Anonymous
Post 10/18/2024 08:09     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:I am on the tail end of writing eighty college recommendation letters for my senior caseload. I have students complete a detailed brag sheet that I created, and I meet with them to discuss it. This is standard protocol at my school. All counselors are required to write rec letters for seniors in addition to the two+ they request from teachers.


Many thanks to you and all the other counselors who do this every year.
Anonymous
Post 10/18/2024 08:00     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
I am on the tail end of writing eighty college recommendation letters for my senior caseload. I have students complete a detailed brag sheet that I created, and I meet with them to discuss it. This is standard protocol at my school. All counselors are required to write rec letters for seniors in addition to the two+ they request from teachers.
Anonymous
Post 10/18/2024 00:33     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.


This is what I came to write.


Why do counselors write recommendations? I thought teachers do that


Yes, both do. Their role is very important, especially when there is no class rank available. Among other things, counselors write about the students’ course rigor and overall standing in relation to the other students. In our large public, our counselor is excellent and knows my kid quite well.

I am not sure why you want to change but assume they will do for good reason.
Anonymous
Post 10/18/2024 00:26     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.


This is what I came to write.


Why do counselors write recommendations? I thought teachers do that
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2024 21:30     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.


Public school kids have their counselor write recommendations. Mine has never even met theirs. Lol


Pp here. I know, isn’t it crazy. I wish students could opt out.


This high school counselor spends A LOT of time doing her college recommendation letters to advocate for your kids. I hope my kids’ future high school counselor puts as much into it as I do.


There are some counselors that take the time to meet each student and ask questions about their info packet. Unfortunately, that isn’t the norm at DC’s school.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2024 20:37     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.


Public school kids have their counselor write recommendations. Mine has never even met theirs. Lol


Pp here. I know, isn’t it crazy. I wish students could opt out.


This high school counselor spends A LOT of time doing her college recommendation letters to advocate for your kids. I hope my kids’ future high school counselor puts as much into it as I do.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2024 19:26     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.


Public school kids have their counselor write recommendations. Mine has never even met theirs. Lol


Pp here. I know, isn’t it crazy. I wish students could opt out.
Anonymous
Post 10/17/2024 15:51     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:My son and I have had multiple issues with his counselor. Two that needed to be addressed with the VP and one of those times they personally called me to apologize as it was really bad. I was going to ask at that point but thought I would wait and see if things got better. I am not immune to the fact that counselors have a lot of students and are busy, but this one seems to hate their job and now seems very biased about my son. This will be his counselor for all 4 years and I just do not see it working. He is a strong student and has no discipline issues. Has anyone been successful with changing their teen's counselor at a MCPS high school?


Curious what school?
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2024 17:53     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.


Public school kids have their counselor write recommendations. Mine has never even met theirs. Lol
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2024 14:47     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:All it took was one forwarded email trail and a meeting with the Principal and VP. They offered the switch in the meeting without me even asking.


It took one email from me as well. I had good reason to request it, and we kept our new counselor for the next 6 year (carried down to my younger kid).
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2024 13:59     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
Anonymous wrote:I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.


This is what I came to write.
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2024 11:31     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
I recommend you request the change sooner rather than later. This is not the person you want writing college recommendations for your DC.
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2024 11:17     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
The question is really how much of it is personal to your son and how much is generally that the person isn't a great counselor. After all, they can't change up all students' assignments and wouldn't want to give others reason to make the request. But if you truly have reason to think the counselor has an unfounded bias for some reason, then the path of least resistance for administration would be to switch it up to avoid ongoing parental complaints.
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2024 09:32     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
All it took was one forwarded email trail and a meeting with the Principal and VP. They offered the switch in the meeting without me even asking.
Anonymous
Post 10/16/2024 09:08     Subject: How hard is it to request a new counselor at the high school level?
My son and I have had multiple issues with his counselor. Two that needed to be addressed with the VP and one of those times they personally called me to apologize as it was really bad. I was going to ask at that point but thought I would wait and see if things got better. I am not immune to the fact that counselors have a lot of students and are busy, but this one seems to hate their job and now seems very biased about my son. This will be his counselor for all 4 years and I just do not see it working. He is a strong student and has no discipline issues. Has anyone been successful with changing their teen's counselor at a MCPS high school?