<p>DS just started his Common Application and when he got to the Guidance Councelor section he went to his HS website to look up the contact information. He found that his GC was not there anymore and no new one had been listed. </p>
<p>I recommended he wait until the school opens at the end of August and then go by to meet the new GC. I was thinking that he should write out some kind of Academic Resume to give the new GC since she/he won't know DS at all. Would this be a good idea? Any other suggestions? DS is not concerned, but I am thinking it is not great to have a recommendation from a GC who doesn't know anything about the student.</p>
<p>At my children’s schools, the parents were instructed to write a letter - actually answer 5 prompts - detailing the wonderfulness that described their offspring. It was a good idea because the GC’s were spread thin. In fact, my D’s GC left before her recs were written. I am almost certain the sub GC used our letter verbatim.
Why don’t you make her life easier and suggest this. It is not an uncommon practice.
Also, I would bet that the new GC will be in school before opening day. Call the school secretary, verify and make an early appointment.</p>
<p>Yes sorry I wasn’t clear on dates-- Aug 22 the school office opens and GC should be there. Classes start Aug 29 so I will have DS go by on the 22nd or 23. No one is there to make appointments now so I will try to get DS to go early in the day in case there is a line</p>
<p>It happens. I had a different guidance counselor every year from ninth grade until I graduated. The first time I met the one that was writing my recommendation was when I was in to ask for a recommendation (Each counselor at my school had ~350 students to deal with, so you hardly ever met with them unless you were falling behind or they were worried you would bomb the place.). I think the schools see a lot of students applying in this situation, and, in that case, just weight the teacher recommendations a little more.</p>
<p>At most large public schools this really isn’t a big problem. The old GC will have left files behind with all the relevant information. Our GCs always had a meeting early in the fall with parents and students to gather as much helpful information as possible. We also had brag letters requested by the GC. The GC also gets two letters from teachers (not necessarily the same ones that write the final college recommendations). </p>
<p>My older son got a new GC sophomore year. I was not only impressed with how smooth the process was, we also liked the new GC so much more than the former one!</p>
<p>My Daughter’s wonderful GC whom she had known from 9th grade was out on Maternity Leave from September through December of her senior year. They had a substitute (retired GC) in her place. It worked out fine - the GC did the recommendation letters before September and the sub was fine during the entire application process.</p>
<p>Our HS deliberately transferred all seniors to a single GC who handled all college applications. A very bad idea, IMHO. I saw her rec after the fact, and it was pathetic. She completely failed to mention the very significant state-level awards he won junior year, and other solid things that genuinely separated him from his peers. He got in to schools in spite of her, not because of her. She’s gone and someone who is much better is there now, so maybe it is working out better than it did.</p>
<p>My kids did the letter/resume even though they all had a wonderful GC who went above and beyond. That way, they could highlight their out-of-school ECs and give her ideas for “spin” in her recommendation (and sometimes language she could borrow). </p>
<p>They also gave copies to each of the teachers writing recommendations. The sheet included things like long-term goals, majors under consideration etc.</p>
<p>Even if your guidance department is not in, I would call the school. Often, the first day back, teachers and staff may have meetings and other obligations, and might not have time to meet with students. If there is really nobody at the school, I would contact the board of education, and ask them what the schedule is likely to be.</p>
<p>My daughter is in the same boat - we devoted 3 years to making sure her GC knew who she was, and she ended up retiring. If that wasn’t bad enough, she was invited to apply to several fall diversity weekends - emails were sent over the summer and applications due this week and next. We know who the new GC will be, but he isn’t due in until Aug 22 (school starts Sept 4). We called the Board of Ed to see about getting unofficial transcripts, we knew there had to be a way! Turns out the Guidance Chair returned early, in exchange for half days until school starts. She was able to print unofficial transcripts for us.</p>
<p>Even though the new GC is not listed on the school website, the BOE should know who it is, and may be able to give you an email address. That would at least allow you to send a message before school starts, and ask for a callback to set up an appointment - rather than waiting in line with students with a variety of issues, such as schedule changes.</p>
<p>If the head of your guidance department is familiar with your son, that may be an option too. You want someone who will do more than regurgitate what the adcom can already read on the transcript and the rest of the application.</p>
<p>Hahaha … my son’s guidance counselor of four years saw him maybe 3 times. She didn’t know him from the next guy, and she was the head of the counseling department. It wouldn’t have mattered for him if he got a new counselor at the last minute.</p>
<p>Not helpful to the OP, but just saying … many, many kids have guidance counselors who don’t know them.</p>
<p>My daughter’s senior year she made her GC a binder with a deadlines page for revs and transcripts, a resume, list of teachers writing on her behalf, and address labels for each university. She still followed up with her GC before the deadlines past to make sure everything was sent timely but I know her GC appreciated her for making the job easy.</p>
<p>Our local HS asked parents/student to fill out a form with the following questions:</p>
<p>Student:
Write about a significant event/experience in your life. What impact did it have?
Choose three adjectives that best describe you. Thy did you choose these three?
Please discuss your personal and academic strengths.
Who are your heroes? Why?
If you had a motto to live by what would it be?
Describe a book or movie that had affected you. Why is it significant to you?
Describe your greatest HS achievement.
Which HS courses have you enjoyed most? Why?
Please take this opportunity to share any other important information you feel would be helpful for your counselor to know.</p>
<p>Parents:
Please list adjectives that best describe your child. Why did you choose these?
What valuable learning experiences have contributed to your child’s development?
What non-financial circumstances will affect your child’s college choice?
Please feel free to attach additional information.( I wrote a few pages about D and also attached her NHS application which detailed her leadership and service activities).</p>
<p>You/your child could do something similar on your own.</p>
<p>FWIW, D was assigned to a new counselor at the beginning of her junior year. I liked the new one much more than the first one!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the helpful suggestions and comments. I feel much better-- I think DS was correct (as is often the case) and I shouldn’t be stressing out about it. It sounds like many are in a similar situation and it will all work out fine. As long as DS stays on top of things wrt deadlines, etc the new GC should be able to do his/her part.</p>
<p>I will still encourage DS to meet with the new GC and give them some basic information-- thanks for all suggestions on what to include. ALso he can give them the list of deadlines early and make sure to check back. I found out the office secretary will be in next week so I can call and check on new GC name and schedule</p>
<p>He wasn’t really close to the old GC but she had gone along on a 4 day retreat my son went to so I felt she would have at least known who he was and could add some personal comments. But I’m sure this will be fine</p>
<p>Thanks-- I will be happy when apps are done-- then I can move on to the next set of worries</p>
<p>I still have a hard time believing that most colleges really put all that much stock in GC letters, because they have to know that the vast majority of kids are stuck with GC’s who don’t know them from a hole in the wall, and who are writing very generic, fill in the blank types of letters. THe whole thing is a charade as far as I am concerned.</p>
<p>Frankly I think the GC reccommendation is more of a form thing than other recs…mostly to verify transcript for colleges and to check that important box that says you took the most rigorous course offered. I’m not sure many big school GCs can speak to specifics. In light of transcripts though, I would make a point to be sure new one knows if there are, for instance, reasons students didn’t take certain course. If new, might not realized that a certain course wasn’t offered to freshmen two years ago, or science sequence changes which affected course selection…these were things that came up during our HS year. I also think the GC would be the one to explain any issues like illnesses or home problems</p>
<p>Whoever is in charge of the guidance department is most likely an administrator and therefore a 12 month employee. Whenever I had a policy question or the counselors were off, I simply called or emailed the guidance chair. I would not hesitate to call whatever administrator is in charge of guidance and express the concerns and ask the questions you have posed here.</p>