How do guidance counselors write recommendations?

My current guidance counselor just came last year, so I barely know her. She’s also pretty scary to talk to. I’ve noticed that most of the colleges require guidance counselor recommendations. How would my guidance counselor write me a recommendation if she just came last year and barely knows me? I’m really scared right now.

At most schools, you can give your guidance counselor a “brag sheet” where you give your counselor basically a list of things you are involved in, some anecdotal evidence about you, skills/qualities you want them to stress, etc.

My daughters go to a very large (2200 students +) school and I was concerned about the same thing. There are only 4 academic counselors writing recommendations for all 576 graduating seniors! The counselors don’t know my kids at all. Apparently, each student gets a short interview and the recommendation is sent out in a standard format. If you took AP’s in a variety of subjects, then the statement will be “took the hardest courses in a variety of subjects”, and if not, then perhaps “in science and math” etc. They will fill in any leadership positions, such as club positions or student government. It is all on a standard template. Your teacher recommendations are where it becomes more personal. I have heard of private schools with counselors that write personalized letters, but not large public high schools, even the top ones.

Colleges know this is a reality for many kids and you won’t be penalized for it. Youre fine

Colleges don’t expect your guidance counselor to know you on a personal level. They expect your counselor to write about things like grades, academic integrity, if you took the hardest classes available, personal issues/ irregularities if applicable etc. As mentioned above the teacher rec is much more personal and much more effective than the counselor rec.
I know in my school (a large public) our counselors required us to submit brag sheets so they could write personal letters. However most public schools do not do this and colleges don’t need it either so no need to be scared.

In addition to the very valid points that were posted above, colleges recognize that in many/most cases, the GC will not know the student well. Here is what MIT says on the subject:

http://mitadmissions.org/apply/prepare/writingrecs

That’s good news. So colleges pay much more attention to the teacher recommendations than to the guidance counselor recommendation?

Should I ask the college and careers counselor or the IB guidance counselor for a recommendation?

Talk to them both & ask their opinions unless one definitely knows you better.