<p>Basically, I know that privates require you to send in your final HS transcript, but do they also need to fill out one of those forms on the Common App where the counselor has to write stuff about you in your high school? I'm not exactly at good standing with my high school right now, and this would probably hurt my transfer chances, especially at the private schools that use the common app for transfers.</p>
<p>Also how would you go about this, if your counselor doesn't even know you and yet has to write you a rec?</p>
<p>Only Smith (I think) asked for my high school teacher recs if they were available. But I still had to have my high school send the secondary school report to each college.</p>
<p>Almost all schools require a final high school transcript, some require the Secondary School Report (SSR) filled out by a high school counselor, and almost none require an extended recommendation from your counselor. However, there is a section of the SSR form that asks your counselor to optionally(?) write a brief evaluation of you. You have to check your prospective schools’ websites, and figure out if you need the SSR or not. Top schools like the Ivies, U. Chicago, etc. tend to require it. Even then, the most important thing you need from high school is the final transcript, and if you can’t get the SSR filled out, or get a recommendation from your counselor, just write your prospective school(s) a letter explaining your circumstances. Adcoms are usually understanding, and evaluate your application with only the final high school transcript.</p>
<p>Thanks, that helps…
I see that the form asks the counselor to rank you according to your class and to judge your academic performance, etc etc. If you weren’t exactly the most outstanding student at your school, how would this affect your transfer chances? I think obviously your college performance has more weight… but still</p>
<p>I’m really worried because I’ve been suspended in high school and they ask about this on the Common App. It’s annoying how something that happens in HS will follow you all the way into college when you want to try to have a fresh start :(</p>
<p>hey ilikebananas, I wouldn’t worry too much. Are you transferring as a Junior? If so, they probably understand that the 2 year gap from high school meant that whichever ‘latest’ evaluation would be the most reliable. I don’t think they’d hold it against you if you do not have the HS recc from your counselor Just make sure your prof reccs are outstanstanding! </p>
<p>Well I’m actually not transferring, I’m just thinking ahead to the future.
I will probably transfer after 1 year of college but with a junior standing, because in my senior year of high school I am going to do something called dual enrollement where I take my high school classes at the local community college.</p>
<p>The secondary school report for transfers requires the high school counselor to fill out some info, and given that I’ve been suspended in high school… that will likely decrease my chances of transferring… =/</p>
<p>^ Then don’t send in the form? Why not just opt to send only your high school final transcript, and not the SSR? See if you can get your counselor to agree NOT to fill out the SSR, and write a letter saying that you can’t send it in. Or you could try explaining why you got suspended.</p>
<p>Fmhcbc, I guess that could work… I think not all colleges require the SSR but I don’t know how much not sending it in will work against me.
I’d also rather not explain why I got suspended… I am trying to leave that as far behind as possible.</p>
Just make sure your prof reccs are outstanstanding! </p>