Good idea to follow up with GC on recommendation

Parents Forum
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<p>Last year, son’s GC said the GC recommendation would explain 2 issues regarding S’s senior class choices. I recently got hold of a copy of the GC recommendation from the HS (for a different purpose). Turns out the GC did not address the issues at all.</p>

<p>If S knew these issues were not addressed by GC, he would have included explanations himself in his college application (e.g. why a potential math major did not take any math class in his senior year). Despite receiving written notes from S about the issues and verbally agreeing to address them, GC made no mention of the issues in the letter.</p>

<p>Our mistake – we trusted the GC to remember all the little (but important) things about the students. Maybe the lack of explanation hurt S’s chances at certain schools – we would never know. Anyway, S is starting college this fall and harbors no ill feelings towards the GC. </p>

<p>I suggest HS seniors do a follow up with the GC if they want the GC to address certain things in the recommendation. Since they can’t read the letter themselves, they may at least ask the GC if those issues get addressed after the letter is done.</p>

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<p>The students also should give the GC a sheet with important info about themselves: ECs, career goals, challenges they’ve faced, etc.</p>

3

<p>You could also have a son like my older one. The GC showed him her recommendation before she sent it. I asked him if she had remembered to explain that he hadn’t taken honors or AP English as a senior because of scheduling conflicts. He couldn’t remember. GRRR. He did remember that she said lots of nice things about him.</p>