<p>My high school GC is responsible for about 750 kids. I know it's super important that your GC knows you well enough to write a good recommendation. But in my case, it's really hard to get to know my GC when he has to overlook 750 other people. </p>
<p>How do I make a positive impression on my GC and make sure he remembers who I am?</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>Heh I’m a junior and I’ve only talked to my counselor once, and that was when she called me to her office and asked if I had any questions, so I guess I’m not the best person to help you out here haha</p>
<p>i’m in the same situation w/ twiddle</p>
<p>You don’t. Colleges aren’t going to put much stock into a GC recommendation. This comes from another thread which I don’t want to go dig up, but I remember someone reporting that they talked to an AdCom and asked them why they require GC recommendations, and they were told that it’s primarily just a factor in admissions from Private schools, because GCs generally have a lot more interaction with students in private schools.</p>
<p>My hs counselor is sort of a *****–in a way.</p>
<p>My couselor’s an army veteran who enlisted right after HS. I’m an academic oriented person who isn’t that well aware of the inner-workings of army life. Needless to say, we don’t have much in common. </p>
<p>However, since sophomore year, I’ve dropped by his office about once. a week, sometimes just to say hey between classes or to ask about college visits. He asks me how my classes are going and what clubs I’ve joined.</p>
<p>I’m pretty certain that he will write me an excellent college rec because we know each other so well. To all those freshman/sophomores out there, try to make a great relationship with your resident counselor, because in the end it will REALLY pay off!!</p>
<p>Ugh my guidance counselor tries to make kids fail even more than they already do at our sucky school. I think she’s jealous of the top-achieving kids.</p>
<p>I go to a small high school… About 120-150 students.</p>
<p>Needless to say, my guidance counselor knows EVERYONE. However, I have a pretty good relationship with her, because I am on Honor Council and she is like the ‘head’ of Honor Council, so I see her all the time.</p>
<p>I don’t really know how to suggest connecting with a counselor with than many people.</p>
<p>my counselor is all right… he has his favorite students of course. he has a club called the slug club which is great for making new contacts in the ministry of magic. sometimes i buy him some crystallized pineapple because he loves it. although fat and jovial, the man is pretty smart and an expert potioneer.</p>
<p>My counselor is really friendly and is incapable of hating anyone.</p>
<p>But he gives HORRIBLE ADVICE. He put me in AP Physics B and made AP Chemistry the default choice for me. And that was going into sophomore year.</p>
<p>I don’t really talk to him, but I was in Special Education so he knows me from my IEPs. Ha.</p>
<p>^^OMG!!! I love you…:D</p>
<p>drop by a few times a month to inquire some advice. you don’t even have to have a serious problem, just make it up because what you want is just some more interaction and familiarization. and you have to give presents or treats on: Thanksgiving (fruit baset), Christmas/New Year’s (some gift), Valentine’s day (chocolates), & the end the of school year. OH, and don’t forget, his or her birthday.</p>
<p>md, you’re amazing. Nuff said.</p>
<p>Trifflie, thanks for the advice. I’ll be sure to …bring up some of my “serious problems” for the interaction(: Also, have you given gifts on all those days? Do you think it’s going overboard or is it the norm to lavish our high school GCs over holidays?</p>
<p>My guidance counselor still asks me how to say my last name. And even when I tell her, she still gets my first name wrong, since it’s two words, like “Mary Kate.” She only calls me by the first word. Which is like lots of people, but she’s one of the few I correct since it would be nice if she got my name right on any forms and recs she sends to colleges.</p>
<p>But… I think she likes me. The few times I’ve gone to see her, she’s praised me for my grades and ECs. And she thinks I’m awesome, because apparently I’m one of the few sophomores she’s ever been responsible for who has actually thought seriously about college.</p>
<p>So, to answer your question, go see your guidance counselor about every single college-related question you have. They like feeling useful without having to seek you out. Maintain good grades and EC membership, since that’s the one thing they’ll know most about you. Stop by their office to say hi every once in a while, and smile at them in the hallways. I don’t think you have to give them gifts a lot, since that may make them feel like you’re just fishing for compliments on your rec.</p>
<p>My GC is awesome. I talked to her after scheduling and online courses, and now I’ll be taking Pre-Calc over the summer, IB HL 1 regardless Junior Year, and Calc AB online in the fall.</p>