I had a call with a friend’s daughter yesterday. The daughter goes to a school in India that does not have a college couselor and does not send many kids abroad for college. She is trying to fill out her applications on her own and doing everything on her own. She doesn’t know how to go about getting a counselor recommendation letter: who to ask at the school, what they need to include in the letter, etc.
How do other international students fulfill the requirement of a counselor recommendation letter? My understanding is that the letter is suppose to explain the classes taken by the student in terms of rigour, explain the grading system at the school, etc. Is that correct?
Any insight you can provide would be very helpful!
Ok - thanks for that. I found the local site for EducationUSA and they have a free advising session when you go for the first time (and a reasonable membership model for additional help.) I have told her to head over there ASAP for the answers she needs.
FYI, in many larger HS in the US the caseload is so large for the guidance counselors that they are no longer submitting LOR. It is better if the student has a teacher, mentor, coach, etc. who is well acquainted with her and they can sit down together and discuss her goals, accomplishments, characteristics, grades, interests etc. The person can then write a more intimate, well informed letter that would show the colleges what an asset the student would be.
How wonderful that you are able to help her!