Counselor recommendations

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am an international student and I am soon going to meet with my guidance counselor to ask for a recommendation. I basically need to know how to help her in the best way possible, since she has never gone through this process before with any student. </p>

<p>Are there any good links/material that are available for an international student to help the guidance counselor write her recommendation? Since I do not know her well, are there some standard questions I should be asked in order for her to write the recommendation? </p>

<p>Thankful for any help I can get!</p>

2

<p>At most large public schools, guidence counselors don’t know most of the students particularly well. Their role in the recommendation process is to describe the level of academic rigor at the school (for example, how many AP classes the school offers), how the student performed relative to his or her peers, how rigorous the student’s schedule was relative to what was available at the school, and whether the student had any unusual issues/challenges/disciplinary actions etc…If you print out the recommendation form that the counselor fills out as part of the common application, you’ll see what is being requested.</p>

<p>If the counselor knows the person well, they should certainly describe in more detail what makes this student exceptional. It doesn’t hurt to provide the counselor with the same information that you would give your teachers: what are your academic and professional goals, what are you most proud of, what challenges have you overcome, and what could this teacher/counselor emphasize that would help your application.</p>

3

<p>M’s Mom, Thank you so much for your input. However, I could not find the recommendation form that the counselor fills out. Which form is the one you are referring to? :slight_smile: <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/DownloadForms.aspx[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/DownloadForms.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Thank you.</p>

4

<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012/2012SchoolReport_download.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2012/2012SchoolReport_download.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It’s there, but it’s called the School Report. Note the section called “Evaluation” in which the counselor can add a personal perspective.</p>

5

<p>Thank you, M’s Mom!</p>