Teacher/GC Recs - Do they really matter?

<p>Both of my daughter's teachers gave her copies of their recommendation letters, and they were both full of wonderful praise. Which I greatly appreciate, but pretty much expected. After all, she asked those teachers because she knew they'd say good things. Obviously, everyone does the same thing; I'd guess it's pretty rare for colleges to see teacher recs that are anything less than fantastic, glowing reviews of the student. It makes me wonder... if they're all the same, do teacher recs really have any impact?</p>

<p>Conversely, the GC is brand new this year and knows nothing about my daughter. Even her old one barely knew her, as we have a large school and she had little occasion to meet with her. Surely many schools are the same way. So again... do adcoms really pay any attention to GC recs?</p>

<p>Yes, and they pay attention to teachers more. Colleges know you’re going to ask teachers who love you, but they want to know how the teacher thought you did in the class. Did you get an A+ but slept all day? Did you get a B but tried and came after school for help? What’s your personality in the classroom? Often, students tell teachers personal things to incorporate into their recs, or the teacher already knows. For example, your best friend could have died in your junior year resulting in a lower GPA in English class, your weak subject. Teachers can clarify this. I had a teacher and I got a C+ in her English class (AP)…she still will write me an excellent Rec because she knows my circumstances. </p>

<p>GC recs are mainly transcript based…I never saw a bad GC rec. It helps a ton if they know you, as these are the people who write why “X and Y” showed up on your transcript and anything you want them to add, really. Maybe your old GC left something, but either way don’t worry. The GCs have generic recs and/or investigate the students resume (they ask for that sometimes, especially if it’s a new student).</p>

<p>Bottom line. They do count, and they’re there to help, not hurt.</p>

<p>Every student asking for recs should ask the teacher(s) whether they can write a positive letter for you. This is always appropriate, phrased politely of course. </p>

<p>I know someone who was on the alumni scholarship committee for a well-known U and they regularly received letters of “rec” for the full-tuition scholarship that raked the kid over the coals. In the book “The Gatekeepers”,in which a NY Times reporter followed the admissions committee at Wesleyan for a year, is a real-world example of a bad rec. Obviously when the student asked for a rec she assumed it would be positive, but here is what she got:

This could have been avoided if the teacher had been asked if they would write a strong rec. The student did not get in.</p>

<p>As to the GC rec, I saved this from the US News college issue a few years back

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<p>So what if, say, my school had all 300 seniors switch from one guidance counselor to a designated senior guidance counselor for their senior year alone? Would their lack of knowledge about a student be acceptable in that case?</p>

<p>OP, yes, they pay attention- after all, it’s a letter from an adult educator. And, after you’ve read some mega number of them, it’s not hard to detect when they are genuinely enthusiastic about this kid, less endorsing than it appears on the surface or clearly writing between the lines that they wish they weren’t asked. </p>

<p>There are GC letters that are perfunctory- but just as many that try to present any particular kid in a way that does reflect who that kid is and what she offers to colleges.</p>

<p>^ If all seniors are switched- or the GC is new- the wise kids will ensure the GC knows enough about them. And, there are often records of comments or teacher surveys to consult.</p>