<p>Posting here because parents always give the best advice!
So basically, I'm sending out my apps and getting my recs together. The two teachers I asked let me see them-one was AWESOME, the other was decent. I'm okay with sending those off. But my guidance counselor's rec is giving me serious anxiety.
He's done with it, but won't let me see it; I know this isn't uncommon, but it's freaking me out. I've never really been sure if he likes me or not, and I have no idea what he'd write. Logically, I know it's probably nothing bad; still, part of me feels like he despises me and said that I was the spawn of Satan.
It's seriously stressing me out; a bad rec could decimate my chances at my schools. What can I do? Has anyone faced a similar situation?</p>
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<p>Spawn of Satan? You’ll get in for sure; you’re destined for a career on Wall Street! ;)</p>
<p>Seriously, why stress out? Most guidance counselors never get the chance to really get to know most of their students. A generic letter from your GC won’t help you, but it probably won’t hurt you, either, since such letters are likely to be quite common. Your teachers are the ones who would know you best and their recommendations are the most important; the GC is able to add detail in some cases on school EC involvement, but is supplemental.</p>
<p>Most kids don’t get to see any letters of recommendation (most schools don’t have teachers show the kids) - consider yourself lucky that you have seen one and think it is awesome. Also, it is in the GC best interest to write fairly about the students (after all they are the ones who want to show off about their students’ acceptances).</p>
<p>dessie—Just b-r-e-a-t-h-e! You can’t control everything. I’m sure your guidance counselor will write something reasonable. Every time you have a thought that he hates you, etc remind yourself that you are one of hundreds of students he has had over the years…he is unlikely to torpedo you or anyone else, etc.</p>
<p>I think most GCs write out the same bland statement with minor details changed. I wouldn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Guidance Counselors want their students to go to college. If they can’t get kids into college it makes them and the school look bad. It is in their interest to be as positive as they can.</p>
<p>I think bopper is right, GC’s will write the best possible letter they can. If you are at a fairly large school colleges won’t expect the GC recommendation to say much beyond where your grades and course difficulty put you in the general scheme of things. If you’ve done anything noteworthy (lead in the school play, constant suspensions for fighting) they might make a note of it. </p>
<p>BTW if you are happy with your college results take time to send your GC a thank-you note. My younger son, who did not really know the GC, but she seemed nice and well-meaning when we met her, sent her a very nice letter saying he was sure her letter must have put her over the top at the schools where he got accepted as he did much better in admissions results than he had dared to dream he would. She called him up at home practically in tears she was so touched by his letter. Apparently no one ever thinks to thank the GC.</p>