<p>Okay... what makes a recommendation "good" or "bad"? What kind of teachers should I ask to write one for me?</p>
<p>Also, counselors have to write recs if I recall correctly, but mine doesn't really even know me since I go to such a big school so what do I do about that? Also, how big of a deal are they?</p>
<p>Counselor recommendations are useless unless you want the counselor to explain special circumstances. His recommendations will usually be just based on your transcript and grade trends unless he knows you well (which is rare at big schools).
Teachers will not usually agree to write a "bad" rec. Ask the teacher who knows you the best and whose class you performed the best in to write you a recommendation.</p>
<p>A good rec is one that compliments you on your abilities, work ethic, way you interact with other students and the teacher, etc. It is critical that when you ask a teacher for a rec you also ask that teacher if they will be able to write a strong rec.</p>
<p>While it can be uncomfortable for a student to ask a direct question like this to a teacher, it HAS to be done. In the book "The Gatekeepers" is an example of a bad rec.
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There were times, I must admit,that I thought Tiffany might have taken a stronger interest in mastering the material in our course. When I saw that Tiffany was a National Merit Semi-Finalist I was a bit surprised. While clearly bright and competent, I had seen in Tiffany neither an exceptional skill for testing nor a particular affinity for the subject.
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I doubt this student set out to get a poor college req, but this is what can happen if you don't ask. The student was rejected, BTW.</p>
<p>As for the "big school, counselor doesn't know me" complaint... Life is unfair. At private schools and publics in pricy neighborhoods, the counselors do make an effort to know all the kids. At most others, the counselors are so busy dealing with kids who are flunking, behavioral problems, etc. that a good student is seen as a godsend, one who doesn't take up their time. I think some colleges use the counselor rec as a way to keep out the middle-class riff-raff without having to be blatant about it; they've found a good proxy that lets them pick the children of the affluent (who, BTW, have good counselor recs).
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I attend a large public school where my counselor doesn't know me well. Will I be at a disadvantage because this person couldn't possibly write anything insightful about me?
Gary Ripple, now director of admissions at Pennsylvania's Lafayette College, was asked this question when he was admissions dean at Virginia's College of William and Mary. He said to the student questioner: "I wonder why your counselor doesn't know you. Your counselor probably has over 300 students he or she is responsible for. You should take the initiative to get to know your counselor. At William and Mary, we look for students who take charge of their lives." The student sank slowly into his seat, Ripple recalls.
<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/articles/brief/coappfaq_brief.php#question2%5B/url%5D%5B/quote%5D">http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/articles/brief/coappfaq_brief.php#question2
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