<p>My GC told me that I don't have to take math or science during my junior or senior year since I'm dual-enrolled at UMN. I didn't see the connection, but I chose to believe her because I'm an optimistic person. Thanks to CC, I just found out that in order to get into my top choice school (Michigan), I need to catch up a ton in math and science. So this summer, instead of partying full-time, I have to go to summer school in my two least favorite subjects. And this could be the last free summer of my whole life.</p>
<p>that really sucks that you have to do all that work now, because you trusted your advisor. :(</p>
<p>blah...well there are a lot of rant boards, but i'll add my two cents here</p>
<p>I go to a private school that is KNOWN for its "excellent guidance department". Literally (as in I could count them, not exaggerating) there are over 10 people who handle JUST applications for a very few number of students...</p>
<p>my guidance counselor is RIDICULOUS. when my mom was asking her something and mentioned PSATs, she said "What are PSATs?" Keep in mind she's getting paid, easily, $50-75,000, to NOT KNOW what the test is. And my school specifically focuses on PSATs and makes a big deal out of commended and semis. She didn't know that SATs had changed to 2400</p>
<p>Also, It's been so much GRIEF to get two transcripts to two competitive programs. She said that "no reptuable summer program will ask for a transcript". I'm sure! Because that makes sense!</p>
<p>She also gives me insane advice. One day she told me I should apply to Harvard, even though I said I didn't want to go there. She said that "it would be no big deal-you have great grades-match school at worst"...The next week, she recommended I go to flagship U...</p>
<p>She also confuses me with another girl and told her all my stats-grades, etc!</p>
<p>...the worst thing is, my public school is top 30 in the nation, has Intel winners, etc. They take calculus in FRESHMAN year (even if you're on the slow track), so i had/ve no way of transferring..They got a great record of top schools acceptance...while my school only got URMs in!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>My guidance counselor lost my letters of recommendation. She said she thinks that she might have sent in the last copies to one of my schools, and that I needed to go ask my teachers for other copies (assuming that they had not deleted these off of their computers 6 months after I asked them in the 1st place!)</p></li>
<li><p>She calls me in to tell me how concerned she is that I was failing a few classes. w. t. f. ?? I am not even close to failing any of my classes, yet she insisted that I was... guidance counselors always know best... </p></li>
<li><p>Told me that there is no way that I could get into UT because I was not top 10%. Yet again, I was right and she was wrong. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>And countless other stories that I don't have time to write down.</p>
<p>We have grade level counselors. I use the one from last year. She really pushed me to get everything in on time. I love her. The other one tells cool stories, though.</p>
<p>One of my friends hates her GC, because she definitely doesn't care about students. She just wants to get everything (like scheduling) over with quickly. My friend is a sophomore, like me, so I don't even want to know what the GC is like to seniors applying for college. Maybe she focuses all her attention on them, so she makes underclassmen feel unwanted...? I hope that's the case, because if she neglects everyone, that's just... unacceptable.</p>
<p>My GC, on the other hand, is excellent. She's very kind and patient. I know from first hand experience, because over these two years of high school, I've changed my schedule more times than anyone I know. :)</p>
<p>I seriously do not know what my guidance counselors are paid for. They obviously don't care about the students at all. They flat-out refuse to change any schedules after the school year has started. I'm not a senior, but word has it that you have to remind them to send your transcripts at least three times before anything gets done. If you have a problem, they'll just say they're busy and ask you to come back later, when they'll still be busy. Doing what? I have no idea.</p>
<p>My GC is really good about keeping me in the loop, and from what advice she's given me about applying to college next year, I think she's going to be an invaluable resource.</p>
<p>I didn't exactly hate her...but I asked her to switch my math level the first week into school because I knew before I even started the class I would be behind. She refused, I failed the course. When she switched me the next semester, I got a 94% in the class. And she called my parents and told them I wanted to see a psychiatrist, basically breaking my confidentiality agreement. Once again, didn't hate her...but really really wished she would've handled situations differently.</p>
<p>I'll put it this way, I only speak to my GC throught the principal and superintendent. I don't like being lied to and coered and im not afraid to go to BOE meetings. lol</p>
<p>My old counselor told me that I didn't need to take chemistry or any AP classes my sophomore or junior year to get into Harvard. Thank God for CC and my new GC. CC is telling me what to do and my new GC lets me do anything I want, haha. Hopefully now I can make up for my non-rigorous sophomore year. ...</p>
<p>the advisory system at my school makes me want to jump out a window...it's such a production to get one thing through the system, involving at least two offices, more signatures, and trying to hunt down people in our labyrinthine school who are never IN their offices.
i've also had 4 GC's in as many years, just because of bad luck/timing in people switching schools, taking maternity leave, etc.
on the bright side, i know how to get stuff done on my own now....</p>