Concern about GC recommendation-please advise

sybbie719
Sun, 29 Aug 2010 08:39:33 +0000

Spoke to GC who recommends local honors program at community college. GC recommendation is appropriate.



I do not understand why your son is so taken aback by the recommendation especially when you just stated that it is an appropriate one. Going to community college is not a fate worse than death.

Some students need to attend community college because they need to put some distance between themselves and high school.

Some students attend community college because it is the most affordable options.

Some students attend community college because they have guarantee transfer/articulation agreements with 4 year schools.

Some honors programs at community colleges will guarantee him a seat in the Honors Program at the 4 year school. Is there merit/scholarship $ attached to the Honors program? Some programs will give free tuition (which is not a bad thing ITE), some give book stipends, priority registration and other perks.

Sounds like the honors program will give him smaller class sizes and more access to professors which is never a bad thing when it comes to transferring and could be very beneficial to your son starting out in college.

If I have a student that is SEEK/CD/EOPor HEOP eligible, I always recommend that they apply to the College discovery program at CUNY because you can only get into these programs as a first time incoming freshman and you are more likely to get into the program at the community college level. Once you are in, the money follows you wherever you go. So if the student is admitted to a 4 year program with out SEEK/EOP or HEOP and Community College with College Discovery, I tell them to take the community college and follow the money.

The questions that needs to be asked or reseached are: If my son does well and maintain the required GPA in the community college Honors Program, will he be able to transfer to the Honors Program at state flagship school? What are the benefits of attending the Honors Program at Community College.

Also we need to remind our kids that there are multiple roads that will take you to the same destination.



Usually, the GC writes one recommendation per kid, because he’s so overwhelmed with all the other things he has to do from testing to non-stop meetings (the GC and I are good friends at our HS so I know).



Don’t paint all GCs with the same broad strokes just because your friend only writes one letter (i know teachers who are not worth a plugged nickel but I am not disparaging them).

I can also tell you first hand that it is not true and I know a lot of GCs. Depending on what the students needs many guidance counselors will write a base letter (covering GPA/ Rank/ ECs ) then individualize the letter for each school often adding something pertinent to that school (book award, selection to visitation program, sumemr program at the school, etc).