<p>Son went to GC to talk to her about letters of recommendations for next year. She informed him that she wont be returning next school year, and nor is the other GC. My son just texted me and wants to know how to proceed. He is concerned that whoever replaces her, wont know him. School will be out next week and I have no ideas. Any suggestions? Please help.</p>
<p>All you can do is keep in touch with the school regarding who the new GC is, and maybe set up an appointment to meet with him/her soon after they arrive at the school. D1 had 3 GCs in 3 years (soph/junior/senior year). It worked out okay for us, but we were not relying on the GC for a lot (used CC a lot more than the GC). Honestly, colleges are used to GCs who do not know kids well, it is very common. I feel like the GC recommendation does not carry a lot of weight unless your kid has some negative item on their record that requires explanation. I don’t think colleges hold it against a kid if the GC does not know them well as long as teacher recs are strong.</p>
<p>Does the GC have a plan? Or is she just leaving the kids in the dust? This scenario happened to my younger son, however, the GC met with all the juniors in the spring and completed her letters in June, so it had no ill effect. Sounds like a call to the GC and the principal is in order to see what the plan is going to be - hopefully they have one.</p>
<p>GCs and kids change schools all of the time.</p>
<p>there are things that GC and your son can do at the end of the term; for example: GC can download the rank list now. </p>
<p>Get a copy of his transcript/permanent record before the end of the term. Review it in the event that there are any inaccuracies, so that they can be resolved while the GC is still at the school. In addition, find out if GC has submitted the course request so that your son will know what he is taking .</p>
<p>He can also ask current GC if s/he would be willing to write recommendation letter (be polite because once GC leaves, they are under no obligated to do so). </p>
<p>IF yes, your son should meet with the GC, fill out their brag sheet, have a one on one whatever the GC needs to write the recommendation letter. GC can write letter, sign it, scan it as a PDF and leave it with the principal/AP Guidance/APO so that the letter can be uploaded in the fall.</p>
<p>IF yes, GC should be able to download a PDF of the transcript in order to upload to the application.</p>
<p>Ask GC for new e-mail address so that he can put the e-mail in the common app so that the GC will be able to upload the recommendation letter.</p>
<p>Ask if there is an electronic copy of the profile, so it will be available to the new GC ext year or the current GC will have it to up load with the recommendation.</p>
<p>Same thing happened to my S last year-- in fact there should be a thread somewhere on here from last August. It worked out fine, although I was concerned. A few suggestions:</p>
<p>If the current GC can leave notes about your S for the new GC that will help</p>
<p>Have your S schedule an appointment with the new GC as soon as possible in the fall. Be sure to have him bring a “resume” to the meeting that includes awards, activities, clubs, etc. The new GC will appreciate having this information clearly written out</p>
<p>Make sure your S is keeping track of all deadlines and checking to make sure everything has been submitted. A new GC may be overwhelmed so he/she might need to be reminded of deadlines. </p>
<p>Many students have GC’s who don’t know them at all-- so your son will not be at a disadvantage. I agree with intparent that most colleges understand this and as long as there are no negatives written by the GC your S will be fine</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>You are all assuming that both GCs are leaving and someone is replacing them. It’s more and more common to not have any GCs at all. I have to believe that universities are aware that not every school has someone to write the most generic of “recommendations”. ymmv</p>
<p>care2dream -</p>
<p>It’ll all work out. S had a different GC every year, and fortunately his senior year GC turned out to have coached him in soccer his freshman year, so at least he could provide some perspective.</p>
<p>D had her GC for three years and then the GC left after junior year. Fortunately, the GC kept in touch with her replacement and provided info when needed.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>There was an important change on the Common App this year that meant that GCs no longer had to write the recommendation-- they were given two checkboxes: one that they didn’t know the student well enough, and the other that their load was too large. So all a GC/registrar would have to do is check through boxes about course rigor and transcript reporting, which is doable.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your quick response and advice. I texted him your suggestions of what he can do, and I left a message for the principal to please give me a call. </p>
<p>My DS has had her for 3 years and is quite fond of her. He was caught off guard and I think his feelings are hurt that he only found out because he went to her with a question. Also, I feel like this is information that should be disseminated to all the parents/guardians of rising seniors, or at least to the students.</p>
<p>Greenbutton - No GCs??? I have never heard of this before, and is quite concerning. It teeters on illegal for a public school through my eyes, and more so for a private. That is a huge disservice. GCs are not a nice to have, they are a necessity.</p>
<p>It’s good to know that the GC recommendation is not that terribly weighted to colleges. I appreciate the reassurance that it will probably turn out fine. It’s gonna have to be.</p>
<p>Illegal? Total hyperbole.</p>
<p>Our high school has a different GC for each year so they never get to know the students. The students fill out a form for the senior GC to use for writing recs, but most of them only apply to our state schools that don’t require them anyway. Unfortunately, that means that she really doesn’t have much experience when it comes to writing them for the 1 or 2 students each year that might be reaching for the brass ring.</p>
<p>Iron Maiden. hyperbole…maybe. But I view GCs in the same light as I view the need for every instructor in the school. With that mindset, if a public school cannot go without k-12 teachers, food service staff, nurse, secretaries, janitorial etc, then why is it fine to not have GCs? Our GCs do more than write recs. Class scheduling, SOLs, APs, student (and parent) guidance, club/organization support etc. If the school has to provide all the other talents, then why not GCs? Who handles the requirements if there are no GCs?</p>
<p>It might fall under illegal or against policy if the district has a mandatory adult to student ratio. These exist on out of school trips such as field trips and overnights. Wonder if there is such a thing for everyday school.</p>
<p>For my state it is mandated…is that the same as the law? But unfortunately, it’s not the same for all states. But it appears, some level of service is still provided:
[State</a> School Counseling Mandates and Legislation - American School Counselor Association](<a href=“http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=535]State”>http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=535)</p>
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<p>No, they are not a necessity. What is necessary is for a school to have someone who can arrange for the official documents to be forwarded. That is mostly an administrative function. The rest of the applications can be “worked out” by obtaining the required LORs from the teachers, and by being … very proactive. </p>
<p>The fact that the GC are leaving could be a blessing in disguise because your own proactive behavior will not be viewed as stepping on anyone’s toes. Get very comfortable with the requirements of colleges, help the teachers writing positive LORs and avoiding the few “negative” words such as “hard worker, dedicated, etc,” and above everything make sure that the school presents a current profile. </p>
<p>As far as the remaining GC’s input, try to make sure that the strength of the curriculum is correctly marked. That part is easier said than done. </p>
<p>PS Buy plenty of postage paid envelopes and do not let the documents go out without YOU having checked them!</p>
<p>Probably it doesn’t matter. My D’s GC quit in - guess when - mid-September, when the requests for recommendations just started to flow in. We, mom and dad, were devastated as this woman was wonderful and we got along extremely well. And, above all else, she was such a fighter for her students. In her place was this young GC, barely out of her internship… well, whatever she wrote, I guess it worked. My D got to all her tippy top schools, except for one where almost all students got rejected anyway. OK, take deep breath. Your student will be alright.</p>
<p>Good advice - Thank You, Xiggi</p>
<p>jvt - exhaling 
Thank you</p>
<p>It is heartbreaking that there are not enough qualified, knowledgeable GCs in every students. But illegal, I do not think so.</p>
<p>My youngest attended an inner city high school, she had three different counselors for the four years she was there. She was admitted to all the schools she applied to.</p>
<p>Some states or districts may have mandates to have counselors in the schools, but if the mandate is unfunded…?</p>
<p>[Phila</a>. SRC approves doomsday school budget](<a href=“http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130531_Crowd_protests_planned_Philly_school_budget_cuts.html]Phila”>Phila. SRC approves doomsday school budget)</p>
<p>despite impassioned protests and demonstrations in the streets, a $304 million dollar shortfall may cut 3,000 positions — all art, music, athletics, clubs, librarians, custodians, counselors, secretaries, assistant principals and…paper.</p>