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At some high schools, the guidance counselors are so overworked or incompetent that parents end up hiring private counselors to assist with the college application process. I've heard good reports about the results some of them help students achieve, but I was wondering about how admissions committees view the recommendations they write, since the private counselors were paid to write the recommendations. I just can't imagine a paid counselor writing anything but a glowing recommendation.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 04:02 pm: Edit

Private college counselors don't - indeed can't - actually write the school report recommendations - the school counselor still has to do that. Private counselors only help with advice in terms of choosing schools, putting together applications, writing essays, etc. You still need to get a recommendation from your school counselor and teachers.

By Nceph (Nceph) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 04:59 pm: Edit

Thanks. That's all I had thought they could do, but I was talking to someone who had hired a private counselor, and she was telling me what a great recommendation that counselor had written. Perhaps the private counselor is writing something that they'll present to the overworked high school counselor for signature and it will appear to have come from the h.s. counselor. I suppose that's not really improper, if the h.s. counselor is knowingly endorsing the contents of the recommendation. Buying a good recommendation just seems a bit mercenary to me.

By Ohio_Mom (Ohio_Mom) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 05:04 pm: Edit

I would also be concerned when the admissions folk at the college chat up the HS GC. Things could get a bit sticky at that point. The truth will out.