<p>Hi all,
I'm new here and wondering why my son's high school guidance counselor is requiring that he give her his password to the Common App? He says she told him they don't use it and can only do paper submittals. There is a lot of personal data about my husband and I in that program, so I'm leary of handing over the password and don't understand why she needs it? We put his counselor's contact information/email address when we completed the Common App and it was my understanding that they provide the counselor with all of the information they need to respond, without her having to log in as my son.
Please help!</p>
<p>We did not need to give the password to our counselor. Have you spoke to the counselor face-to-face? I would be hesitant to hand over my password as well. Maybe some people who have been through this process before will have more input. I have only the experience with my son this year and don’t know what other schools might require.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick response. I’ve put in a call to speak with her directly and find out what is going on. Sometimes 17 year old boys don’t understand the full picture, so I’m guessing/hoping they were only trying to help him. Still, I’m really uncomfortable that someone at the school has access to all of that personal data now.</p>
<p>I never recommend giving out a password - it essentially allows the counselor to BE your son. You are right to be concerned.</p>
<p>I’m glad you are directly handling this. I do believe the counselor is trying to help; however, passwords should not be given to the school. I hope you can work everything out.</p>
<p>If not using the common app online is her concern, it may be that she just needs him to print the paper version of the school report. To do this he should invite the counselor without entering an email address for her. That should give him access to the pdf versions of the counselor forms to print and give her.</p>