<p>Hello everyone. I am a high school senior at a public high school. According to my counselor, he made an incorrect point on my recommendation letter. He says that from now on, every college I submit an application via the Common App to must be previewed by him. I am concerned about this because it contains private, confidential information. Even so, I don't have a problem with him seeing the information but I feel that if colleges have a problem with the information, they should contact one of us themselves. My counselor threatened to notify colleges if I don't show him my Common App that I lied on it and didn't follow his protocol. Nobody else in the school, to my knowledge, has to go through this process.</p>
<p>I am totally confused by your posting, sorry. You state that your counselor made an incorrect point on your rec letter and because of that he now requires you to have him preview your common app submissions?? Because of his mistake? But then later you say something about the counselor threatening to tell the colleges that you lied on your Common App? I can’t guess what is going on here – my gut instinct is that your GC is concerned that you are saying something on your Common App that he or she does not feel is accurate. Because your application can have positive or negative reflections back to your school (and the GC), this may be why he/she is requiring to review.</p>
<p>From what you’ve said, it sounds pretty extreme. But, if you really don’t have a problem with him seeing you app, I’d let it go. At this point, keeping the peace is probably what’s most important.</p>
<p>Must they review every Common App application? No. Should they? Probably yes, unless you’re trying to pull something. GCs are generally on your side, and can help you from making a lot of stupid mistakes, but they are also a vital part of maintaining the integrity of the process, so if you have an objection to your GC seeing any part of your Common App, my radar would be up if I were a GC. </p>
<p>If I were a GC and I suspected a student was doing something untoward, I’d contact the school in question and let them know that something may be off with your app. I’d rather sink one unethical kid than my reputation, the chances of every kid in the school, and all the kids to follow in upcoming years.</p>