For USC, is it required to get a letter of rec from a counselor?
On the website, it says either from a counselor or teacher is fine, but on the common app itself, it says counselor is required. https://admission.usc.edu/firstyear/prospective/checklist.html
At the school I go to, students typically only talk to their counselors a few times the whole 4 years - which is why I would prefer to get it from a teacher rather than a counselor.
Does anybody know if it’s possible to just send in teacher letters?
This can be confusing. The counselor submits the school report which will include your mid-term grades and also has place for anything notable in your file and a recommendation. Sometimes, they just do the minimum and submit the school report form, while others also include a significant recommendation with the school report. So that is why the counselor “rec” is required on the common app. If the counselor writes a sufficient app, the student doesn’t have to have a teacher rec. But in your situation, yes, a teacher will likely know you better, which btw, is the case for many many students. So have a teacher write a recommendation (you should have asked by now!) so you have one, but be sure your counselor is invited/listed to submit her report/rec as well. Send your counselor an email to verify they will be submitting mid year report to common app (they also submit final school report to the school you choose to attend). I assume you have provided counselor with list of colleges you are applying to or use Naviance at your school. Your counselor needs to know what you are up to even if he/she doesn’t know you well enough to write a personal and quality rec. Good luck!