<p>Our counselor does not send a specific form for parents to use/fill out. However, she does welcome any input that parents would like to add about their dc that she might not know to help her in crafting her letter of recommendation. I am kind of having a hard time getting starting on this just open-ended. I know that somewhere on these forums I have seen folks post the parent questionnaires that some schools have used. But, I can't figure out how to effectively search for the samples. </p>
<p>Anyone have one they have recently seen or filled out? I just think knowing what some other counselors want to know might help me get going! I'm very glad ds's GC wants and welcomes input - just not sure what to say!</p>
<p>It’s your lucky day! I spent many hours today cleaning out ds2’s room now that he’s left for college, and I ran across this very thing – the parent brag sheet.</p>
<p>Hmmmm. I was going to type them here, but that might be identifying so I’ll PM you.</p>
<p>This was the parent questionnaire I got (there was also a student questionnaire </p>
<p>1) What do you consider to be the primary accomplishments of your child during his/her high school career? Why?
2) In what areas has your child shown the most growth and development during high school?
3) Describe your childs significant personality traits. What adjectives would you use to describe your child and why?<br>
4) Are there any unusual or personal circumstances which have affected your childs development, education, or college preparation?<br>
5) Is there anything else you would like me to know about your child?</p>
<p>D1 had a friend that did a questionnaire as a senior - most kids did not fill them out, D gave a resume to the GC. Well the girl filled it out way too honestly and did not get into some places that seemed safeties. She got a copy of the GC recommendation that included the rather personal info that was not appropriate for him to use. If it were me, I would fill out any questionnaire in a very positive manner, leave anything negative out.</p>
<p>I just went and found our form online. Below are the list of questions. In general we were pretty careful how we filled out this form. We figured it was important to present a consistent picture of our kid across the application, and we wanted the GC rec to be in synch with the rest of the application. By that I mean using adjectives, anecdotes, and descriptions that matched what our kid was trying to convey in her essays and activity order/descriptions. Obviously you can’t control teacher and GC recs, but if they ask for input (as one teacher also did), you might as well try to steer them as best you can in the same direction you and your kid are rowing! </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Have you had other children go through the college admission process? If so, how did the family and student respond to the process? </p></li>
<li><p>What do you see as your role in your child’s college search? </p></li>
<li><p>How well does your son/daughter meet deadlines? </p></li>
<li><p>What words or phrases first come to mind when you describe your son/daughter? </p></li>
<li><p>What are some of the outstanding accomplishments your son or daughter has achieved during the past three years? </p></li>
<li><p>Describe the areas in which you witnessed the most growth in your son/daughter? </p></li>
<li><p>Have there been any unusual circumstances affecting your child’s education or personal development? </p></li>
<li><p>Please write a brief anecdote that describes your child’s character. </p></li>
<li><p>Have you or your child considered alternatives other than college after graduation? If yes, please describe these plans. </p></li>
<li><p>If the college search has been a topic of discussion in your family, what issues, concerns, or goals have been raised? Do you and your child agree on these matters? </p></li>
<li><p>Do you expect to apply for need-based financial aid (other than merit-based scholarships)? </p></li>
<li><p>COLLEGE CHARACTERISTICS – Please indicate the size of the student body you think best for your child. </p></li>
<li><p>What type of academic environment seems best suited for your child? </p></li>
<li><p>What type of environment do you feel is best suited for your child? </p></li>
<li><p>As you think about a good college match for your child, are there certain departments that should be strong? </p></li>
<li><p>What specific extracurricular offerings (e.g. dance, crew, nordic skiing, orchestra, etc.) should be available? </p></li>
<li><p>Are there any factors that you consider to be important for your child? </p></li>
<li><p>Responding “off the top of your head,” what colleges appeal to you at this time for your son/daugher? </p></li>
<li><p>This space is provided for any additional comments.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Regarding putting negative info in, I did, but was pretty careful with it. If I mentioned something that might be perceived as negative by the colleges but I wanted the GC to know, I specifically said that we did not intend to reveal that in her college apps. Although our GC is fairly savvy… but you never know, I guess.</p>
<p>Wow! Great responses!! Thank you so much! This gives me much to work with!</p>
<p>@limewine - I am a parent - I was looking for resources to get me started. </p>
<p>Our GC IS savvy and amazing!! And, I am thankful she accepts parent input. She must just think I am smarter than I am because I needed something a bit more focused to get started. You all have provided MUCH fodder for that.</p>
<p>OP I would use this as an opportunity to tell the GC some information that he/she would not necessarily know. In other words, you don’t need to mention that Sam is the football captain (GC most likely knows that already…), but you can write about Sam’s helping some neighborhood kids learn to play the game. The GC will know that Sally sang the lead in 2 school musicals but might not know that she was cut from the cast freshman year, but picked herself up and tried out again until she made it. I would mention significant activities (job, community volunteer, scouts, leadership positions at your place of worship, etc) that are outside of school.</p>
<p>Just aside, I dislike the term “brag sheet”. This is not meant for parents to brag, but to help the GC get to know the students a little better. In many schools the GC’s have hundred’s of students assigned to them. My friend who is a GC says that these are a great help.</p>
<p>Our questionnaire was similar to intparent’s. I agree with FallGirl, it’s a good way to flesh out your kid. One thing I put in for younger son was the fact that he’d had a 504 plan in middle school that allowed access to a keyboard and extra time, but because he hated being singled out he chose to drop it in high school. I felt that some of his lower grades might have been higher if he’d had more time on some tests.</p>
<p>I also reminded the GC of the older one that my son had been forced to take a regular physics course freshman instead of honors because of scheduling issues. It probably cost him a place or two in rank.</p>
<p>OP here. Given that our GC didn’t provide a questionnaire but welcomed and wanted input, I had to sort of decide on my own what to do. Initially, I had a mish-mash letter to her that seemed pretty unorganized. I started over and decided to choose five character/personality traits that I felt best described my son and then backed each of them up with a couple of examples. I did try to choose things that she would not otherwise have insight into. Once I decided on a format that worked for me, it came together pretty easily, and I do think she appreciated having it.</p>
<p>Readers of this thread may want to consider that depending on the counselor, some may be a little lazy. Some may actually “lift” language, phrases verbatim. Know that when writing. I agree on focusing on the positive. Write well and brag to the extent that you believe the counselor will accept.</p>
<p>We gave a brag sheet with DS responses to the GC and as part of the LOR packet. It included words to describe, etc. since so many of the teachers gave DS a copy of their letters, I was glad that we used the sheet. So much was taken verbatim from the sheet and all used the “good words”.</p>
<p>Treat these questionnaires as an opportunity to guide your GS’s recommendation in the direction you need. Ask yourself, what are the hidden facets of your daughter’s HS education that you need illuminated? </p>
<p>We come from a mid sized, lower end public and in our experience you shouldn’t assume your GC will have any knowledge of what is best for your child’s specific situation. I would say this is particularly true if your student is not the “average” kid in your school.</p>
<p>Figure out what you want them to say, then focus your responses to elicit what you want from the GC.</p>