<p>Can school guidance counselors write something bad about you without you being aware of it? For example, can there be some information about you in the school record which was never discussed or mentioned to you? Does the GC have an obligation to keep you informed of everything on your school record. I assume GC would have to tell you during the guidance meeting with you, right?</p>
<p>Do public schools usually have policies to avoid such negative surprises? Do they usually protect themselves from lawsuits with well written school board policies. Any interesting stories you guys are aware?</p>
<p>Yes, if they want, they can.
Of course, I know teachers can.
Well if the info on the school record is something like you got suspended for drugs then, yes they'll probably put it down.
What kind of "suprise information" on the record that you wouldn't be aware of are you talking about?</p>
<p>Of course, the GC can write something bad about you. </p>
<p>Typically, applications ask the GC's to compare you to others in your class based on things like: acaemic courseload, academic ability, leadership, ethics. The applications also may ask your GC if you have been suspended or had other problems with the school.</p>
<p>The GC is expected to rate you fairly and to tell the truth. The GC's job isn't to present you in an unnaturally rosy light, but to tell the colleges the truth about your background. Consequently, if the GC knows that you've been caught for cheating several times, the GC will give you a low rating for ethics even if that cheating didn't result in your being suspended.</p>
<p>This is what I am wondering...suppose the guidance counselor knows you really well, and thinks that a certain school would be "perfect" for you - or has a certain relationship with admissions there. Would he write glowingly about you for that school only because he really wants to see you there? Or would he write equally about you for all you are applying to? I guess there's no way to really know, just thought I would get some feedback...</p>
<p>I didn't mean things like suspensions which I agree the GC will have to report. That would be something the applicant would know anyway. For example, I was talking about a teacher that could have said something to the GC (of being very talkative and distracting in her class) but the GC never bothered to discuss with the student. Can the GC mention this in the recommendation without having discussed with you?</p>