Should I Switch Counselors?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

My counselor when I go to talk to her consistently sounds annoyed when I say I want to apply to selective schools out-of-state because it would be more work for her. She always ask me why I have to do more than other students (this was in response to me telling her I was applying to multiple summer programs in advance so that I wouldn’t be surprising her)

During our meeting today, she started to push me going to UT and I was so disappointed that she didn’t want to help me apply to certain schools. When I mentioned Questbridge, she sarcastically said ‘Oh, great’. I’ve known her for 3 years and she still barely knows who I am even though I’ve made the effort to communicate with her. I don’t really trust her either because many Seniors have told me about how often she forgets to send essential application requirements. A 2 year Texas all-state French Horn player couldn’t audition for University of Michigan because she didn’t send his transcript at all. She already doesn’t know me well, so switching counselor’s wouldn’t affect my reccomendation. I’m so worried a similar thing will happen to me and I plan on applying to 10+ schools if Questbridge doesn’t happen (For financial reasons).

Many of my teachers instantly know why I’m having issues with my counselor as soon as I mention her name. She has a reputation at our school as being unhelpful, forgetful, and misinformed.

2

Yes, change counsellors.
There is absolutely nothing you stand to lose. If someone is attempting to limit you, you have to get the heck out.
What could she offer to you at this point? So, change counsellors. I did the same exact thing, but my school is smaller and I’m never there so I get away with ignorance- but I somehow have my favorite teacher as my guidance counselor as opposed to one who didn’t know what a subject test was.
I now see that this is from December and hopefully you have changed by now.

3

Go to the head of the Guidance Department and ask if you could change counselors (sometimes they are just assigned by last name alphabetically).
Explain the examples you have given us and that you need someone that can work with you.

All I can say is make sure now that these are reasonable choices for you.
If you have a 3.1 GPA and are applying to Harvard then you are just annoying her.
But if you have a 4.0 and have maxed out on all the classes your school provides, then she is not doing her job.

Also realize that GCs have many students to deal with…so help them help you
for example if you are applying to multiple summer programs, give your GC a summary of what programs you are appying to, what is needed from her and on what date. Make it as easy as possible for them.