Counselor hasn’t submitted materials

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different deadlines.

Also realize that LORs are getting done during evenings and weekends; teachers receive no break from their over-scheduled days to complete these letters, and many of us have 40-50 to write.

Counselors are meeting with and submitting materials for hundreds of students.

The work is getting done.

Most schools require teacher recommendation requests to be made last April and May so these aren’t last minute requests. Counselors should offer hours in August so they can get a head start. Our school didn’t start the counselor process until midSeptember which is crazy. My sympathy is limited given it is a known part of the job.

Some high schools do. Most do not. And many high school students request recs in Sept/Oct.

That said, the school has at least until the deadline. For most colleges, that's a soft deadline, in which case, no need to do anything until after the deadline.

If the college in question is one of the few with a hard deadline, remind the teacher/counselor gently the day before the deadline, or talk to the counselor - at some high schools with a dedicated college counselor, that counselor will chase down teacher recs.

How do you know if the college has a hard deadline for these letters? Upthread someone said Michigan is one. How can you learn of the others?

The college will post a deadline for other documents. Check admission websites. Michigan is the only one I'm aware of, though perhaps there are some other publics with a hard deadline.

Thank you for answering - very helpful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This question comes up every fall, multiple times each fall. I wish high school counselors, in their college application instructions, would make clear what the procedure is at that high school, e.g., "don't worry, they will be submitted by the deadline," or "if it hasn't been submitted, contact counselor the day before the deadline," or something.

Yes, agree. And considering these are teenagers there can not be enough communication about all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This question comes up every fall, multiple times each fall. I wish high school counselors, in their college application instructions, would make clear what the procedure is at that high school, e.g., "don't worry, they will be submitted by the deadline," or "if it hasn't been submitted, contact counselor the day before the deadline," or something.

I’m surprised yours doesn’t. Ours published a list of deadlines for students to take certain actions in order to guarantee transcripts and recommendations by certain dates. So if you want transcripts and recommendations by November 1, you had to complete all of the activities by October 11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This question comes up every fall, multiple times each fall. I wish high school counselors, in their college application instructions, would make clear what the procedure is at that high school, e.g., "don't worry, they will be submitted by the deadline," or "if it hasn't been submitted, contact counselor the day before the deadline," or something.

I wish counselors would book an appointment w each kid who wants one and just submit in those 15 minutes.

There are kids at our school who miss out on things EVERY YEAR because something falls through the cracks.

The answer is always, "trust!". but .. I would verify

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different deadlines.

Also realize that LORs are getting done during evenings and weekends; teachers receive no break from their over-scheduled days to complete these letters, and many of us have 40-50 to write.

Counselors are meeting with and submitting materials for hundreds of students.

The work is getting done.

Most schools require teacher recommendation requests to be made last April and May so these aren’t last minute requests. Counselors should offer hours in August so they can get a head start. Our school didn’t start the counselor process until midSeptember which is crazy. My sympathy is limited given it is a known part of the job.

I’m going to correct this for you. No, recommendation letters are not part of my job. They are mentioned nowhere in my very detailed contract, not even by vague reference. I am fully within my rights to refuse every single request. I don’t do that because I have respect for my students and I want to help them achieve their goals.

And yes, perhaps requests are supposed to be made in May. I get many in September because students miss deadlines. And even if they are requested in May, I am literally not at work from June-August; I’m between contracts and unpaid. So you are telling me that I should write letters when I’m essentially not employed by the school.

We expect teachers to stretch to the limits for their students, working an absurd number of unpaid hours. And perhaps you have limited sympathy. Trust me, we know. And yet somehow we continue to give, give, give, give to ungrateful people because that expectation is, as you say, “a known part of our job.”

Sending all teachers genuine gratitude for taking on the college LOR job for it is such a significant one. There is obviously a problem with the overall process though. If it is not part of a teacher's employment contract, yet it is an annual demand on their time than the problem becomes between the school systems and their teachers. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

But it is also unfair to the students who are directly told by their counselors to ask teachers for recommendations. The student is only doing what they are told and need to do yet they are getting caught in the middle of this issue. It isn't the students' fault. And if teachers agree to write a LOR and tell the student they will (and again, genuine gratitude given to those teachers that do), then those teachers should fulfill their promise in a timely matter which is really tough given how many other demands they have on their time.

[Anonymous]

My kid at a nova public school has amazing teachers and counselors. Teachers wrote and submitted recs a week or a day before the deadline. They were asked in March but they are busy with their day jobs and families! In addition to writing 40 recs each, they also take time to help kids with essays. Selfless and so encouraging. Love them. Kids counselor is also great, but will say he made us all nervous by submitting at 5pm on the day of the deadline. Did it though! I’d say that you can ask your kid to check in with the teacher on Monday. But very very politely. Like: “I know you are so busy and I’m sure you’re aware, but I just wanted to touch base to remind you of the materials deadline on Tuesday. If you need anything at all from me, please let me know.” And then follow-up with a big thank you after they submit.

[Anonymous]

If the transcripts don't arrive in time, the schools may switch their ED/EA app to RD. My child has even less of a shot of their reach with RD. But it will all work out in the end, they will get in somewhere, they will love it there, I keep telling myself. Thank you for posting though OP and it's not just me who is watching the clock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different deadlines.

Also realize that LORs are getting done during evenings and weekends; teachers receive no break from their over-scheduled days to complete these letters, and many of us have 40-50 to write.

Counselors are meeting with and submitting materials for hundreds of students.

The work is getting done.

Most schools require teacher recommendation requests to be made last April and May so these aren’t last minute requests. Counselors should offer hours in August so they can get a head start. Our school didn’t start the counselor process until midSeptember which is crazy. My sympathy is limited given it is a known part of the job.

I’m going to correct this for you. No, recommendation letters are not part of my job. They are mentioned nowhere in my very detailed contract, not even by vague reference. I am fully within my rights to refuse every single request. I don’t do that because I have respect for my students and I want to help them achieve their goals.

And yes, perhaps requests are supposed to be made in May. I get many in September because students miss deadlines. And even if they are requested in May, I am literally not at work from June-August; I’m between contracts and unpaid. So you are telling me that I should write letters when I’m essentially not employed by the school.

We expect teachers to stretch to the limits for their students, working an absurd number of unpaid hours. And perhaps you have limited sympathy. Trust me, we know. And yet somehow we continue to give, give, give, give to ungrateful people because that expectation is, as you say, “a known part of our job.”

Sending all teachers genuine gratitude for taking on the college LOR job for it is such a significant one. There is obviously a problem with the overall process though. If it is not part of a teacher's employment contract, yet it is an annual demand on their time than the problem becomes between the school systems and their teachers. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

But it is also unfair to the students who are directly told by their counselors to ask teachers for recommendations. The student is only doing what they are told and need to do yet they are getting caught in the middle of this issue. It isn't the students' fault. And if teachers agree to write a LOR and tell the student they will (and again, genuine gratitude given to those teachers that do), then those teachers should fulfill their promise in a timely matter which is really tough given how many other demands they have on their time.

They aren’t due to colleges until 11/1, and we usually get a bit of a grace period. To us, “timely manner” means “before the due date.”

If you are thinking it should be 2 or 3 weeks after a student asks, then that needs to be communicated to us, as well.

I usually get all my requests around AP exam season, a point when I’m drowning more than usual. I’m not in the frame of mind to devote 50 additional off-duty hours to these letters at this point, to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS's teacher (only one of them) has still not gotten his in, and my son made the request 4 months ago and has been following up. It's maddening and I have little to no sympathy about this. It's part of the job.

Read my post above.

And, because now I’m frustrated… I wrote 47. Each one took me about an hour and I completed them over two weeks this summer, without pay.

The teachers who haven’t gotten them done STILL HAVE TIME. They are not late. Those letters, however, are sitting on top of about 60 other hours a week of obligations. Teachers are absurdly busy.

I want this job less and less with every passing day.

NP and I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!! I know you don’t hear it enough. I can’t imagine how frustrating and demoralizing it must be to give so much of your time and emotional energy only to receive such disrespect and ingratitude on this forum. DD’s teachers have been wonderful and supportive. Many of us on here are grateful for your commitment to your students, despite the entitled and ignorant PP. The stress we’re all feeling right now is no excuse for that nasty attitude.

THANK YOU! I can’t put into words how much I appreciate this.

I do grow tired of this forum’s expectation that teachers should be working around the clock because that’s “part of our job.” The PP’s suggestion that teachers should practice the time management we preach really got under my skin. When I am responsible for 60-65 hours of exhausting work a week PLUS I have all the responsibilities of a parent myself, I don’t know where else I can pull energy to make that parent happy. And that’s the problem: I never will unless I just work more and give up more.

So I can’t tell you how much I appreciate a kind word on this forum. Thank you!

Following up on expressing gratitude: What is the most appreciated thank you you’ve received from a student? DD wrote her teachers emails after they submitted and plans to follow up after the Nov 1 deadline with home baked cookies in a nice tin with a handwritten note. Would that be appreciated? I know some people give gift cards but I’m not sure that’s even allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS's teacher (only one of them) has still not gotten his in, and my son made the request 4 months ago and has been following up. It's maddening and I have little to no sympathy about this. It's part of the job.

Read my post above.

And, because now I’m frustrated… I wrote 47. Each one took me about an hour and I completed them over two weeks this summer, without pay.

The teachers who haven’t gotten them done STILL HAVE TIME. They are not late. Those letters, however, are sitting on top of about 60 other hours a week of obligations. Teachers are absurdly busy.

I want this job less and less with every passing day.

NP and I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!! I know you don’t hear it enough. I can’t imagine how frustrating and demoralizing it must be to give so much of your time and emotional energy only to receive such disrespect and ingratitude on this forum. DD’s teachers have been wonderful and supportive. Many of us on here are grateful for your commitment to your students, despite the entitled and ignorant PP. The stress we’re all feeling right now is no excuse for that nasty attitude.

THANK YOU! I can’t put into words how much I appreciate this.

I do grow tired of this forum’s expectation that teachers should be working around the clock because that’s “part of our job.” The PP’s suggestion that teachers should practice the time management we preach really got under my skin. When I am responsible for 60-65 hours of exhausting work a week PLUS I have all the responsibilities of a parent myself, I don’t know where else I can pull energy to make that parent happy. And that’s the problem: I never will unless I just work more and give up more.

So I can’t tell you how much I appreciate a kind word on this forum. Thank you!

Following up on expressing gratitude: What is the most appreciated thank you you’ve received from a student? DD wrote her teachers emails after they submitted and plans to follow up after the Nov 1 deadline with home baked cookies in a nice tin with a handwritten note. Would that be appreciated? I know some people give gift cards but I’m not sure that’s even allowed.

That would be amazing and most appreciated

[Anonymous]

They were asked in March

This was our experience. Student asked in the Spring. Had their list of rolling schools. Needed LOR and transcripts. All school personnel dragged their feet on everything until Late Fall/Winter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This question comes up every fall, multiple times each fall. I wish high school counselors, in their college application instructions, would make clear what the procedure is at that high school, e.g., "don't worry, they will be submitted by the deadline," or "if it hasn't been submitted, contact counselor the day before the deadline," or something.

I’m surprised yours doesn’t. Ours published a list of deadlines for students to take certain actions in order to guarantee transcripts and recommendations by certain dates. So if you want transcripts and recommendations by November 1, you had to complete all of the activities by October 11.

What I was trying to suggest was not that the student should take certain actions by certain dates - yes, they should include that too - but that they could tell families to chill, that the teacher and counselor recs will be in by the deadline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the transcripts don't arrive in time, the schools may switch their ED/EA app to RD. My child has even less of a shot of their reach with RD. But it will all work out in the end, they will get in somewhere, they will love it there, I keep telling myself. Thank you for posting though OP and it's not just me who is watching the clock.

Very few schools will do this. UMich is the one everyone talks about most.

Most other colleges have an unstated grace period after the applicant's deadline. Counselors and teachers know this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different deadlines.

Also realize that LORs are getting done during evenings and weekends; teachers receive no break from their over-scheduled days to complete these letters, and many of us have 40-50 to write.

Counselors are meeting with and submitting materials for hundreds of students.

The work is getting done.

Most schools require teacher recommendation requests to be made last April and May so these aren’t last minute requests. Counselors should offer hours in August so they can get a head start. Our school didn’t start the counselor process until midSeptember which is crazy. My sympathy is limited given it is a known part of the job.

I’m going to correct this for you. No, recommendation letters are not part of my job. They are mentioned nowhere in my very detailed contract, not even by vague reference. I am fully within my rights to refuse every single request. I don’t do that because I have respect for my students and I want to help them achieve their goals.

And yes, perhaps requests are supposed to be made in May. I get many in September because students miss deadlines. And even if they are requested in May, I am literally not at work from June-August; I’m between contracts and unpaid. So you are telling me that I should write letters when I’m essentially not employed by the school.

We expect teachers to stretch to the limits for their students, working an absurd number of unpaid hours. And perhaps you have limited sympathy. Trust me, we know. And yet somehow we continue to give, give, give, give to ungrateful people because that expectation is, as you say, “a known part of our job.”

Sending all teachers genuine gratitude for taking on the college LOR job for it is such a significant one. There is obviously a problem with the overall process though. If it is not part of a teacher's employment contract, yet it is an annual demand on their time than the problem becomes between the school systems and their teachers. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

But it is also unfair to the students who are directly told by their counselors to ask teachers for recommendations. The student is only doing what they are told and need to do yet they are getting caught in the middle of this issue. It isn't the students' fault. And if teachers agree to write a LOR and tell the student they will (and again, genuine gratitude given to those teachers that do), then those teachers should fulfill their promise in a timely matter which is really tough given how many other demands they have on their time.

IF??? This tells me you haven’t been paying attention at any point in your life either as a student or parent. The fact that recommendations are written outside of contract hours has been common knowledge. It comes up during contract negotiations and strikes.

The fact that people don’t know this shows how clueless many are about the education system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are different deadlines.

Also realize that LORs are getting done during evenings and weekends; teachers receive no break from their over-scheduled days to complete these letters, and many of us have 40-50 to write.

Counselors are meeting with and submitting materials for hundreds of students.

The work is getting done.

Most schools require teacher recommendation requests to be made last April and May so these aren’t last minute requests. Counselors should offer hours in August so they can get a head start. Our school didn’t start the counselor process until midSeptember which is crazy. My sympathy is limited given it is a known part of the job.

I’m going to correct this for you. No, recommendation letters are not part of my job. They are mentioned nowhere in my very detailed contract, not even by vague reference. I am fully within my rights to refuse every single request. I don’t do that because I have respect for my students and I want to help them achieve their goals.

And yes, perhaps requests are supposed to be made in May. I get many in September because students miss deadlines. And even if they are requested in May, I am literally not at work from June-August; I’m between contracts and unpaid. So you are telling me that I should write letters when I’m essentially not employed by the school.

We expect teachers to stretch to the limits for their students, working an absurd number of unpaid hours. And perhaps you have limited sympathy. Trust me, we know. And yet somehow we continue to give, give, give, give to ungrateful people because that expectation is, as you say, “a known part of our job.”

Sending all teachers genuine gratitude for taking on the college LOR job for it is such a significant one. There is obviously a problem with the overall process though. If it is not part of a teacher's employment contract, yet it is an annual demand on their time than the problem becomes between the school systems and their teachers. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

But it is also unfair to the students who are directly told by their counselors to ask teachers for recommendations. The student is only doing what they are told and need to do yet they are getting caught in the middle of this issue. It isn't the students' fault. And if teachers agree to write a LOR and tell the student they will (and again, genuine gratitude given to those teachers that do), then those teachers should fulfill their promise in a timely matter which is really tough given how many other demands they have on their time.

IF??? This tells me you haven’t been paying attention at any point in your life either as a student or parent. The fact that recommendations are written outside of contract hours has been common knowledge. It comes up during contract negotiations and strikes.

The fact that people don’t know this shows how clueless many are about the education system.

But what the PP was saying is that it is unfair that the students are placed in the middle of such issues.