Guidance Counselor Rating? WILL IT HURT?

Applying to College
1

<p>She marked my course load "very demanding" rather than "most demanding" and I've taken 10 AP courses so far.... I definitely have had one of the MOST demanding course loads. </p>

<p>Also, she marked me straight 5 %'s for academic achievement, extracurriculars, personal qualities and character... I'm president of four clubs and again with the 10 AP's.... </p>

<p>I'm applying to Brown early decision and I can't rely on my ACT (29, 30 SC) or minority status to get me in... Everything needs to help me, not hurt. Is this going to significantly hurt my chances? A counselor who clearly didn't pay attention to what she was doing?</p>

2

<p>Wow that sucks. I’ve gotten ‘Most demanding’, and I’ve taken an elective every year.</p>

3

<p>All right… That’s helpful.</p>

4

<p>Well most of us on here are high school students so how are we suppose to know? Yeah it’ll hurt you. Your ACT isn’t helping you at all either. And you say you’re president of 4 clubs? That seems suspicious…You can’t possibly be an active president in all of them.</p>

5

<p>That’s not suspicious at all. I’m a very active president in my drama club, my science club, my gay-straight alliance, and International Thespian Society troupe. It’s rather funny how you think that’s suspicious when more than half of the people on here do way more than I do. </p>

<p>I wasn’t asking for “highly” advice. I was wondering whether you thought they weigh that least from other things such as the actual letters themselves and my grades…</p>

6

<p>popcharlie93: I think this really blows, and your counselor is ridiculous, but they are just one person. How much this will hurt probably depends on what type of school you attend (is it rural and not exactly reputable-as in, nobody at Brown is ever going to have heard anything from this counselor before? or is it a big popular prep school in NYC where the counselors have interacted with top schools for years now?) Most likely, if she is doing that, she is a silly lady. And combined with the transcripts that show your 10 APs, your list of Activities that show how hard you worked, and hopefully your teacher recs and essays that show how awesome you are, you should be fine. It won’t help, but it will not kill you at all. This is just my humble opinion though. Good luck!</p>

<p>And no offense ArKhAiK, but that sounds rather ■■■■■-like my friend. At least he admits he has no idea what he is talking about. :)</p>

7

<p>Have you talked this issue over with your GC?</p>

8

<p>Everything worked out… My counselor redid it, gave me what she thought was best, which just happened to be “most demanding” and gave me way better ratings. Ha, I think she overlooked the fact that it was me. Thanks for the help!</p>

9

<p>wait, how did you see the ratings? I thought you couldn’t see the recommendations…</p>

10

<p>My guidance counselor who did the ratings/recommendation is very close with me, and she told me what she changed after she sealed it. I didn’t want her to… I even plugged my ears with my fingers, but she laughed and told me anyway. I was happy, but yeah.</p>

11

<p>Are you serious? 5% is good. You have to be reaaaaaally special to get 1%/one of the few students I’ve met in my career. </p>

<p>10 APs? That’s way more than a lot of applicants, no matter what school. </p>

<p>Recommendations are PERCEPTIONS of you. By you having that changed, it’s a false report. </p>

<p>You should be more confident in yourself and your achievements and not rely on the words of 1 person.</p>

12

<p>Update: Got accepted to Brown and PLME! :)</p>

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<p>congrats. Just provides a bit of counter-evidence to the idea that you have to have the “most-demanding” course rigor marked, which I’ve often seen on CC before.</p>

14

<p>Congrats!!!</p>

15

<p>You got into Brown PLME with a 29 ACT?</p>

<p>I don’t think this is true.</p>

16

<p>^not in any intended offense to the OP, but the minority status made up for lower ACT score.</p>

17

<p>Still, PLME is super selective. I’m happy for the OP, but shocked.</p>

18

<p>I’m quoted in their admissions article in the BDH…
They superscore, so the 31 (that I got with a third test) clearly looked better than the 29.</p>

<p>The similarities between my “chance threads” and the article are too exact to say I’m lying there, but thanks for the wonderful words. </p>

<p>Why is it so hard to believe that some schools aren’t just focused on test scores? Especially this one.</p>

19

<p>I’m not at all shocked because of test scores, because yours are pretty good. I’m just more shocked because I know kids who got into PLME over the years, and those who got deferred, and also those who got rejected. And those who got in ALL had CLEAR and SUPER EXTENSIVE medical related ECs. Not just hundreds of hours of hospital volunteering. But like hardcore med ECs. Hard. Core.</p>

20

<p>Congrats on your acceptance to Brown!!! Enjoy. Great school.</p>

<p>FYI- My non-minority, Valedictorian son, 34 ACT (all parts just under and above 34), 13 AP’s plus a college course, 4.0UWGPA was waitlisted at Brown. (No offer in the end). Minority peer at HS was accepted. Oh well. Ended up accepted a full ride to a great private school. Did well. Loved the school.</p>