@labegg, can you let the principal know too? Maybe cc the principal on that “friendly” email. Principal may truly have no idea what’s going on in counselor-land.
@labegg, here is what I’d do. I’d send an email to the GC, copy the GC’s boss, and say something like, “I’m sorry to be “that mom” but forgive me for this while we come to the finish line for D’s apps. I just want to make sure that we are all on board for the college app process. D tells me she met with you today, and that the process is …xyz. It’s my understanding that D has done x,y, and z. Is there anything else you need D to do? If so, I’ll make sure she gets that done. We are anxious to make sure all of the apps get in as soon as possible. If there is nothing more for D to do, do you know when can we expect the apps to be complete from the school’s side? I know you are busy, so I appreciate your help with this very much.” She can save face this way, but also I would think she’d figure out she needs to address this. I understand your frustration!!
Those of you who have filled out profiles at Raise.Me should check them ASAP and add anything you need to add before Oct. 1, which is the first cutoff deadline for awarding microscholarships. (Not all schools stop awarding on Oct. 1, but some do.)
In addition, look for extra scholarships from several schools that go significantly beyond what your student may have already earned in microscholarships.
S has this message from Georgetown College (in KY), and several more that are essentially similar, but from different schools and for different amounts. I’m still not sure if Raise.me gets you anything you wouldn’t have gotten by applying normally, but I’ve found it both interesting and helpful to get a pre-read on merit at so many of these schools.
@labegg
I respectfully disagree with @suzy100
There is no saving face when you copy GC boss. That passive aggressive strategy surely will not gain possible reaction from GC specially if she is truely doing her/his best. I suggest meeting/approaching the GC on a personal way. You both are trying to do the right thing thus no need to inject negative Or hurtful feelings when the future of your kid it’s on the line. GC can be a great advocate thus nurture the relationship.
@DiotimaDM Thank you. Hadn’t heard of Raise.Me before. RIT and NEU both participate.
@bearcatfan and @labegg
DS is still waiting on GC recommendations as well. Everything else is complete at several of the schools/programs except for that. He put a cover letter along with any forms in a bright colored file folder with his name on it and gave it to her when he met with her. She was very friendly and said she would take care of it. It has been a month and I am going to suggest that he follow up with a friendly “what is the status…” reminder by email first. His favorite teacher, who is wonderful, has also not submitted her teacher recs yet. I know they are busy but it is making this control freak mom a little crazy. We are on 11/1 deadlines for those to get in.
@SnowflakeDogMom I’d love to hear about the UAH visit.
Thank you all for your input. I am going to have to mull things over. We are not down to the panic line yet.
@labegg For what it’s worth, some of the smaller schools DD applied to (that use the personal touch) have told both of us if anything is missing from her application they will let her know. Keep in mind most of these are schools no one here has probably heard of. 
Where it says “counselor form” that is a form printed off that was given to the GC with a SASE on September 6. The common app counselor info was automatically sent on September 1.
for the common app:
- one portal says the only thing missing is her transcript, but they did download it from Parchment with a message that it could take six weeks (!!) to link to her account. No mention of counselor information on the checklist.
- a second portal says everything is checked off. No mention of counselor info on the checklist.
- a third school doesn’t have a portal, but confusingly wanted a counselor form printed off their website and sent to them. I asked specifically about the counselor form, and they said it is encouraged but not required in order to make an admissions decision beginning Oct 1. She is well above the stats here, so I don’t know if it would make a difference.
Individual apps:
- three schools did not require a counselor form, and she has already been accepted there
- one school wanted a counselor form printed off and sent in. The admissions officer said he will contact us if something is missing. This same school does not mention a counselor form on its portal checklist, which says everything is in.
I guess I posted that as much for me as you. I’m not sure how long I’m going to wait, either. I keep making a note to myself to call her, and for some reason haven’t done it yet. Maybe I will wait until the first school day in October. It makes me nervous that this is her first year as an upper classmen GC (she was a middle school counselor before that) but she does seem to know what she is doing in other guidance areas.
PSA to guidance counselors: Just do it. Please. Then we will leave you alone for a while. 8-}
@bearcatfan yes, about half of DD’s schools don’t require anything from GC! I love schools that are simple and straight forward and give a quick decision (rolling). The practical, efficiency loving control freak in me appreciates that type of process. Luckily her top 4 choices are those types of schools. They are all done and awaiting review/decisions. But the next batch of schools are Common App schools that need the reports…
In case anyone else is interested here are some Early Action deadlines that are creeping up fast:
Auburn - Oct 15
USouthC - Oct 15
Fordham - Nov 1
Florida State - Nov 1
Trinity U - Nov 1
U of Florida - Nov 1 (regular decision)
U of Washington -Nov 15 (regular decision)
@Volunteerism, you’re probably right. The “saving face” part was more in relation to the tone of the note being “I wanna make sure my D isn’t screwing this up” versus “Hey, GC, get off your arse.” 
But remember the history here…labegg’s D16 had similar issues with this same GC, and in the end GC flat out didn’t complete her part for one of D16’s schools. It sounds like labegg has tried the personal approach and it didn’t work. What other options does she have, other than going over GC’s head to make sure the work gets done this time?
Interesting side note:
Yesterday D finally got the letter from Rice with an app fee waiver. The letter was dated Sept 6. It seems mail communication is still lagging significantly out of the Houston area. Hopefully everything is running smoothly again soon for our TX friends. (And our FL friends!)
@ShrimpBurrito and @suzy100
I suggest approaching the GC on a 1-on-1 basis (without the student) and convey to the GC the reasonable and valid concerns as a parent and offer the GC the parents full support to find mutually a way to address each concern. State that parent understand the challenging workload (many students, many colleges, etc) of the GC and that you as parent are more than willing to assist the GC in anyway possible to help alleviate some of the pressure in hopes to timely meet the various college applications deadlines. Offer to meet with the GC on a regular basis in further show of concern and support. Firmly ask what GC suggest we as parent and GC can do as a team to meet the challenge.
Resist the temptation to mention any possible kind of scalation (going over GC head) as all involved understand that is always an option…one that no one wants SO DONT EVEN MENTION IT.
Be firm but show compassion and a willingness to hear the GC and show tenancy to address the challenges
@Volunteerism I see what you are getting at and see why approaching the GC 1on1 might be a good approach, but we have already tried to gentle “I know you are swamped”, “What can we do to help approach”, " Gee this is probably our fault for doing things so early (taking blame)" approach. This GC has avoided requests to meet in person on a couple of occasions. I actually did garner a face to face, once, when GC insisted that DD2016 did not need to take AP Calculus AB or a 4th year of math (as that was the only course left for DD to take) and did not want to change DD’s schedule. Unfortunately, I am going to have to disagree, in that I don’t feel that GC is acting in my kid’s best interest. She has left us to navigate the application process on our own in some instances and flat out said she knows nothing about the coalition application and that if that was the app that DD was going to use we would “just have to figure it out on your own because ‘we’, (the school district) have not worked with that application platform.” As if DD choose to use that application, just to be difficult…it is the only one her top pick school U of Washington, accepts.
I think, in this instance, any further steps that we will take, will definitely need to involve DD. After all this is her future and she needs to learn how to handle these types of situations for herself. At this point, DD is feeling waaaay out of her element and does not have any idea how to handle the situation. She is feeling very overwhelmed by the power/control that GC is holding in this situation and is afraid to speak up for herself or rock the boat. So, as much as the situation frustrates me and I would like to just handle it, DD needs to be present to learn to navigate this situation. I did like @S18D20mom idea of having DD hand GC a colored folder with the deadlines and any paper copies of reports she might need, I might just put that together this week.
DD has decided to hold out until October 1. If nothing is completed by then, particularly the U of SC application which is due Oct 15, she has asked that we make an appointment to meet with GC, together (but Dad is not allowed to come…we don’t like to play “the Dad card” unless we absolutely need too, he is not the most pleasant to deal with when he is frustrated). As I have said UofSC is on the bottom of DD’s list. At this point so I not overly concerned about it getting done and am thinking about just using it as a test case, to see if it gets done.
DD2016 has repeatedly encouraged us to insist on a change in GC. She was probably right, we should have requested a change.
DD was just accepted at Auburn! One of her top 3. ( Ok, now maybe I can get off the GC’s back )
@labegg
Congrats to your DD and family on her acceptance. Exciting times ahead.
Good news! Daughters transcript got updated. She is number one (she is in a very tight race). And GC sent transcripts to all her common app schools so her applications should now be complete! Her GC also completed and submitted her national merit application! A huge sigh of relief! Happy dance!
Congrats on Auburn @labegg! <:-P
And congrats on getting everything submitted @shelleee! :D/ I’m not jealous or anything…
Yay @shelleee, congrats! #1! Done!