<p>I keep hearing posters say, I had GLOWING, perfect, generic, average, recs.</p>
<p>How do you guys know so clearly what your recs are like?</p>
<p>I thought students didn't get to read them.</p>
<p>Students aren't supposed to read them (if they waived the right) but some teachers show recs to students anyway.</p>
<p>But most of the time, it's just because the student knows the teacher well (and vice versa), and asked the teacher if he/she could write a strong rec. Students usually know how much the teacher likes/knows them and whether or not they'll write a great rec .</p>
<p>You can ask the guidance counselor if the rec's are good enough or if you should solicit others. It's their job to help you field a good application. They can't reveal the content of the recommendation, but they can make very basic comments. </p>
<p>Guidance counselor told each of my children that one of their recommendations was incredible. Each got into a "reach".</p>
<p>so basically you don't have to SEE the rec, but the guidance counselor will provide their own assessment for you? that seems good, since the gc will have experience and know which recs are relatively good and bad, etc.... hmm.</p>
<p>If a teacher offers to write you a rec or is really excited when you ask them, then, odds are, they are going to write you a wonderful recommendation.</p>
<p>Some kids have great relationships with their teachers and are verbally assured by them that they will have a 'great' rec.</p>
<p>At my school, our report cards include comments written by the teachers. The ones I chose to write my recs were articulate and praised me in those comments.</p>