<p>A lot of people I know have guidance counselors who aren't very helpful. But for those of you who do, what did you do to get to know him/her? In other words, how did you befriend someone who is decades+ older than you?</p>
<p>Unfortunately I think it might just have to do with what school you go to and who your guidance counselor is. Some schools have too few GCs for too many kids so they just can’t put much effort into individuals and they are more concerned with graduating kids from high school than sending them to college.</p>
<p>Probably try asking for advice on college (even if you know the answer, since you actually might have some better insight if you are on CC), thanking them, and appreciating what they do.</p>
<p>Thanks, Notanengineer! My class isn’t too big, but I just don’t want to annoy him too much by going to his office. I’ll try asking him questions. Do you think it’s better to do it in person or over email (since it’s the summer). I feel like once school starts he’ll be pretty busy, but then he always claims to be busy so he might not even respond to my emails lol. </p>
<p>Are counselors usually supposed to “highly recommend” everyone? I mean, their job is to get the highest percent yield rate for top colleges, right? So wouldn’t it look better for the counselor if the student got in? Or does it work another way?</p>
<p>If a counselor highly recommends everyone ,then his letters will have little value . On my D’s letters to give to teachers , there is a place to check "one of the best I’ ve ever had " . He or she must use this category ,but sparingly !</p>
<p>One night and a bottle of Jack ;)</p>
<p>I dont know. It started with my grades. After I got the highest PSAT score in the school while being a freshmen, and near 100% grades (97.58% and 99.85% for both semester) she started liking me. So that means I have a friend going on to my Sophomore year. Woohoo lol.</p>
<p>My guidance counselor is usually extremely busy, and I have little chances of meeting her, however, she favorites me out of all her other students, and put a VIP access for me, where she finishes my problems before others. </p>
<p>Such a life.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I second this option.</p>
<p>I’ve managed to make a great ally out of my GC, and I think a lot of it was not being afraid to talk to him about my goals and plans. My advice would be to show them that you care about school and succeeding, and they’ll be more than glad to help you. Our common interest in folk music certainly didn’t hurt, either.</p>
<p>Honestly, if you’re really smart or top of your class, or make yourself known by something like that, your guidance counselor will like you</p>
<p>Schedule a meeting. At my school we have a required junior year meeting. Although I had stopped in his office a couple times for scheduling conflicts, he really got to meet me and my mom at the meeting and he helped me pick out summer programs to apply to. Just go by and introduce yourself or set up a short meeting. Since your GC is so important to your acceptances at colleges, it’s a good idea for them to get to at least know you.</p>
<p>I worked in his office lolz.</p>
<p>I had a study hall during the last period of the day, so I went down to bother mine daily. After a while she started to like me lol.</p>
<p>Have Asperger’s Syndrome.</p>
<p>They’ll sympathize with you. It works. :p</p>
<p>==</p>
<p>That being said, having clinical depression/social anxiety might also work</p>
<p>I know both are very important, but which carries more weight: counselor or teacher recs?</p>
<p>Teacher recs tend to carry more weight because they usually know you better, and colleges understand that. I got to know my counselor because she was the sponsor of one of the clubs at my school, which I got involved in freshman year. But, the little things count too. Say hi to him in the hallway and introduce yourself to him. Tell your GC your goals for the future, and most importantly do well in school. All these things help you stand out.</p>
<p>I played a gig at my GCs church and it went really well. Good rec guaranteed</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Definitely teacher recs. But if either says you’re a standout student, it can only help you.</p>
<p>Uh, I got my counselor (and most of the teachers) to notice me just by merit of my last name (2 older siblings, both extremely smart. High expectations of me much?). After my counselor took more notice of me, I always have made sure to ask how her sons and extended family are doing. Even without any name recognition, that’s how my friends have gotten to know their counselors. To an extent, though, it just depends on your counselor’s personality.</p>
<p>If you care about them, they’ll care more about you.</p>