<p>Hi CC, I'm a junior in high school and I'm not really sure how important a school counselor is? </p>
<p>Here's the story:</p>
<p>He had a great first impression of me when I stopped him the hallway and asked for a recommendation to summer camp. </p>
<p>When I pre-emptively asked to switch my courses (I thought it would be less of an inconvenience to change my courses before they had been scheduled, guess I was wrong about that), he got really ****ed off, and I in turn was very confused (which might have been interpreted as entitlement or something, I don't know..) and kept asking if I -absolutely- had to take the course I was intending to drop (I knew it was possible to drop, so his outright refusal was really weird.) Recently, he got irritated again when I asked if it was possible to audit some courses during my free block. (I really didn't see the harm in asking, but it was a bit impulsive in hindsight).</p>
<p>I always behave courteously, smile, and wave when possible (just like I do to everyone else). I don't know how to handle this situation. Whereas teachers generally love my initiative and eagerness, he seems to get annoyed every time I step outside of the "norm". This is a bit of an issue because my applications will center around how I chose to take an unconventional route during HS. My grades are impeccable, my teachers all like me- I just can't seem to get my head around this counselor. I'm afraid he'll ruin my applications. What do I do?</p>
<p>BTW- he's very conservative, I'm very liberal.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I would be surprised if your counselor has enough leisure to “hate” you. You may have annoyed him, but I am sure he’s far too busy for that. I usually think Dr. Phil is kind of a dope, but he speaks the truth when he says, “We’d worry less what other people thought about us if we realized how little time they spend doing it.”</p></li>
<li><p>You’re going to need to deal with him. The next time you do, simply say, “Something’s been bothering me. I’m afraid that when I came to talk to you about dropping [class], I came across as kind of pushy or entitled. I just want to say that if I did, I’m very sorry.”</p></li>
<li><p>I don’t think you need to “align [your] interests.” I just think you need to clear the air so that you can transact the business you need to transact.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>A good recommendation can help you, a bad recommendation can hurt you, and an indifferent recommendation from a counselor who doesn’t know you well won’t make any difference at all.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a strong relationship with your counselor (and, at many large schools, that can be near impossible), just make sure you have strong teacher recommendations. The admissions officers understand that not everyone attends a high school with a graduating class of 25 students where the guidance counselor knows each student personally.</p>
<p>He senses that you’re a professional student who knows the ropes. More than likely he would rather spend his time with students who need and value his help for more than just a recommendation.</p>