Time For A Laugh: Stupid HS Guidance Counselor Quotes

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>rudysmom posts brought this one up in my mind. I think it will make for informative and humorous reading for all. I'll start off with my two favorites, which I have posted before...</p>

<p>You (my D) can't apply to Peabody! Peabody is part of Johns Hopkins and Hopkins requires 4 years of math and you only have 3! Care to guess which conservatory DD attends?</p>

<p>I just can undertand this. Joey was rejected from Juilliard with his 34 ACT and 4.5 GPA, but Sally got in with her 21 ACT and 3.0 GPA!</p>

<p>Let 'em roll...</p>

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<p>Yes, rather amusing.</p>

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<p>Expanding on my comment from <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=356603%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=356603&lt;/a> about "Friend B".</p>

<p>This kid was a foster kid. Initially self taught on the violin, he began taking lessons through the public schools in 6th or 7th grade. Foster parents had no real interest in him, academically or musically. His public school teacher provided free lessons, he auditioned for local YO and made top tier orchestra. My son's chamber coach (ex NY-Philharmonic violinist) also took an interest and began giving him free lessons. By the time he hit high school, he was damn good and getting better. Principal second violin in YO, concertmaster in HS, eventually concertmaster of YO, a couple of All-state selections.</p>

<p>We (as a family) along with another set of parents from the YO and his private teacher were his support base and mentors. We were the ones who sat down and pegged schools for him, not the high school GC. At the point he needed the apps/transcripts sent, the GC told him "he'd be lucky to get into the local community college." </p>

<p>This is a kid that nailed the three auditions he took, Hartt, UConn & Western Conn. State (a pretty good little music program, particularly ed. Eric Lewis of Manhattan SQ is the orchestra director and instrumental chair.) </p>

<p>He ended up at Hartt on full scholarship.</p>

<p>The winter of his last year in high school, he won two (it may have been three) competitions, and put $10k in his pocket.</p>

<p>We got the newspapers involved, and added about another $4k through donations. He was able to get a nice violin (further subsidized by a local luthier) for his undergrad studies.</p>

<p>I still take great pleasure in the scathing letter I wrote to the GC, copied to Board of Ed and Supt. of Schools.</p>

<p>When it comes to music, 98% of the high school GCs are to be ignored. </p>

<p>Period.</p>

4

<p>Similar story in our case. Guidance couselor said we would be putting our S's applications/acceptance at risk if he didn't take 4 years of math and foreign language. S was accepted (with merit scholarships) at four of the five conservatories/colleges of music to which he applied (Oberlin, Peabody, Manhattan and MSU College of Music) and each admissions department made it quite clear that the audition was the primary determinant of both acceptance and scholarship award.</p>

5

<p>This is a great thread. Makes me want to email it to our college counselor to read. </p>

<p>In his defense, he tried to be very accommodating, positive & even sympathetic. I received a very nice follow-up email today about how nice it was to meet us and how "responsible" it was of our S to begin his search now as a rising Jr. & how he's sure he'll do fine. This is all nice but we really felt the doom and gloom when we left our meeting on Monday. I guess I expected this nice gentleman to be a different and a little more in tune with ALL the majors & colleges that are offered. Just like violadad and the Vet school search. You are your own advocate. You have to do most of the work & research yourself. If you don't, then be prepared to accept what you get.</p>

<p>It is mind-boggling how you're on your own & do not expect the college counselor to do your work for you. I've learned a lot these past few days.</p>

6

<p>Like any other resource, the GC's are probably spread fairly thin, particularly in the public schools. They're going to concentrate on the areas that have the most overall impact, benefit the most kids. Like any profession, there are slackers, those who do the minimum, and those that are excellent in their field. The old bell curve.</p>

<p>We had the benefit of a music department that acted as mentors... all three hs music teachers (band, orchestra, vocal) were excellent and involved and would assist when asked. My d's situation was a bit different, it wasn't as easy as pre-vet or vet tech. It was a very specific companion animal care concentration, and at that point, there were only three schools (that we could identify) that had the program.</p>

<p>Now, if we were smart and sent our musicians to performing arts high schools, we wouldn't be here and would have expected more from the GC's.</p>

<p>Or we could tell em to go into business or accounting.</p>

<p>Naw.</p>

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<p>Ditto here. GC TOLD DS "don't waste your time applying to Boston University. You'll NEVER get accepted there." Woman was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. When DS got his acceptance and his generous merit aid, I copied it and asked him to hand it to the GC. He graduated from BU in May.</p>

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<p>Yes, I agree with this. But that doesn't give them the license to say things that are not correct. When my son asked "can you give me some information on schools with music performance?" The GC answered him in one word: "NO". Now wouldn't it have been a bit brighter to refer him to someone who DID have this info? She could have told him to talk to his band director, private music teacher, youth symphony conductor, etc. But she offered no advice. Then she insisted that he come to her with his "final list" so she could "approve it". A huge waste of time. He did his applications and such...presented the list to her and said "I think you can better use this time with someone else." (then she told him he was wasting his time applying to the school from which he just received his bachelors degree). His initial meeting with this GC was in October of his senior year. By that time he had completed all of his applications AND scheduled all of his auditions.</p>

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<p>I don't have any interesting quotes, but please also be aware that the HS music ed teachers may also not have a very good understanding of music school and conservatory admissions and may also not be able to provide useful assessment for an individual student.</p>

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<p>We have a very nice GC, who is very overworked. All of our schools' GCs are experts at Georgia colleges and the HOPE scholarship. Anything outside of that and you're on your own. Since none of my 3 kids had any interest in staying in GA, we used our GC very little.</p>

<p>All of my kids are pretty good students academically, so we didn't get any lectures about what courses to take. And since they applied to schools he'd never worked with, he couldn't really comment. </p>

<p>The only off-the-wall thing he did (although I'm not clear on whether it was his fault or the secretary's): We requested rec letters and transcripts for 9 different schools, but then D opted to only apply to 6. I opened one of the unused letters, and was suprised to see it addressed to Emory. I opened another, and it was also addressed to Emory. All 9 were. I was embarrassed to have to call and admit I'd opened the letters, but was glad I did! They had mailed one letter directly, because of an early deadline -- to Miami U. They fixed the rest of them, and D emailed Miami about the mistake. They assured her they wouldn't hold her responsible for the school's error.</p>

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<p>So our GC is useless in the arts and for most outside of VA. Her chorus teacher told her not to bother with performance since she could not earn a living that way. Steers all kids to music ed. Only 2 stood up to her and went for performance, both with substantial scholarships. She was shocked at where DD was accepted and the scholarships received. The career center (which is where they do a lot of the college counseling) was thrilled she got another one into Rice but had not idea why DD got in :) The only one that was helpful was her private voice teacher. And here of course.</p>

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<p>Interesting that both the GC and area music teachers warned my son not to pursue a career in music performance because of lack of employment opportunities. he has been told repeatedly -if you have to get a music degree (as if this is the worst decision in the world - implied) , get an education degree so you can get a teaching job. Only my son's private teachers encouraged him to pursue his interest/dream of a conservatory education in performance. </p>

<p>At least this brought discussions of reality in performance employment - however my son's life from 5 years on has been centered around music performance and ever since Jr High he has known he wanted a conservatory education. My son has had 10-15 private students since 9th grade and is quite a talented teacher. While his buddies have been flipping burgers for min wage - he has been making good money for years teaching privately. WE have asked our son repeatedly if he thought about other careers or music ed -and his answer always has been - "I want to perform -and performing will make me a great private teacher - so I need to go to a conservatory"
Certainly this makes no sense to a guidance counselor - but this has been the only road my son has considered. WE hope it works out!!</p>

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<p>Violadad - what a wonderful thing you did for that young man! Bravo!!!! It must have been so rewarding to see a raw talent flourish as he did! I hope he continue to stay in touch with those that touched his life as he follows his dreams!</p>

<p>My D just graduated from a private catholic school in CT and her guidance couselor admitted from day one that he was clueless about the vocal performance route and they would be learning the ropes together, lol! He was smart enough to know that talent is a huge unknown element in the admission equation to universities and never discouraged her from applying to any reach schools. We just went on our merry way without him and all was well. Now in utopia, he should have began educating himself in the music arena when she was a soph or junior, but you also have to admit that these couselors have an enormous and diverse amount of students to take care of. In her school at least, they prided themselves on all applications being in by December 1st and nothing was forgotten or "lost" in the mail as far as I know.</p>

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<p>Not necessarily the GC, but rather everyone in general, said (says), "Have a back-up plan." S2 has heard more than his fair share of burger flipping/ pizza delivery stories.</p>

<p>He is ignoring the advice. Time will tell if he was right to do so.</p>

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<p>Plus, it's not just the GC's. We're finding the lack of support and knowledge from all sides of both families. They enjoy the concerts and the bragging rights of the grandchild - "the musician," but when they're informed of his college intension's, they do not conceal their shock or surprise. In our case, the extended family has always viewed this "hobby" as an expensive indulgence. Unless you have others in the family involved in music, you're alone.</p>

<p>(Sorry, I've deviated from the original topic...)</p>

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<p>when I mentioned a smart, accomplished, fully deserving male classmate getting into Georgetown: "They needed more boys."</p>

<p>what a shrew.</p>

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<p>Ive been lurking for some time, but couldnt resist this thread. My D's GC
(at a private school, who WAS NOT spread thin) called me after my dramatic
soprano D had submitted her list. "Im VERY concerned...with her 3.5 average and low SAT's, she will NEVER get into any of these schools except Indiana,
Indiana(IU-Jacobs) thats easy to get into--all she needs is a 3.3." After that snarky phone call I just told my D to smile politely when her GC offered advice. Needless to say, she got into every school she auditioned at with the EXCEPTION of IU--(to quote my D ---worst audition EVER) But my D did enjoy slapping each
acceptance letter and merit offer on the GC's desk every other week after
March.</p>

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<p>Wow, sounds like most got the same treatment we did from the GC! It's sad but it is a comfort to know that you're not alone!!</p>

<p>Bravo to your D, musicamusica!</p>

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<p>We at least had a GC who knew his limitations and was very good about getting the paperwork done accurately and on time.</p>

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<p>Rudy'smom, I know exactly what you mean about the grandparent bragging rights, but the less than supportive stance about music schools.</p>

<p>We have gotten plenty of, "And what will he do with THAT degree?" and "College should the time to explore and be exposed to new ideas" etc. </p>

<p>Our families have eventually, begrudgingly come around, but music school is very foreign to many people. We have had well meaning friends say the same things....but as many of you know, our driven children will follow this path, no matter how much others try to dissuade them. Of course, we hope it all works out for them.</p>