<p>I don't really understand how counselors can write good recommendations for everyone. It's obvious that they have a lot of kids to take care of, so they don't have a chance to get to know everyone. Do counselors just bs in their letters or what. or do they tell the truth and say they don't know the kid so well, and potentially ruin a kid's chance to go to the college of their choice?</p>
<p>I was really curious about that too. I will be waiting for replies along with ya :O</p>
<p>Well, I’m not sure how all counselors write recommendations but my counselor recommendation was real good. In my school, we give teachers or counselors what’s called a ‘brag sheet’ and we give this to each teacher/counselor we want to write a recommendation for us. It basically highlights the high points like what clubs your in, what your GPA and other score ranges are and words you would describe yourself as.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t always workout as perfect as it might seem because some might have very poor credentials and the counselor might have even less to say about him/her.</p>
<p>Whatever the case, know your counselor by all means. Even if it’s just for a couple minutes a day. I just chill in my counselors office sometimes just for the hey of it. If you know your counselor knows you he/she can’t possibly say anything bad about you.</p>
<p>This is how going to the right school can get you such a big advantage.</p>
<p>We have a brag sheet too, but it only shows the superficial stuff. They won’t know the real you as well as teachers do. And I don’t know, it’s kinda weird to just go to her office and have nothing to say but hi o.o Plus, she’s always in and out of office so it’s kinda bothersome?</p>
<p>Yea i understand what your saying. I guess our counselors are diffrent because it’s more of a …watsup/how was your day thing with me. Just try to engage with her, like with a conversation about one school over the other or financial aid…(I heard they’re big on that). lol. Something that lasts at least 3 mins, don’t forget to throw your name in there as well.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice Fasinro! 
I’ll to do what you suggested. And I’ll definitely try to tell her my name lol; yeah…she still doesn’t know who I am even though i visited her a few days ago…</p>
<p>:( just randomly going up to the counselor seems so… awkward/intimidating. They seem to be so busy all the time, and I’m afraid that I’ll bother them or something.</p>
<p>but I do want them to know my name. Gah, what do they do anyways, that makes them so busy?</p>
<p>Welcooome!</p>
<p>Gah, what do they do anyways, that makes them so busy? : For one, their dealing with tons of colleges/recs/people…lol…my counselor went to Columbia University for Undergrad and Boston University for Grad. And i ask him everytime…you went through all that…for this???..lol…he says it’s something he loves doing. Hey, who am I to judge. lol</p>
<p>I think that if you make an effort to get to know your counselor because of college decisions, they will be very receptive. Our counselors LOVE the kids that take time to meet with them early about college choices, etc. Good luck!</p>
<p>Mom2 from Ohio speaks the truth.</p>
<p>But i don’t find it awkward. It’s either just me or my counselor is really chill compared to you guyses ( i know…guyses lol )</p>
<p>Wow, you have an awesome counselor, Fasinro. My counselor’s still kind of new, she started working at my school since last year. And she’s busy all the time 'cause she has seniors, juniors, and sophomores to take care of. </p>
<p>I just don’t want them to think that we’re only trying to get close to them for recommendations. I don’t want to be a suckup.</p>
<p>Counselors generally enjoy conversations with students, but to avoid looking like a suckup it might be safer to prepare a question.</p>
<p>I think most counselors are pretty receptive to students and want to get to know them better. Maybe you can find some personal connection to them (sports, sports teams, music, hobbies, etc). I went to this camp with my counselor and now we’re on a first name basis…haha. We bonded over stories and our shared history of injuries :P</p>
<p>In 4 years of high school I had 3 counselors, each were counselor for 300+ students. They had to deal with the kids who failing all their classes, and the others who were selling drugs. They don’t have time to talk to students about nothing. There’s just a sheet we fill about about ourselves, hand it to them, and then I imagine they put what we say into a template recommendation letter.</p>
<p>Lol Fasinro. you guyses XD You’re lucky though, that she/he is cool. Mine intimidates me. But I’m not too good with people, lol
I’m trying to break my habit of saying y’all. Both offline and online. Texaaaaan y’all. </p>
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<p>Thanks you guys and gals lol! I’m not a social butterfly, but hopefully I can try to know my counselor better.</p>
<p>The way GCs write letters really depends on what school you’re at. I know some GCs at some of my friends’ schools are absolutely horrid, are really good, or don’t give a crap. Luckily the GCs at my school are nice and always willing to help students.</p>
<p>I think it’s important to just be on good terms with your GC, and you can just do that by visiting them once in a while whenever you ACTUALLY have a question/concern. It’s a time waster to just go there and be like “hi, what’s up” since GCs usually do have things to do.</p>
<p>In my school there are about 120 kids in one grade and there are two GCs, so each GC takes care of writing about 60 rec letters. The GCs at my school actually interview every senior (starting in late junior year till October of senior year) one on one for 15-20 minutes about extracurriculars they do, passions they have, goals in life, family background, and etc. so they can actually attempt to write a somewhat detailed letter.</p>
<p>At my school, the counselors have long done Junior Conferences. They start in the second semester of junior year and are done by the spring. They meet with each junior and his/her parents for about an hour. They discuss high school record, college options, and fill out a sheet about the students ECs, with what 3 adjs the student would describe him/herself, where the student wants to go, the student’s best qualities.
They also get a more detailed packet of about 3 pages in the beginning of senior year. It goes over the usual college interview questions basically. What do you want to study, why, what was your biggest challenge, what are your best qualities. The parents fill out part of it and brag about specifically why their kids are so awesome. There’s a very short recommendation part for teachers to fill out.</p>
<p>For most students, interaction with the counselors doesn’t go far beyond this. There are usually about 350 juniors to meet with and 330 seniors submitting packets, so the three counselors are pretty busy. The counselors realize that top students applying to the most competitive colleges should know them better than that though, and make themselves readily available. I can usually talk to my counselor almost on demand, while plenty of other students have to schedule appointments or wait for long periods of time in the office. I don’t go see him just to say hi, but whenever I need to go in, he doesn’t just answer my question; usually have a conversation.</p>
<p>lol!..yeah, i’m trying to break several habits for the future as well! </p>
<p>Yeah, he’s pretty cool. And as said before, counselors often want to help those who are not as ‘in good of a shape’ as the rest of the people. If your grades are high and you have a smile on your face, he most likely thinks you take of yourself pretty well. I’ll suggest you give it thought if you want to strike a conversation because the next guy behind you might have had family problems and all of sudden, your attempted convo is rendered unimportant. Sucks!</p>