<p>Don't think the poster meant it that way, Raven. They recieved the glowing recommendation about engaging the counselor from the BIL. In hiring outside counselor, that is an important factor. It is so difficult to find a good college counselor--like finding a good psychologist, attorney, tutor, and word of mouth from someone in the field is essential unless you plain luck out. </p>
<p>You are pretty much stuck with the school counselor, since he is usually the point contact person with the colleges and his rec carries alot of weight as he is in position to compare all of the students in the school whereas the teachers who are recommending are selected by the students. It behooves you to have a good relationship with this person and make his job as easy as possible by providing the information that you want transmitted in the rec to him instead of relying on what he gathers about your student. He is also valuable in assessing chances in many of the state and local schools where kids from that highschool have tended to go, and some might even have a couple of schools where they have an "in" of sorts (the admcom is a former roommate, a friend, they worked together, etc) It is valuable to have that information as it can be helpful if your student is interested in any of those venues. It is also possible in many schools that the GCs simply have too many kids and issues to be able to adequately address each kid's college rec and placement. In any case, it is important for the student and family to be informed and active in the process, because,ultimately even with the most involved counselor that is where the buck stops. With you.</p>