<p>So I'm going to be applying this year and I was looking through the applications and I found out that I must have a guidance counselor recommendation. However, my guidance counselor or the past 3 years just retired. Unfortunately, this leaves me with another guidance counselor who knows me sort of well, but doesn't understand me nearly as well as my old one. I'm applying to some top tier schools and I need as good of recs as I can get. Any advice?</p>
<p>My best advice would be to have your guidance counselor explain his/her situation. Is it possible that your retired guidance counselor can still do these last few recommendations? It seems kind of cruel leaving all you guys to fend for yourselves.</p>
<p>If not, at least make sure your other teacher recs are outstanding.</p>
<p>It may be possible, so I think I’ll try. Thank you very much</p>
<p>No prob. ;)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>If you are well known to the school administration, the principal may either write your recommendation or at least bring the new guidance councilor up to speed for you.</p>
<p>My advise is to create and develop a strong relationship with your new guidance counselor. If you do otherwise you may compromise your application and shut the door to the aid the couselor can provide should you be waitlisted at your colleges of choice.</p>
<p>Also I wouldn’t underestimate the ability of your new counselor to come up to speed on your qualification and record. He must be aware of the importance of doing that. So (I think) that your best bet is to work with him, and not circumvent him.</p>
<p>The guidance counselor recommendation is really informational in terms of where you fit into your school’s population, what its policies are, and any special information that needs to be dissmeninated. It’s the teacher recs that will really tell about you as a student and would be expected to be more personal. You should definitely not worry about this.</p>