Counselor Recommendation

Applying to College
1

<p>How important is the college/guidance counselor recommendation in the admissions process? I go to a large public school and do not know my guidance counselor that well so I am wondering if that will hurt my chances.</p>

2

<p>It doesn’t hold much weight, it’s mostly to make sure you’re in good standing with the school.</p>

3

<p>Not as much weight as teacher recommendations. Teachers see you every day in school while your counselor sees you from time to time.</p>

4

<p>Regardless of how well you know him or her, the more selective schools see your GC as an objective voice about your qualifications as well as the relative strength of the school itself (e.g. did you have access to lots of AP classes? Perhaps only honors courses are provided, perhaps only 15% of your graduating class goes to 4 year colleges, etc.).</p>

<p>I’d suggest making an appt with him/her and discussing your college plans, bring in a “brag list” or resume and perhaps talk about anecdotes that he/she might be familiar with that highlight your academic performance and potential. </p>

<p>If you find this uncomfortable, you need to push through and engage him/her regardless. Good luck to you</p>

5

<p>

BOO!..</p>

6

<p>^If you are close with your counselor or see them often (mine advised a newspaper I edited) then it can be very important.</p>

7

<p>Bad news for you regarding your “big school, counselor doesn’t know me” concern… Are you going to be shocked that this can hurt you? Well, at some schools it definitely will; life is unfair.</p>

<p>At private schools and publics in pricy neighborhoods, the counselors do make an effort to know all the kids. At most of the rest the counselors are so busy dealing with kids who are flunking, behavioral problems, etc. that a good student is seen as a godsend, one who doesn’t take up their time. I think some colleges use the counselor rec as a way to keep out the middle-class riff-raff without having to be blatant about it; they’ve found a good proxy that lets them pick the children of the affluent (who, BTW, have good counselor recs). It isn’t fair, I don’t think it’s right, but you ought to know that it happens.

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