<p>How exactly do these work? On the College Admissions forum, I often see posters who say "Make sure your GC explains this in a letter." How? I think it would be really pretentious of me to go into my GC's office and give him a list of excuses to put in a letter. Has anyone done this before? Early action applications are due in just two months, and I have a meeting with my GC on Tuesday. I'd like to know if there's anything I should tell him.</p>
<p>The main issue here would be that my high school doesn't have any advanced level courses. I don't want schools to hold that against me. But can I just say, "Make sure my colleges know from your letter that there are no advanced courses"?</p>
<p>I had the same question as OP. Even though I am good friends with all 3 GC's @ my school, do I say: "I need you to write about jr year and scheduling conflict with AP Literature; Sr. Year and how school dropped AP Spanish at last minute and too late to get summer work and request AP English instead, Sr. year when AP Chem and APUSH were for same class period so I could only take one; Honors Physics/Chemistry were not offered when I took regular physics, only started the next school year; etc." And how do we know what's on the school profile and see it?</p>
<p>Because that's a lot of stuff but because of almost EVERY AP course only having one section (and the nonexistance of Honors my freshman and sophmore year), compared to the classes offered, my schedule doesn't look too rigorous. (Sorry if it seems like I took over, I kinda had the same question and didn't want to waste another thread.)</p>
<p>Ask your guidance counselor for a copy of your official transcript and whatever they send to colleges with it. My kids' high school's transcript package includes a list of courses available at the school. (It's also a good idea to check the transcript for errors before it's sent out.)</p>
<p>The courses your school offers are listed on a form generally called the "School Report". It's sent with your transcript and GC letter. Colleges know how to read that letter.</p>
<p>If there is something particular about your situation, rather than about your school, that you want noted (say, your grandfather died right before finals your sophomore year, or you missed a lot of school due to illness), write a short note/letter to your GC asking (not demanding) that this circumstance be explained in his/her recommendation. ("Make sure" that your GC does this is a bit of an overstatement.)</p>
<p>Does the typical school report show exactly which school year they began implementing honors classes and certain AP classes? Because I would have took honors if they offered it two or three years ago.</p>
<p>Yeah, I have the same question as well. Scheduling conflicts or just stubborness by the administrators led to a lack of certain APs. How do we get them to explain this?</p>
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Does the typical school report show exactly which school year they began implementing honors classes and certain AP classes? Because I would have took honors if they offered it two or three years ago.
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<p>No, they do not always do this, that is why you should ask for a copy of your current school report. If the Honors/AP is listed but doesn't say that it wasn't available for you to take, you should definitely request that your GC note that on your evaluation. This is very important as colleges will be assessing the rigor of your course work compared to what is offered at your HS.</p>
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Scheduling conflicts or just stubborness by the administrators led to a lack of certain APs. How do we get them to explain this?
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<p>Talk to your GC, tell them that you were not able to take the APs due to scheduling or something else beyond your control, and to please note that in your evaluation. There shouldn't be a problem with such a request, the purpose of the school report is to accurately state the courses that you would have been able to take.</p>
<p>haha last year I asked my GC to mention a scheduling conflict that prevented me from taking AP Calc...</p>
<p>when I looked at my letter after she has sent it, there was no mention of the scheduling conflict</p>
<p>but in all honesty I don't think a college will care that you didn't take EVERY SINGLE AP OFFERED! I think GC recs go more to show the type of school you came from</p>