ABSTRACT
Writing the Secondary School Report or the counselor letter is one of the most important challenges that the college advisor encounters. Whether or not the counselor meets with the student and/or parents individually, the following suggestions are a way of gathering useful information for writing the SSR. In addition to official school records, use counselor files to amplify background material about students. Counselor files for students are separate from the school's official files or records. In essence, the introduction provides an overview of what the essay will develop more fully. In the body or the middle of the essay, talk about the culture of the people school who makes up the student body and what the values and traditions are that make this school unique. While some schools have developed release forms for parents to sign allowing counselors to address sensitive issues such as learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders, this is tricky ground.
