Lazy Counselor

<p>I've given my counselor six months to write my recommendation. She has yet to do it, and I've applied EA.</p>

<p>The guidance department at my high school is mandated to write recommendations for all seniors applying to colleges. The senior class is split, so that all counselors are only responsible for about forty students. At the end of my junior year, my counselor sent out a memo for all of her students to complete their resumes and fill out biography forms so she could more easily write the rec. She planned to write them over the summer. When I came back to school as a senior, and was beginning to send out applications, she casually remarked that she had not yet started the recommendations because she had a busy summer. In the mean time, I compiled three teacher recommendations, a letter from my employer, and another letter from an EC advisor. I tried to get away with only sending those, and updating my applications with my counselor's letter once it was completed. </p>

<p>I asked her about it again two weeks ago, after my second round of EA applications were due. She told me that she had yet to start mine, but it "didn't matter" because adcoms "don't look at that stuff anyway." She also commented that she was moving through her list alphabetically. I'm at the beginning of her section of the alphabet. If she hasn't completed mine, she hasn't completed anyone else's either.</p>

<p>Yesterday, I received a letter from the first school I was accepted at (a local safety) who told me that my acceptance would be rescinded if my counselor's recommendation was not in their hands in two weeks.</p>

<p>This woman has had six months to write this recommendation! And she is convinced that they do not matter in the application process! If she doesn't get it done, she'll hinder my chances of being accepted anywhere. How do I make her complete it, while remaining in her good graces so it will be a positive rec?</p>

<p>I feel like showing her the letter should be effective (thank goodness it’s a safety), and having some sort of tangible request that’s specific to you-- even if it’s just a note or an email-- might help.</p>

<p>If all else fails, kids at my school have switched counselors when the one they had wasn’t working out for them.</p>

<p>Have your parents call.If that doesn’t work, go to the principal with your parents, and ask for a switch to another counselor. Make sure that you call the college and tell them about the problems you’ve had with your counselor. Do this in a way that doesn’t call the counselor “lazy,” but does demonstrate your maturity, your interest in the college, and the fact that you’ve been doing your best to complete your application.</p>

<p>Thanks so much! I’ll go see her tomorrow morning and show her the letter. If she can’t have it finished by Tuesday, I’ll go with my parents to see the principal. Really, all I’m asking for is a form letter with a specific paragraph. It shouldn’t take too long to do…</p>