Missed TJ teacher name entry deadline (appeal process)

[Anonymous]

We were lucky to have our daughter quality as a TJ semifinalist this year. Unfortunately, we missed the teacher name entry deadline last Friday (name entry, not the final recommendation text) for TJHSST. The admission director said we have to pull out from the application and cannot continue. I was searching for an appeal process but most links lead nowhere.

In our household, I was responsible for TJ date tracking. I completely missed the Jan 25th date in the congratulatory email, and was surprised when we checked Sunday evening. All along we thought she could talk to her teachers this week. She already had two teachers in mind last week, but we were oblivious to the Friday deadline, else we could have done the name entry that day. Between a couple of school tests last week, my daughter was preparing for the essays on the 9th.

We now have to withdraw from the process. It is heartbreaking --and I will feel guilty forever-- to deny her a chance to test for a TJ spot because of a missed name entry (because I missed a sentence while overjoyed reading the email ; I remember thinking, ok, the next date we have to know is the 9th). But the official response was a very dry you can't continue.

Is anyone familiar with an appeal? The appeal is not on the selection, just to be allowed to continue to the essay exam. Her teachers already agreed to write a recommendation.

Appreciate any tips. Thank you.

(This is probably a unique case so it would be easy to identify me, but will try to be anon.)

[Anonymous]

Oh no, hope she gets to continue somehow.

[Anonymous]

You are not the only one. Another parent called school yesterday saying that they miss the teacher entry deadline. Unfortunately, TJ admission office is operated independently from the school, and they are totally handling admission process.

Call the admission office and talk to the person in charge immediately. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

It’s unfortunate, but this is how many things work. College application deadlines are also unwavering.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for the posts above and well wishes.

I immediately emailed Sunday night, and received a response Monday morning from the director of admissions. He simply pasted the congratulatory email with the date and said she cannot continue anymore.

I will continue the search for a solution....

[Anonymous]

They will not make an exception. Sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

She can apply again next year and it’s a simpler process then. With so many qualified applicants, they don’t make exceptions very often. Even if that means they aren’t necessarily selecting the students best suited for TJ.

[Anonymous]

This is really awful for your child. I am truly sorry. I doubt they will make an exception. That being said, my child was at TJ and withdrew due to anxiety. Child is MUCH happier at base school. Really. Getting great grades. Has a social life.

Those facts may not help you, but it does prove that there is life outside of TJ. Really.

Again, I hope you can figure this out but they tend to be rather inflexible.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry this happened. They are not going to make an exception because you misread the email. The admissions process is a tightly run ship and if they start making exceptions it all falls apart.

[Anonymous]

Sorry. But PPs are right. The deadlines are the dealines. There are no exceptions, and no appeals. They just have more than enough qualified kids in the applicant pool, without taking kids who don’t read the directions. I’d stop looking for a loophole. There isn’t one.

[Anonymous]

I have a child at TJ now and I would say they won't make exceptions. So sorry, but the chances your child would get in is still pretty low and honestly its really a high sacrifice for them so it may be a blessing in disguise. don't beat yourself up.

[Anonymous]

You're going to be best positioned to contest this if you show up at the admissions office WITH the recommendations already completed.

That said, it's very sad, but deadlines are deadlines for a reason. If they do not make an exception, it's because rules are rules, and that can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow, especially when it impacts people other than just you.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Understood all the points said and thanks. I like the point about life outside TJ and if this does not work out, there's that. Observing her now, she seems cool about skipping her chance at TJ. Maybe in a way she is relieved because she said she hears horror stories about going there. Somehow I am also relieved because I'd rather she spend more of her time among her friends and do normal teenager what-not.

I was tracking the dates because we put all the kids activities on a calendar (sports, school admin stuff, doc appointments, etc.). She is otherwise in charge of her normal school stuff (homework, project deadlines and those sorts of things) and we do not help her besides asking how's school now and then.

[Anonymous]

I think/hope you learned a valuable lesson: if your kids wants to do something, they need to take 100% ownership.

If your child didn’t read the email, add the dates, be prepared, then TJ is not for him/her. TJ is not for those who need hand-holding. It really is for a subset of the highly gifted.

[Anonymous]

Our child’s counselor reminded them twice to do it. I would give some constructive feeedback to your schools guidance counslers. This is really unfortunate.