<p>If the GC is going to be the one writing your child's recommendation, then for better or worse, a transparent relationship is in order. You need to know what s/he's going to write about your kid and to make sure his/her information is accurate and complete. Some schools have a formal process that includes checklists and resumes. If not, make up your own. Basically, what ever your feelings are you and your kid need this person, so try to keep your relationship positive. </p>
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Just to make it more difficult, school system doesn't rank, but I'll inquire if they 'signal'...
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This is really critical. At my son's school, and I think this is quite common among schools that don't rank, the GC indicated the student's decile. You need to know how they actually signal. If your child is borderline, like my son, it's helpful to find out if they're willing to fudge a bit.</p>
<p>There is a wide, wide range of involvement between the GC's office and the Adcoms. Some are attached at the hip to the extent that the GC operates as a "broker" for his/her charges. This can be wonderful if your kid is in the inner circle, or disastrous if s/he's not among the chosen few. To the other extreme, some GCs have absolutely no relationship with any colleges (or at least the ones that matter to your kid). Again, you can't do much to change this situation, but it helps to know how much influence the GC can and will wield on your child's account.</p>
<p>Lastly, since I'm already grossly oversimplifying here :), GCs seem to fall into two general categories -- the overly optimistic "don't worry, he's a shoe-in at MIT" to the gloom and doomers "Has she considered a vocational school?". Listen, but don't rely entirely on either one. Nobody's guaranteed admission at any superselective. You know that, right? And on the other hand, the Aim Low philosophy is, I think, sometimes just the GC covering his/her behind. You know your child. Aim High (but love thy safety).</p>
<p>And more than lastly, I was greatly amused by Zagat's comment "Then you can tell them how to correct the school profile." My son's school put out a glossy pamphlet that was riddled with typos and poor grammar and they didn't take warmly to having it pointed out.</p>