Are there any disciplinary actions on your record? That could be a reason for a GC not wanting to recommend a student.
@Publisher unfortunately no haha
@twoinanddone my parents weren’t happy and they were actually the ones who told me to email my assistant principal
@DadTwoGirls my parents saw the npc and said they were fine with me EDing. I’m having a hard time trying to find other matches/safeties similar to dartmouth that give good aid … can anyone help me out on this one?
If your assistant principal refuses to help, have your parents speak directly to the principal. Is this a public school? If so, they have to follow whatever regs your state Board of Education created. Your school board can tell you what those are. They’ll also been posted on your state’s education website.
Are you looking for schools that meet full need?
What about Lawrence or Carleton? They would not be safeties, but might be closer to matches.
How about Bowdoin or Bates? Or Colby? Again…not safety schools…but probably a little closer to matches than Dartmouth.
@thumper1 i definitely am looking for full need schools. ive considered many of the schools you mentioned but am somewhat worried about their aid packages
@austinmshauri i emailed my principal about meeting and i haven’t gotten a response from him. if he sides with the assistant would going to the school board help?? im not sure what their authority would be in this situation
If you apply to the school, she will have to send the transcript. She can give you her best advice (or not so best depending on how you look at it), but in the end, it is you and your parents that will decide where you apply. You may have to get them involved. She will have to send them the required GC documents. I would beware however. A lackluster recommendation from her could be an obstacle. You may want to use your essay or some other question on the app to explain the changes you’ve had to make and how you have adjusted and flourished. Also, find teachers that will give you a stellar recommendation and take the most rigorous course load your school has, even senior year. Then I say go for it and good luck. The Ivies are a stretch for everyone.
@Tperry1982 wait so would i use the essay to explain how she… wasn’t exactly supportive of me applying to dartmouth? sorry i’m not completely sure what solution you’re offering to a potentially harmful gc rec letter
Dartmouth is NOT a match or safety for you. It is a reach. If you are telling your GC that you consider it a match or safety that would be why she is discouraging you.
@TomSrOfBoston sorry i probably could’ve worded that better. to clarify i never thought it was a match or a safety lol and told my gc that i agreed with her that it would be extremely difficult for me to get in but it was still worth applying
“I’m having a hard time trying to find other matches/safeties similar to dartmouth that give good aid”
What is your budget?
How far from home are you willing to travel?
How much are you looking for “prestige”, and how much are you looking for an academically good relatively small school that is affordable? What do you mean by “similar to Dartmouth”?
Do you have an intended major, or general area of interest?
Absolutely do NOT put anything in your essay about the disagreement with your GC.
The suggestion was to put something about the change in your High Schools.
The net price calculators NOW are for students enrolling in Sept 2018…not 2019. The cost of attendance and financial aid awarding policies have NOT been set for 2019 yet…and won’t be until maybe September. You will need to run the NPCs again then.
Right now…the NPCs should be viewed as a very gross estimate…not exact.
It sounds like you need significant need based aid to attend any college…is that correct!
You have NO way to know if your net price at Dartmouth will be the lowest of schools you are interested in. No way.
Since finances seem to be an issue, I’m not sure I think ED is a good idea…because you will have ONE offer and one offer only.
Even with schools that meet full need…those net costs can vary by thousands of dollars.
to answer @DadTwoGirls 's questions and hopefully get some other people to suggest other safeties/ matches (especially matches!!!) for me, here’s what im looking for:
- not more than 30k a year for efc after financial aid and scholarships
- distance doesn't matter
- by similar to dartmouth i meant on the smaller side/ focused on undergrads. and even tho dartmouth is in a super rural location im fine anywhere
- intended major is something in the humanities. i can't decide between english/poli sci/ international relations
The school board is responsible for making school policy and for making sure district personnel follow state regulations. Your GC isn’t being reasonable. I would let your parents handle it.
@thumper1 i thought that putting something in about disagreeing with my gc would be very poor judgement which was why i was confused by someone else’s comment to explain the situation… i’ll definitely write something about moving but my main question was how i could make up for a weak and possibly even insulting gc rec letter. if anyone could give me some tips for this i’d really appreciate it!!
First, you have to believe yourself. Second, the school counselor’s job is to state overall school population’s academic rigorous and what’s your stand among your peers, and nothing more. School counselor is not know to know each student well to say more than that, and if your counselor decides to say more than that, it would actually sound suspicious to the universities that you apply on what the underlying agenda of your counselor and could made a fool of herself (if what she said “1. i have no chance and 2. it will make the school look bad for future applicants when a weak applicant like me applies.”). Maybe your counselor is a uw madison loyalist and really looks out for that school and wants to send you to there or she is annoyed by some out of town big gun taking over her territory (I know you may not intentionally but – tried to start an fbla at my new school, founder of school literary magazine, started a public speaking program – all in just a year after transferred), we will never know. But I wonder how often has your school sent students to Dartmouth or other ivies? Any how a failed applicant could affect future applicants. Actually, most applicants fail to get admitted, so her logic doesn’t make sense.
Second, your teachers’ (and maybe a recommendation for your volunteer work) will carry more weight on your academic performance and character that hers. Besides, you are holding the right to choose those you think like you better.
Third, you definitely deserve to apply any college you desire, and if Dartmouth is what you want, apply to it. My D’s states was a bit less than yours, and she applied ED and was accepted by a 11-12% acceptance rate university a year ago, so I would not say that you have not chance.
Fourth, I am a Taiwanese too.
If your stats and statements are accurate, I think it’s time for your counselor to find a new profession. IMO humble opinion, you are more than qualified to apply, and have a shot at success.