<p>My daughter is a very good student and never had to see her counselor much, except for the yearly 'check-up' and for submitting next year's class schedule. We didn't know until recently that the counselor is supposed to write a recommendation! </p>
<p>Here's the problem: her counselor is not very good. We have had countless problems with her. For example, she "forgot" to enter my daughter's 3rd year French class into her senior year schedule and instead took it upon herself to put her in creative writing instead...which she has already taken. She also told her there was no AP Biology offered at her school, and then halfway through the year my daughter found out that wasn't true. I could go on, but you get the picture. This last year, there were classes (like French) that she wanted and the counselor didn't know if they would be offered or not. She told us (back in Feb) to check with her the first week of May and she would make the schedule changes if the classes were available. Well, my daughter went to her the first week of May and she said "oh, too late! you can't change your schedule now". I called her and she completely changed her tune and even said my daughter could take French at another high school a few miles away. </p>
<p>So, after all the aggravation, we went to Senior year registration and my daughter's schedule wasn't fixed. I had had it and went to the Principal. We talked about all of our issues with this lady and asked to be switched to someone else. The Principal never switched us, and since then I found out about the counselor having to write the rec (ugh!). However, since then the counselor has selected D to apply for one of our state's high honors scholarships. I'm hoping that the Principal just forgot and never said anything to her.</p>
<p>I'm worried that she will give her a bad rec now. Also, I'm frustrated that counselors even have to write one. Most kids don't get to know them that well. And with my daughters, even though we've met her many times and schedule appointments when we do see her, she can NEVER remember her name. We'll walk in...after she's looked at the sign in sheet...and she'll still say "and what is your name again?". GAH! </p>
<p>I'd love to hear opinions on this and/or if anyone has seen what the counselors usually write. Is it just based on academics? That is all my D's counselor would have to go on.</p>
<p>At our school, the GC gets informal recs. from my S’s teachers and uses their anecdotes in her rec. She also provides a school profile and elaborates about his transcript. I don’t think she is expected to have a whole lot of interaction. </p>
<p>One reason why GS write a rec is b/c they have a good relationship w/ the colleges. They go to all sorts of conferences and have known them for years.</p>
<p>Your GS may not ask for this, but you can give her anecdotes yourself in case she could be inspired. We are given a parent questionaire too.</p>
<p>My daughters go to a large public school and have a new GC as their counselor. He is not just new to the school, it’s his second year on the job from college. Last year the senior GC took on the seniors because it wouldn’t have been fair but this year, she is just doing her set of the alphabet. They are also discouraged because although he is nice, he is obviously overwhelmed and sometimes they tell him things instead of the other way around. They are helping by giving him a resume, etc. but are discouraged by a few schools that say they really on want his rec, the teacher’s aren’t needed. Luckily that doesn’t happen very often, although I’m sure as counselors come and go, this is not a unique thing.</p>
<p>I believe (and I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I’m wrong) that the GC letter is a very generic “this kid took our most rigorous curriculum” kind of letter. It’s not supposed to be a personal “this kid is an asset to our school” kind of letter. It’s informative, not completely evaluative, kwim? I would be disappointed if I was in the above poster’s situation, with school’s that don’t want teacher’s evaluations however. You really do want the schools to get at least some more personal perceptions of your child.</p>
<p>At many schools, especially those where each counselor handles a large number of students and tends to get to know only the ones with problems, it is customary for students to prepare a resume or “brag sheet” that gives information about their extracurricular activities, awards, and interests. This may be followed by a meeting between the counselor and student where the counselor asks some additional questions that will help him/her to write a somewhat informative recommendation.</p>
<p>Your daughter may want to ask some students who graduated last year whether this is the custom at your school (since the mixed-up guidance counselor may not know).</p>
<p>Counselors knowledge of kids vary. Some GS have hundreds of students. Schools know this and get a certain percent of letters that are very generic. </p>
<p>^Take a look at the Common App Secondary School Report for an example of what a typical school may ask for from the GC. The most important things a college is looking for are a profile of the high school, how the applicant fits within the context of the school (GPA/rank), how rigorous the applicant’s curriculum within the context of what was available to her, whether there are any disciplinary or personal issues that need to be disclosed.</p>
<p>But the form also gives the GC a chance to “write whatever you think is important about this student, including a description of academic, extracurricular, and personal characteristics…”–any “broad-based assessment that would help [them] differentiate this student from others.” </p>
<p>So schools are looking for more than a generic GC letter. Our GCs ask for a lot of information from the kids and their parents in preparation for writing a letter…a resume, a questionnaire that asks for biggest accomplishments, stories, personality traits, etc. They get input from teachers. They don’t have to have a personal relationship with the student in order to write the letter.</p>
<p>Colleges know that some schools have overworked GCs and I’m sure take that into account. But not having a good GC who is doing everything she can do to wave your flag is a missed opportunity. </p>
<p>If your GC has recommended your D for a high honors scholarship, I would assume that she is willing to do her part in getting her into the college she wants to attend.</p>
<p>While your D may not have an extensive relationship with her GC, she has SOME as they have met a few times regarding the schedule and problems with it. Further, the GC recommended your D for a scholarship so knows something about your D. I understand the GC doesn’t know her WELL. This is common in many high schools. It so happens that my girls’ GC knew my girls extremely well and I have seen the rec he wrote (he chose to share it with the kids) and it is very personal and detailed with specifics. </p>
<p>That said, my own kids and all my advisees write a detailed letter to their GC highlighting many things about themselves and about their years of high school that they hope will solicit an effective recommendation. Any rec writer, no matter how well they know the student, will appreciate getting specific anecdotes and points about the student to assist them in writing the rec. Further, my students and own children ALSO give each rec writer an annotated activity/award resume. Even though my kids’ rec writers and GC knew them extremely well, they provided these materials to them. My older D did this again when applying to grad school and soliciting recs. The more the student can provide details, the more effective the rec ought to be. Your D ought to be providing such things for her GC, and particularly if you say she doesn’t have a personal relationship with this person. She not only will be helping the GC, but she’ll be helping herself in the end if she does this.</p>
<p>Sadly many public schools GC offices are a mess when it comes to college counseling. Bring in a brag sheet and a quick outline of things that are important that might be forgotten by an overwhelmed (being kind here) GC.</p>
<p>I agree bring in a letter/resume/list of activities and achievements. Colleges know that most counselors at big public schools have huge workloads and even with the best intentions their recommendations may be somewhat generic. That’s why it is important to get great teacher recommendations. I’d give every school two teacher recommendations in this situation even if they only ask for one.</p>
<p>One other thing - My Son’s Principal actually wrote some of the recommendations and gave a copy to his assigned counselor - it’s important to keep the counselor involved even if they don’t know the student, because if a college calls with a question its the GC that they are going to ask to speak to.</p>
<p>My son’s counselor didn’t even do the yearly check-ups … she was too busy being head counselor, I guess. Luckily, though, S’s school is very committed to getting their kids into the schools of their choice, so I am confident she will do a decent job on the rec. The kids have to put together a “brag sheet” that they turn in with their requests for recs from counselor & teachers. Because S isn’t a “joiner,” it gave him an opportunity to share his life outside of school. He wrote about his involvement with music (playing in bands, writing/recording/mixing music, etc), his love of skateboarding & snowboarding, and the fact that he enjoys reading for pleasure. Even if your D’s school doesn’t do this formally, she can give the counselor something that will help the counselor write about her from a more informed viewpoint.</p>
<p>As for asking the principal to keep your D with that counselor given the scholarship, you could send the principal an email stating that recent events have convinced you that your D should stay with this counselor - so thank you for offering to switch her, but that will not be necessary, after all.</p>