LOA/Appointment

[Pima]

Pima, I completely understand that GCs have a TON to do, especially at my son's school, which is very high-performing. I feel for those guidance counselors so I don't mind at all having it take several months to get it done. What I do mind is when I, as the parent, have to intervene in something my child is trying desperately to get done on his own. He couldn't even get a simple response saying "working on it" or anything. And this has been pretty normal throughout his entire high school career (they keep the same GC from start to finish). But I get it, they have a lot on their plates, for sure. I also don't understand these kids who apply to so many schools! My son is doing 4, including 2 SAs and 2 public universities. I think the common app helps the issue of so many applications, though, even if my son couldn't use it.

Not disagreeing with you at all. Nor was I trying to attack.
I was basically saying in my opinion we, as parents have created the problem.
I don't get the apply to 8,9 or 10+ schools, but than again I am not paying the 55-75 bucks a pop for the school to review their application. I am cheap. Our kids were limited to 5 on our dime, if they wanted to apply to more, than it was on their dime...amazing how quickly their school list dropped when it was on their dime!
That being said, I have friends and family that would pay the money just to say my kid got into a 4 yr school. JMPO, it was more about their pride than anything else.
My point was and still is, when you have kids that are doing this the GC is overwhelmed. Or it can also be that in your area still has tenure. Many districts have gotten rid of that for performance base reviews.

Like I said, I get your frustration, but sometimes the squeaky wheel gets oiled faster. I don't believe it is candy, I believe it is Momma/Daddy bear barreling down on their desk with the get it done in the next 24 hrs or I will be sitting here tomorrow waiting to talk to the Principal. If that doesn't get done I will tell the Principal I will be using my vacation days to sit at the local district office and explain that their my 3rd try just to get a transcript sent. Pretty sure the GC will get it done.

Just saying, the GC will probably at 1st say, I have 250 students requiring me to send out 1500+ transcripts, and each one takes 30 mins.. Why? Because, we as parents let our kids take 6+ SATs, and 6 ACTs, plus apply to 8 colleges. Want to solve the problem look at your classmates parents too.

 

[Bracken]

Fencer, you know I love you, but it really is different in the public school system versus the home school system.

I had to be like jrwork. I let ALL of my kids do the work, but like jrwork there were times that Mom had to be the big bad bear protecting her cub and step in. My kids were pre-warned by me, as I watched the clock count down. They knew I would stomp in, and if the GC turned to me and said they never came in, they knew there would be Hades to pay when they came home that day. My kids never paid Hades. I was also smart to always pay the transcripts in a check, thus, I knew that the school indeed had the request in hand.

Not to divert the subject, but my DD is a school teacher. I worked in the educational system. In defense of these GCs, we, as parents created the problem. Think about it. We demand more from them while we refuse to give more support (money or employees)
~As parents back in our days, we took the SAT or ACT, 2x at max. There was no superscoring or students taking it 8 + times. Very few took both the SAT and ACT. Everytime a student takes a new SAT/ACT, they have to update that file. That is a lot of work for the dept., especially since the new scores roll in right around the same time the srs are asking to send out transcripts.
~Many parents are probably @ the same age as me. In our day we did not apply to 10 colleges. It was just too expensive. Now with college app, 8,9, 10 or more is common. Some are on college app, some are not, like an SA or private. That means their dept may be inundated with transcript requests. Don't even get me started on why these kids now apply to every college, spending $$$ for each application.

Just saying.

I love fencersmother too. And if I'm ever in PA, I'm going to invite her to lunch.