Hello,
Due to a HUGE miscommunication with my counselor, she is refusing to write a counselor recommendation with my secondary report. I called all the schools I applied for and most of them said my 2nd teacher recommendation will be fine in place of it except for Harvard, Rice, CMU, and USC. Now, I did get my parents involved because I was being super apologetic and stuff but she claimed my 2nd teacher recommendation would be sufficient as her reasoning for not completing it. My dad sent an email (again, very polite and apologetic) and we probably won’t hear back from her until school starts this week. If she does end up sending the recommendation and it is not the best because of this huge mess, will it screw me out of my chances? I’m sure both my teacher recommendations are overwhelmingly positive. And is there a way so that only these 4 schools get it instead of all my Common App ones (I really don’t want my backup schools getting it if it isn’t great like Seattle University if they’ll just use my extra teacher recommendation instead)? I really just don’t want a huge miscommunication to screw me out of college, I’m insanely worried. Thank you in advance!
She may be doing you a favor because it doesn’t sound like she’d be writing a positive recommendation. Have you taken a look at the counselor recommendation form that gets filled out? She may feel that she can’t fill it out without divulging the “HUGE miscommunication” and is, therefore, opting not to complete it. The schools you are applying to still have the option of contacting her for additional information which they may opt to do. I would think the counselor not completing the counselor recommendation is highly unusual but I have no idea.
Just to clarify - there is a counselor recommendation - often sent in about the same time as teacher recommendations in the fall sometime prior to deadlines. Then there is the mid year report, which along with your senior first semester grades, there is often a “is there anything to add?” kind of prompt/area for new achievements, awards, etc. It is not uncommon for a counselor to just send the midyear grades if they have already sent a recommendation and there is nothing new to add from the last few weeks.
So did she not send in any counselor recommendation at all? Or is she just not adding new info to the mid year report? And if not, is there really anything to add?
Could it be that everything is already covered and she just isn’t being redundant versus an evil conspiracy?
She did not submit the counselor recommendation at all, it just says “started” in the Common Application. I don’t think it is some “evil conspiracy,” I think it is because the new semester is starting and she needs to focus on getting classes straight for all her students. That’s understandable, but I did say that the colleges can get it late and be just fine. I asked if she could do it after all the new classes are dealt with (nicely) in the email from my dad that she hasn’t responded to yet. I just don’t want her to write something that would get me out of even my backup schools. I haven’t been mean or anything, just super apologetic because I did miscommunicate what I need. And we’ve always been on good terns, though I don’t see her often, maybe once a year. I don’t need the recommendation to be amazingly good as much as I need it not to make me out to be a horrible student because of one honest mistake.
Oh then that is certainly odd. I really figured she did the other, hmmmm. I haven’t run into a counselor not doing the recommendation cause, uh, that is their job, but perhaps she just sticking to really strict deadlines (most counselors know kids will add schools last minute and plan for those “emergencies” even if they don’t like to). I totally get you are walking on eggshells trying to get her to submit this. If it is getting weird, and it sounds like it is, I think your dad has to be the one to close the deal.
And if you just want those 4 schools to get it, you/dad have to specify that she only needs to submit to those four schools. And I think dad has to straight out ask if she does one will it be positive? fThat is an ok question to ask and you should know. Good luck!
Well if the HUGE MISCOMMUNICATION isn’t some sort of awful thing that you did, then I think it’s her job to work with you and get things done. If she isn’t willing to do that, go around her. This is the first time you seniors have ever applied to college, and for those applying to reaches and super reaches, even more stressful! She should cut you some slack.
Good luck, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this! People with no flexibility shouldn’t be guidance counselors, IMO.
Basically my misccomunication was because I made it sound like I just needed a secondary report and not a full recommendation, but that was only because I thought Counselor recommendations were one in the same with secondary reports. It’s 100℅ my fault but now that I’ve realized that fault I really need that recommendation and I’m hoping an honest mistake like that won’t screw me out of even backup colleges cause she writes something awful. Doesn’t have to be great, I just don’t want it to kill me in admissions.
Actually, she should know what you need and what is good to submit. Doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong, just a simple clarification. GCs are GCs cause they are helpful people (or wouldn’t last long in the job cause of frustration) so I am thinking she will come through in the end for you. Let us know it works out ok. I really think it will.
Well she responded simply saying she’ll write it “as needed”. I will send her another follow up email being sorry and nice again before she sends it. I just really hope she doesn’t write something that gets me written off at my backup schools.
@tigger29 I don’t view what you describe as a huge miscommunication. I don’t know how long she’s been a college counselor but, presumably, this is not the first time she is doing this. It is the first time you are applying to colleges. It’s not on the student to tell the college counselor what needs to be submitted and even if you stated it was a secondary recommendation, she has access to the common app forms and should know what she needs to complete. Maybe you should have your dad follow up. In fact, maybe he should follow up with the principal? Counselors have some leeway after the deadlines but it needs to get in soon so you can’t wait to long to follow up. Good luck.
I do agree with others that she should generally know about this ahead of time, but also counselor recommendations do not count a great deal in the college admissions process. Schools recognize that not every student is super close to their counselor and many of them have hundreds of students to take care of. It is unlikely to make or break your application, and most schools are just beginning to review apps anyway. They can always just add it in.
@tigger29 any update? Did she write your recommendation?
@CADREAMIN She sent it. Just hoping she didn’t write anything to bar me from a good education.
Glad to hear it, thanks for updating. Truly, adults in her position aren’t gonna let a little thing influence their big view - I think it will be what it should be. No worries and best of luck to you in the process!