<p>I was wondering what role your High School GC's had on the final choice of your college? Was that choice really GC driven or not? Did your GC have a special relationship with a few favorite colleges and try to steer you into them? What about an effective stategy? Did they ever try to discourage your application somewhere because someone else from your school was also applying?</p>
<p>Any light that can be shed on the subject will be appreciated.</p>
<p>no i have talked to my counselor about 4 times in the past 2 years. but honestly i would take your counselor's advice into consideration, just dont let him/her make the choice for you. its like the US News rankings, gc opinions are just another opinion to add to ultimately make your college list.</p>
<p>My GC had some interesting input when it came to schools I considered. She suggested schools I had little to no interest in. After I researched them, I was intrigued. I visited some of them and was extremely impressed, and I actually ended up applying to a pair. </p>
<p>In addition, our school's guidance department hosts a college tour each year. Top students from the junior class are invited to attend. They then rent a bus and tour about 10 schools in some region of the country over the course of a week. I went on this tour and we visited schools in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and D.C. The highlights were Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, and Georgetown. I also ended up applying to JHU.</p>
<p>In terms of negative things, my GC did actually spout off all the things she disliked about my top choice schools. However, she was sure to preface that those were just her opinions and would support me in my decisions. The next day she even apologized to me because she believed it was unprofessional. Regardless of the incident, we are still on great terms. I've heard that my recommendation was the second best one she wrote this year.</p>
<p>Did you go to a private or public?</p>
<p>Private school.</p>
<p>What I'm trying to get at is how important is the GC in general? I would think a good one would be a tremendous help. It seems to me that a lot of GC management on the part of the student is very political. GC wants the student to commit to school X while the student waits for the best financial package. A lot of factors are at play.</p>
<p>Do you have a specific situation you're trying to figure out?</p>
<p>No, I was just trying to see to what extent GC's play in the final decision.</p>
<p>Each GC at my school has about 50 students, and although we were on friendly terms and she was very very nice, I did not find her helpful at all. Before the first meeting with my GC about colleges, I had spent 2 years reading CC, and from that meeting, I felt I had enough knowledge that I didn't need her help. </p>
<p>She didn't suggest any colleges to me either, after I had presented me list to her.</p>
<p>Mine has never suggested any for me either. It seems like she doesn't even care what I do with my life haha. With other people though, she has really been discouraging them from going to certain places...etc</p>
<p>I guess GCs are what you make them. I talk to mine all the time. I knew that the more personal I was with her, the better recommendation she'd be able to write. In that respect, I would think it would be in your best interest to spend some time getting to know your GC.</p>