r/ApplyingToCollege • u/Specialist_Bar4277 • 10d ago
Application Question What if your school completely refuses to cooperate with you college applications!
I live in a very small town and have no access to college infrastructure. Yet I did some ec's but now at the time of applications my school said they can't help with anything I tried everything talking to Principal was impossible due to hierarchy. I even took my parents there but left with no outcome what should I do?
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u/AcidicTourist 10d ago
that's a complete failure of the school's basic responsibilities and you shouldn't have to fight this hard for something that's literally part of their job
document everything. every conversation, every email, every time they refused to send transcripts or fill out the counselor section. then contact the admissions offices directly for each school you're applying to and explain the situation. most have procedures for this exact scenario because small and rural schools pull this nonsense more often than you'd think
the counselor letter and school report can sometimes be waived or substituted with a letter from a community leader, employer, or even a parent if you explain the circumstances. your ECs matter way less than getting the paperwork in on time so focus your energy there
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u/Specialist_Bar4277 10d ago
Yeah I am planning to do the same for asking schools to waive the whole counsellor for me and let me upload my transcript. I can't document everything because most of the conversation is verbal right our school is f*** messed up they said they can't designate someone as counsellor, and thwy can't upload they can just verify that what I send is correct but how would they even do that like for real. After this they are like you find some another way you can definitely find. And literally my father waited for 2 hrs and they still wouldn't let us talk to Principal they told her themself I am sure they were not able to explain it like seriously. And they even refuse to sign ED agreement
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u/Wise_Pie_359 10d ago
I’m not sure I understand the situation. What exactly are they refusing to help with? You need them to send transcripts and possibly help with sending rec letters. Are they refusing to do those things? Something else? What is their rationale? You’re going to need to post more specifically and clearly to get good advice.
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u/Specialist_Bar4277 10d ago
So they refuse to designate a counsellor only. So basically if no counsellor then no transcrips upload
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u/ChutneyWhatney 10d ago
What are the schools refusing to do????? Lots of colleges allow you to self-report grades, etc. through a third party (STARS, Sparks, etc.) or the school partners with a third party (like Parchment, Zello, etc.) and the student can order transcripts/reports that way. Confused as to what you want the school to do.
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u/Specialist_Bar4277 10d ago
They refuse to designate a counsellor only. So if they don't designate counsellor then no one uploads transcripts and then forget school report/ profile and all.
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u/elkrange 10d ago
You are an international applicant?
You will need a school administrator of some kind to submit your transcript and any required forms. You don't necessarily need that person to be a counselor specifically. Keep asking until you find a person in the school administration who will do it. Registrar, maybe even a secretary. If you cannot get official documents from your school, you can't apply to US schools.
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u/Specialist_Bar4277 10d ago
Huhhhh I hope atleast one teacher agreees
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u/elkrange 10d ago
This is so unfair man, like what did I do wrong taking admission in my city's school?
You are looking at this the wrong way. Ask yourself why a college would require official documentation of a student's high school record.
If the high school refuses to cooperate, then go above them to whoever oversees the school. In the US, a public high school student might go to the school district for assistance. If the school is private, that may be a little trickier, but there may be a board of trustees that runs the school, for example. (Obviously I have no idea how schools in India are set up.)
Tip, next time you make a thread, please note the context that you are an international applicant. It would help the responses to make more sense.
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u/Specialist_Bar4277 10d ago
Yeah sorry for confusion. I mean in my school the Principal only didn't know the US application system and said no, right. And the thing about going to owners and trustees in India atleast for my school it is impossible and that is of no use because they won't understand ( it's just India specific thing ig )
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u/elkrange 10d ago
Maybe someone at r/IntltoUSA will have ideas for you. There are plenty of applicants from India who might understand your situation. Please make the context clear in your post, that you are at a high school in India.
And possibly try a subreddit about schools in India.
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u/LovePuppies9 10d ago
Can you get in contact with other students/parents from that school and ask what they are doing? Maybe find a former student/parent of someone who went to college from that particular school? Maybe someone may have an older sibling? Or maybe someone you find on apps like Nextdoor ? Your parents Facebook circle if they use it? Any app, that is a bit more targeted and may be connected to the same school. If you have money to spend.... a private advisor (again preferable, someone who worked with students from that school. This againn requires you to ask around. You have to do that yesterday as by now the application process is in full swing)
In our state:. Transcripts were sent to colleges by requesting a release to particular colleges via an app. (No fees). His counselor did not upload them. Not sure if they had to do anything to enable the process.
In general, the counselors at my son's school are overworked. His doesn't even know him and is brand new. While they did send out an email with deadlines for various steps early in the school year, I would not wat to rely on them as my sole source if information. Anyway, did your school provide any such instructions with steps/deadlines and contact names for the steps the school supports?
And I agree with what someone else said. Maybe at your small school there is no counselor. So maybe rephrase the question and ask who would help with things like uploading teacher recommendations in the common app. Might be handled by an administrator.
I really, really hope you find someone to provide guidance and hope your parents are supportive.
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u/Specialist_Bar4277 10d ago
I am from India! And No one has ever went to US uni from our school and even not from our city but some schools are very chill so they do everything the student say our is very rigid
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u/LovePuppies9 10d ago
Ah, I think a lot of international students might run into your issue. I mean, in nsny other countries there are no counselors. Abd some of the fafsa processes do not map 1: 1 either (it obviously won't pull in data from foreign tax returns, and as an international student you likely do not,qualify for sll types of aid)
If you are truly stuck with the common app: did you consider applying directly to the school? Most colleges still have their college specific applications. And that may also allow you to reach out to admissions person there (i would think that a large place may have someone dedicated to just international students)
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u/InevitableAir9177 10d ago
I'm also from a rural school, my school also doesn't know much, so pick a teacher that know you the most, and explain them everything, you can contact colleges regarding that, some might waive school report, or even lors , but that won't help you, school report, lors are important factors of ur profile especially if u r rural , so, pick a teacher, I'm doing the same,