Fill this counselor packet and the school-process list. Teacher ask and brag sheet are sibling Resources. How to pick the team lives in how to choose recommenders.
What does a school counselor recommendation add?
Where a college requires or accepts it, the counselor recommendation can connect the student's academic trajectory and responsibilities with the school context. It serves a different purpose from the other documents below. The packet supplies accurate inputs; it does not prescribe what the counselor must write.
| Document | What it contributes |
|---|---|
| Transcript | The student's courses and recorded academic results. |
| School profile | School-wide curriculum, grading, and opportunity context. |
| Teacher letter | Firsthand classroom evidence of learning and contribution. |
| Counselor recommendation | Relevant student and school context, responsibilities, and trajectory. |
Common App's writing guide for counselors and teachers distinguishes the counselor's school perspective from the teacher's classroom observations. Its first-year application guide also explains that counselors submit the School Report and transcripts. Sources reviewed October 7, 2026. Check each college's requirements and your school's request procedure; these documents are not interchangeable.
In the packet, identify a responsibility, constraint, or change with dates and factual details you are comfortable sharing. Ask what the school already has, which form it uses, and its internal deadline. Leave interpretation and authorship to the counselor. Then complete the fields below and verify the school's submission process.
Counselor packet (hand this over)
- Context the counselor may not see (course limits, caregiving, moves, disruptions):
- Responsibilities and community role:
- Constraints (schedule, work hours, family):
- College list + first deadline:
School-process checklist
- Internal counselor deadline:
- Request platform / form:
Teacher ask: How to Ask a Teacher for a Letter of Recommendation. For help, work with an Ivy Ready expert.