<p>I was given a sheet today to fill out about myself so the guidance counselor can write a good recommendation. She already thinks I’m really smart, but doesn’t know much about me.</p>
<p>I know it’s up to the guidance counselor to write the thing. But maybe I could fill it out in such a way that I help myself a little bit. Anyone done one of these before? Did you fill it out as normal or do something with it?</p>
<p>Sure tigerton, the gc’s cheat sheet is important. Answer her questions and then add anything you think would help learn more about you. </p>
<p>Why don’t you stop in and visit her once in awhile so she knows you a bit better?</p>
<p>I am answering her questions on a separate piece of paper so I can write out more stuff. I am giving little comments about each EC, for example.</p>
<p>If you think you need more room, or want to make it neater, I’d copy the questions onto a word doc and answer the questions in a slightly different color (navy blue?) to make it stand out. Attach it to the original document and write ‘See Attached’ on the front. Another option is to fill out the form and then attach a resume if you have one. My son’s GC doesn’t ask for a form, however he will give her a resume. He’s one of 750. Even if you are a top student you can’t expect the GC to know what you’ve done, esp. out of school activities.</p>
<p>Here’s what top schools are looking for. Maybe take this info and fashion your answers to your GC to maximize its effect?</p>
<p>[MIT</a> Admissions | Info For Schools & Counselors: Writing Evaluations](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/writing_evaluations/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/writing_evaluations/index.shtml)</p>
<p>Answer fully and cohesively. ie, if you’re very into any one activity/type of activity (cross country, building Habitat houses, writing, whatever) make that evident. Your answers should work to build a composite picture.</p>
<p>Also, I’d make sure to sit and talk with your GC. Maybe ask to set up a meeting when you drop off your form–she can have some questions/clarifications prepared, and it gives you a chance to put a face to the form.</p>
<p>I was glad to see some suggestions regarding “helping” the GC get to know my son. While my son’s class is smaller than blueiguana’s son class, it nonetheless is quite large. I have a hard time with admissions which place weight on the GC’s rec, when the GC has so little reason to interact with my son.</p>
<p>I may be wrong here, but I think that most colleges are aware that GCs at large schools have a lot of work to do and a lot of students to deal with - they most likely understand that most counselors won’t know the applicant very well at all. However, what the counselor can do is to provide information about the high school (competitiveness, curriculum, etc.) and context about the student in relation to his/her peers. Of course, it would be nice to get to know your counselor more personally, but I would say don’t stress TOO much about it.</p>
<p>These cheat sheets are required at both of the large public high schools in our area. There is no other way the GC could advocate for you without it, since they are unlikely to know you personally unless you’ve had issues or problems that they’s been involved in. Make sure your GC knows your academic goals and professional objectives, if you know them, as well as your strengths and any challenges you have overcome. Our GCs often use examples and verbiage directly from your sheet in their recommendations, so your job is to make it easy for them to help you.</p>
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<p>you are wrong here and you place your self at a great disadvantage if this is indeed your mindset. The form is being requested to help your counselor help you.</p>
<p>M’s mom is correct it is the one way that the GC can put “your story” and who you are outside of the classroom and advocate for you. I think that I know the majority of my case load pretty well, but in addition to filling out a form, I do not write recommendations until we sit down and have a one on one talk after the form is done (I write very very detailed and comprehensive recommendations).</p>
<p>^My apologies. It’s just that my school (a large public) doesn’t offer such forms and I have very little interaction with my GC. Can someone give me some details regarding the information on this ‘cheat sheet’? It seems like it would be good to make one up for my GC since the school doesn’t provide them. </p>
<p>What my school does provide are teacher evaluation forms, basically a simple sheet filled out by a teacher to help the counselor write you a rec. I always thought that these would be enough, but I am re-thinking my mindset now.</p>
<p>Think of it like a resume. Even if your GC knows you, it is difficult to remember everything–or even several things that might indicate a strong interest. Also be sure to include things that you do outside of school.</p>
<p>I would like to add that many guidance counselors (no matter how invested in you they seem) cut and paste what you write about yourself and put in on the guidance counselor forms. Actually spend time on this form if you want your counselor recs to sound good. The counselors just don’t have the time to get to know everyone and to write everything on their own.</p>
<p>Just make sure that you really spell things out on the resume/cheat sheet. Try not to use acronyms that might be unclear to counselors or admissions personnel. If you have won an award, mention how many others were recognized at that level or how many were in competition for it.</p>
<p>Make your own cheat sheet:</p>
<p>1) What achievements are you most proud of? (Academic, EC and personal)
2) What, if any, challenges have you overcome? (Academic and personal)
3) What are your academic goals in collage, to the extent that you know them?
4) What are your long term educational and professional goals, the the extent that you know them?
5) What 3 adjectives would your friends use to describe you and why would they pick those?
6) Give an example of something you failed or did poorly at, and how you addressed it. What did you learn from that experience?
7) If you could do high school over again, is there something you would do differently this time?</p>