<p>Alright, I'm applying to a few schools for the spring semester. Now, last time this year (in my senior year) the schools I applied to never required any kind of teacher recommendation. </p>
<p>Now, a few of the schools I'm applying to want teacher recommendations and a counselor recommendation as well. Now, since I've already graduated, I was very hesitant to go back up to the old HS and even give it a shot. I sucked up my pride and went.</p>
<p>Teachers leave this school every year. All of the teachers I knew well enough to write a rec about me are gone or left before I even graduated. This is very tough for me, because I can't fix this myself. The counselor won't do the form because "Your time is over, we're done with you." I understand I don't come before the next class, but her plain out refusal was a little tough. Her form was one of those "Check the box" ones and she was too busy painting her nails to pause. </p>
<p>I suppose I should just knock these schools right off the list if I can't get this stuff. I'm thinking of calling the school, but I really think it's going to sound much worse to the admission people.</p>
<p>No, don't throw those schools out. Your GC's refusal to write a rec is more of a reflection on her, not on you. What have you been doing since you left school? If you have been working, ask those schools if you could have your employer write your recommendation letter. Explain to those colleges your HS situation. I bet they would bend some rules for you.</p>
<p>"he counselor won't do the form because "Your time is over, we're done with you." I understand I don't come before the next class, but her plain out refusal was a little tough."</p>
<p>Talk to the principal. Your GC is wrong. I also suggest that you see if your principal will write the recc for you as I wouldn't trust that GC to write you an appropriate one.</p>
<p>S took a gap year, and had no problems getting reccs and recommendations from his former GC and teachers. </p>
<p>Unless you had been out of school for so long that there was no real record about your performance, then of course the GC and teachers should write your reccs.</p>
<p>Also find out where your former teachers are now, and do your best to contact them, provide them with info about your performance in their class (this could be copies of papers, tests, etc.), so they can write reccs for you.</p>
<p>I was a college prof, and even several years after I no longer worked at the college have written letters of recc for former students. </p>
<p>Also talk to the colleges and ask them what they'll take as substitutions. For instance, if you're working or doing volunteer work, they may take letters from employers or supervisors. The situation that you're in reflects on your GC, not you.</p>
<p>What have you been doing since you graduated from h.s.? What was your reason for not going straight to college? Often, one has the widest options for freshmen acceptance if one applies for fall admission.</p>