link are you talking about</p>

<p>Hey, I would like to know what are my chances of get into CalTech/MIT, I am Brazilian…</p>

<p>SAT score: 800math/750cr/700</p>

<p>EC´s: Tennis(good), Model United Nations, Math Olympics</p>

<p>My grades are kind of 8,5 in Brazil it is good, but my first bimester was not very good some issues with tennis, so I have gotten 7 in maths, chemistry, physics. But in the second one I have gotten 9,66 maths, 9 chemistry, 7,4 physics. </p>

<p>100 hours of volunteer, excellent recomendation letters and essays. I know calculus.</p>

<p>I also would like to know one more thing, I am on my freshman year, my school doesn t offer the IB nor the AP(brazilian school), but have a school that is kind of 1 hour far that offers the IB, do you think that I should change of school? Does the IB REALLY help? What can I do to improve my curriculum? Are my grades too low?(Because in Brazil, I am in a hard school and 8,5 put me in number 3 of 66, should I change of school to delete this low grades, and get high grades on IB?) Do the transcript of grades counts a lot? Will tennis help me to get into or I should focus more on the academic way?
Please tell me if you are familiarized with admisssion for international students</p>

<p>Thanks guys, please help me</p>

<p>This isn’t really a chance thread, Planck.</p>

<p>In response to the article, “What They Didn’t Know,” by Kathleen Wheaton. “Bethesda” magazine, November, 2012</p>

<p>"Mrs. Go,
First of all, this is just a heartbreaking story and your grief must be unimaginable. Just reading about what an amazing kid Brian is, it’s a loss for us all.
I’m sorry to be so late in replying — I have been on a 10-day road trip teaching workshops around the country, and I had time during my few breaks only to deal with emergency calls for help, of which we unfortunately have many with our small staff.
Your perspective on the dangers of excessive secrecy at colleges is frankly much, much more valuable than mine. I can write and speak out about how FERPA excesses are harming the public’s ability to become informed, but your story is the far more urgent and compelling one, and I hope you will continue telling it. Although we are primarily a journalists’ organization, I get calls occasionally from parents who have had the frustration of contacting their child’s school about a bullying incident, and being told, “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you who beat up your son or whether we punished him, because of FERPA.” When we put privacy ahead of young people’s physical safety, something has really gone wrong.
You are doing great honor to Brian’s memory by advocating for reform of this misguided law. I will keep your contact information and if there is ever an opportunity to speak with the U.S. Department of Education or Congress about fixing the law, I hope that you might be able to come testify, because your experience with the terrible consequences of “secrecy over safety” should never be repeated by any other parent.
Thank you for sharing this article and for staying in touch with us, I really do appreciate it.</p>

<p>Frank D. LoMonte, Esq.
Executive Director
Student Press Law Center
1101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209-2211
(703) 807-1904, ext. 121 phone
(703) 807-2109 fax
<a href="mailto:director@splc.org">director@splc.org</a>
<a href=“http://www.splc.org”>www.splc.org</a>"</p>

<p>Frank D. Lo Monte, Esq. published an article on making FERPA unconstitutional in “Inside Higher Ed”</p>

<p>Journier,</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing the information! It is quite informative and helping. My S has been accepted and for someone in East Coast it would be a long trip and we are debating on that. You mentioned free trip to visit the campus - is it something the college provides for prefrosh weekend? I would love to accompany him to see the campus and meet with faculty members.</p>

<p>thanks again.</p>

<p>WeAreFive, I read the article in Bethesda magazine. I can’t imagine your family’s pain. Thank you for sharing Brian’s story.</p>

<p>You’re welcome. From a review of the book by Bickel and Lake: “The Rights and Responsibilities of the Modern University: Who Assumes the Risks of College Life?”</p>

<p>“The doctrine of in loco parentis is dead, but the alternative of being a passive bystander as students die or do themselves and others serious harm through unchecked [and often illegal] behavior is equally untenable.”</p>

<p>How can Caltech students transfer to other challenging schools if they find the workload too heavy–not too hard, but too heavy?</p>

<p>An article on “Inside Higher Ed” on improving teaching and learning in the STEM fields:
[Interview</a> with the authors of new book on STEM teaching | Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/04/16/interview-authors-new-book-stem-teaching]Interview”>Interview with the authors of new book on STEM teaching)</p>

<p>great post</p>