<p>It is not a matter of someone “allowing” the GC to assist with the college application process, the fact is that college process is not the primary job of the GC. The primary job is to handle social emotional issues of the student in school (an area where most are are qualified and knowledgeable because this is what they are trained to do). </p>
<p>The first students on line for GC services being students who are mandated for individual or group counseling. As I stated in my previous posts, at some schools there are GCs who do absolutely no college counseling, because their scheduled is filled with mandated students. In these cases, the programming and college is done by grade advisors. Principals, APs cannot provide unless licensed as a counselor cannot provide counseling services. The school psychologist does not provide mandated counseling services as they are usually the person at the school , who is doing the evaluations, testings and intake for IEPs (initial certifications and tri-annuals)</p>
<p>Even in schools where GCs do provide college counseling and advising, remember that the GC’s job is to advise and provide support. The student/family are still the ones responsible for leading the process. The GC is not paying anyone’s tuition other than their own child’s. It is still up to the family to do their due diligence as far as transportation logistics, money as to how much the family is willing to pay or borrow for college. It is not up to the counselor to make these decisions for the student. I know that there are conversations that I have with student off the bat; that they need to sit down and have the money talk with their parents, the goal of a public university is to provide an affordable option for their tax payer base and with the exception of a few schools, don’t expect much in terms of financial aid from a public school that is not in the state where you live.</p>
<p>Yes, you (and I’m sure all other adcoms) remember plenty of letters that say little more than “Sarah is a conscientious student who has participated in X and who will succeed at the college of her choice.” And yet, colleges don’t seem to ever question why they engage in this stupid charade in the first place. It doesn’t tell you a THING that you don’t already know. </p>
<p>All is does is reinforce that the kids in private high schools have GC’s who know who they are – and that the kids in most large public high schools have overworked counselors with hundreds of students who wouldn’t know the kid if they tripped over him and who are merely parrotting “Sarah is a good student …”. Well, you already know that from the kid’s school profile. So what is the point of colleges asking for this totally useless piece of information? I’ve never heard a good rationale, at all.</p>
<p>Our GC has definitely heard about the CA and the Texas CA - and I always thought they were pretty well organized until I came on CC. </p>
<p>We do most everything ourselves and manage the processes. We got sealed transcripts from the high school and the community college, letters of recommendation and sent them ourselves. We did all applications for colleges and scholarships from home without guidance, etc.</p>
<p>S and I did 95% without guidance as well, even though the 3 GCs in our HS do a very good job. (For the amount of taxes I pay, I would hope so.) About 130 students per class and there are always a good number attending top schools each year.</p>
<p>Well, I am a high school senior and Questbridge Finalist. I ranked schools for the National College Match and submitted them by the November 1st deadline. However, I just found out that my guidance counselor just submitted my schools forms today. Jeesh. They were due 13 days ago! My GC also told me that she only completed school forms for one student last year. This is strange because I go to a medium sized school of 1200+. That means there are hundreds of seniors applying to colleges each year and only ONE asked for school forms to be completed? I love my GC though. She is amazing but my school is not equipped to handle overachieving, college-bound seniors. I empathize with you all. My advice is to be your own guidance counselor ( or your child’s) and be persistent with their actual one.</p>