<p>I know a lot of schools require something to be sent to the guidance office to be filled out about rigor of schedule, but a lot of those have spaces to fill out information about the student as an individual - like "passion for learning" and all of that stuff. What happens when your guidance counselor doesn't really know you? I mean, I've been in her office once or twice to discuss course scheduling for the following year, but not much more than that. Most top kids at our school scarcely use the guidance office, which is pretty lackluster compared to other schools. Am I going to be SOL because I don't schedule visits to my guidance office to talk about the weather or will her input on things other than course rigor be minimal?</p>
<p>Don’t be naive. Teachers and counselors talk. If you’re one of the more impressive scholars at you school, the entire guidance staff, vice principal and principal know it.</p>
<p>How you describe your relationship isn’t weird. I prolly spoke to my GC once in 4 years – to tell him I was applying to a bunch of Ivies and such.</p>
<p>Hurt me none – all accepts.</p>
<p>You’ll do just fine. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Haha alright. I mean, I never really picture our guidance staff talking much with teachers…our schools a bit dysfunctional. I’m going to be a junior Marshall at graduation, im 9th in my class, play sports, national honors society, a few clubs and stuff. so maybe they do, I just wasn’t sure if not personally knowing them would matter very much</p>
<p>Etuck, I strongly suggest getting to know your counselor to the degree possible. Do stop in to talk about the weather, or better yet, about anything else school- or college-related you can think of. Admissions is a tough process, and you want as many things (and people) to be on your side as possible. Try to make a habit of stopping in to ask your counselor an intelligent question about the process (SATs, college visits, essays, etc) now and then - even if you already know the answer and actually don’t need the help. Soon you will build a relationship, and stopping in won’t seem so weird.</p>
<p>Standing out a bit in your counselor’s mind can be a helpful thing, and as I say, you want any edge possible in this process. Don’t be deterred by the fact that others in your class are not doing this; that just makes it easier for you to stand out!</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Problem is I hardly have any opportunity to “stand out”. I rarely have the time to go over there during the day, its on the complete other side of campus from where I have my classes, and most anything requires me to “set up a meeting” like I have 32346285 things I need to address at once. Not to mention, they all BOLT out of the guidance office at 2:30 when school gets out, so half of them are nowhere to be found when I have the time. I guess I should probably schedule something with her before school gets out so I can confirm I have all the required credits for all of the schools I’m applying to, even though I’m pretty sure I do.</p>
<p>Is this your first glimpse of adult life, then?</p>
<p>If you need to meet with your guidance counselor, you need to meet with your guidance counselor. If you need to make it a priority, then you need to make it a priority.</p>
<p>I acknowledge that there is a degree to which your schedule is not your own. You are constrained by the rules of your school, and the administrators who reinforce them. But if you think those of us who have finished high school don’t have outside forces mucking up our calendars and constraining our schedules, you’re kidding yourself!</p>
<p>Have you even asked your counselor, “Can I meet you Wednesday at 2:30?” It’s quite possible that these counselors who BOLT out of the building at 2:30 don’t actually bolt out of the building when they have meetings scheduled. I know I’ve met with my kids’ counselors after dismissal.</p>
<p>what if your counselor hates you? can another administrator write it?</p>
<p>Why would your guidance counselor hate you?</p>
<p>How about this idea? Put together a resume, like a list of your academic achievements, EC’s, volunteering, work experience. This type of thing is always good to have on hand anyway for jobs, internships, applications, etc. Take a copy to her and ask her to critique it. Let her keep the copy for her files if she asks. It’s a way to let her get to know who you are, and can act as a conversation starter.</p>
<p>(</p>
<p>That’s an awesome idea yoamogatos!</p>
<p>Yoamogatos does have an excellent suggestion. </p>
<p>Etuck, what you are experiencing now is the beginning of the unfortunate truth that those who hope to get into competitive schools are going to have to go above and beyond. I’m sure you have an extremely busy schedule, and that it’s hard for you to get to the counselor’s office. Try thinking of it this way: somewhere in the world, there is another student with similar stats and EC’s to yours and a similarly busy schedule. But this person is making the extra effort and sacrificing in order to meet with his/her guidance counselor during lunch, by prearranged meeting, or whenever he/she can. This other student, consequently, is going to end up with a more highly personalized and complimentary recommendation form his/her counselor. This other student’s counsellor has also grown to like the student on a personal basis, and (being human) has that little bit of extra emotional investment in that kid getting into his/her top choices, which comes in handy if an admissions officer decides to call, for example.</p>
<p>Now imagine that you are an admissions officer. Two students have similar EC’s, stats, etc. One also has a glowing and personal rec from the counselor, who clearly knows the student. Who will you admit?</p>
<p>In my experience, there are many, many obstacles to overcome in this process. Kids who ask “Do I have to do this part?” don’t end up with as many choices as kids who say “What more can I possibly do?” That goes for all aspects of this</p>
<p>Up to you which applicant you want to be. I don’t want to be harsh, but the truth is that the easier road rarely leads to the big prize.</p>