public HS counselors

[Anonymous]

My DC's counselor is dangerously ignorant.

[Anonymous]

We don’t count on DD’s guidance counselor for anything, really. His only role thus far has been to discourage DD from taking all advanced/AP courses, advice she has not taken and which he has finally stopped giving. He will write a college recommendation letter that is greatly informed by brag sheets in narrative form that both I and DD are required to submit. I think you can’t expect much more from public school guidance counselors who are responsible for 100 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our public high school, they are very good at helping kids figure out what they need to meet the diploma requirements but definitely do not propose supplemental summer work or course selection tips to improve college application

This. Nothing beyond making sure kids graduate.

Agreed

This was true of our DC public high school.

[Anonymous]

My son’s counselor had little to say about the courses he took, that was on us to determine what he needed to achieve his college admission goals. But they can be great character references for the counselor’s report in the common ap. My son got to know his counselor really well from sophomore year on, and the counselor really liked him and could speak about him personally. He probably helped him get into several of his schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, the counselors in our large public high school are good about making sure the kids have graduation requirements but beyond that it is up to families to pay attention and make good choices for their student.

It may be a deliberate omission. At the public HS where I work, counselors are no longer permitted to make course recommendations beyond making sure that students are fulfilling the graduation requirements. I believe this is an "equity" issue.