<p>I always thought that a counselor recommendation was required along with a couple teacher recommendations. However, as I have been browsing the colleges that I am applying to on the Common App, the part that says "school forms required" does not mention anything about counselor recs, only academic teacher recommendations.</p>
<p>Does this mean I don't need a counselor recommendation?</p>
<p>It is not necessarily a recommendation, but an evaluation. A secondary school report<a href="for%20ED">/b</a> a **midyear report<a href="RD">/b</a> and a **final report all which are attachments to the common app must be submitted to the college.</p>
<p>As part of the common application there is a secondary school report, the section that is specifically for </p>
<p>The Secondary School Counselor.</p>
<p>the instructions are as follows:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Attach applicant’s official transcript, including courses in progress, a school profile, and transcript legend. (Check transcript copies for readability.) Use page 2 to complete your evaluation for this student. Be sure to sign below.</p>
<p>Evaluation Please write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic, extracurricular, and personal characteristics. We welcome a broad-based assessment that will help us to differentiate this student from others. (Feel free to attach an additional sheet or another reference you may have prepared on behalf of this student.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It states the counselors name, Fax, phone number and signature line.</p>
<p>In short, yes,the counselor should fill out the secondary school report including writing and evaluation .</p>
<p>for the midyear report it states:</p>
<p>
[quote]
After completing all the relevant questions below, give this form to your secondary school counselor or another school official who knows you better. Please also give that school official stamped envelopes addressed to each institution that requires a Midyear Report.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>for the Final Report it states:</p>
<p>
[quote]
After completing all the relevant questions below, give this form to your secondary school counselor or another school official who knows you better. Please also give that school official a stamped envelope addressed to the institution you plan to attend.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>However, both sections still have a space that should be filled out by the counselor.</p>
<p>While it may not be required for have your counselor fillout the evaluation, you should not keep your counselor out of the loop, because what ever questions the college may have about your application is going to be referred back to your counselor (also, in the event of a deferral or a waitlist, it wil be the counselor who will most likely be the person to advocate on your behalf).</p>
<p>thank you very much, that was exactly what I needed to know!</p>