<p>Do guidance counselor recommendations have any effect in admissions to top schools? Many hardly know the students at my school.</p>
<p>Yes they usually are looked at closely. I think they will see the school data that the GC sends and if they see how many students there are they will get an idea that they don’t know you that well. You get the chance to send your teacher recs from people who know you better.</p>
<p>Lots of great kids apply from huge public high schools where the counselors are overworked and unfamiliar with individuals. Adcoms understand the role of counselors in those schools and don’t expect the same level of individuality in those school reports. </p>
<p>However, it can really be to your advantage in such a case to seek out your counselor and find a way to make your rec stand out. Provide him or her with a brief resume, set up an appointment to chat for 10 minutes and find ways to come to the attention of your GC (in a positive light, of course). Any of that can result in a better rec.</p>