r/schoolcounseling

Hi all, I'm in a state the requires the Praxis School Counselor (5422) as part of licensure. I'm taking it in a couple of weeks. Any advice? I have a couple of different study guides and I've taken a few practice tests. I'm a little worried because it doesn't seem like it will be very difficult and, thus, that I'm missing something, LOL. Appreciate any and all advice.

hi everyone, I just graduated with my masters and want to look into positions in nyc and Long Island. Does anyone have any advice on what to do? How should I go about the applying process?

I’m looking for advice! I have a bachelor’s in marketing that I graduated with in 2023. I am 23, going to be 24 this year. I have been working for a fortune 100 company in various roles, mostly corporate accounting though for the last 4 years. I am looking to pivot careers as I would love to do something a bit more fulfilling and less corporate controlled environment.

I’ve always been interested in teaching/ school counseling because I had a rough few years throughout my schooling with being bullied and then moving states in the middle of high school. I would love to be the person I didn’t have for others. I’m particularly interested in high school work.

I’m cautious to make the jump, 1. because I would have to commit to grad school and pay for that and 2. because what if I end up not liking it and I have a such a specific masters now in school counseling that I feel like I wasted it?

Does anyone who made maybe a similar jump have any advise, to either steer me towards making the jump or any reasons why maybe not to.

I am attending a conference M - W and could use some advice. Will be my first as a school counselor, and my nerves are creeping up.

We have the itinerary + everything available. . . but my mind is hinging on the 'what if' negatives.

I’ve taught elementary school the past 3 years, and I’ve been thinking about leaving the classroom practically every year haha. Thought I wanted to teach older kids but I don’t think my issues with teaching would disappear that way. I feel like I work with my students with more of a child psychology lens, where content is the least important to me and being a safe adult for them is what makes me feel more fulfilled. I’m also interested in the more college/career readiness side of things too, and this sounds weird but I love administrative work unlike most teachers 😅

1. How hard was it for you to find a job as a counselor with teaching experience? I tried just switching from elementary to secondary teaching positions at one point and it was practically impossible, so I’m weary of taking this step if the market is rough (I’m in VA for context, in an urbanish -suburban area)

2. Those of you who were teachers before becoming counselors, what aspects of the job didn’t go away and what aspects got better once you switched?

3. I know this depends on the program, but I’m not sure if i want to do elementary or secondary counseling, I know the overall differences and both seem appealing at this point in time. Did your school counseling program help you with deciding which route you went (ES vs secondary), or did you basically have to decide based on what jobs were available?

4. Did you have to take a pay cut as a counselor or is your salary generally the same? Is the money for the masters worth it in the long run?

5. Also for those who were teachers beforehand, how did you go about working during your programs? I’ve seen that some did substitute teaching / para work during those 2 years but was just wondering if anyone had other jobs they did, since full time teaching doesn’t seem doable. Wondering about giving up healthcare, benefits, etc during that time.

Thank you in advance for your help! Any extra anecdotal experiences or advice outside of these questions are always appreciated as well :)

Article regarding Counselor layoffs at DCCC. My question to the president, help me understand your statement… How would this poor move “expand access” for students?

Laying off counselors that are integrated in our college classrooms and the community, and outsourcing mental health counseling would NOT expand access by any means.
Please survey the students, we have a voice! I have yet to receive any communication about this from the college.

Hi- school counseling major here!! I have questions for all current/former school counselors (elementary, middle or high school). Feel free to drop down your thoughts!!

When it came to finding a district to do practicum/internship, did you know which developmental level you wanted to work with beforehand? Did you like it? Would you have chosen to work with a different level? When it came to sharing the same experience working with your students, did you find it easier or difficult in relating to them?

I’m currently looking for placements now, and I’m very much set in working with high school students, but I’m also open to working with elementary or middle school.

Hi Everyone,

I'd love some advice on school programs/pathways that you recommend for moving from teaching into counseling. I know I need a PPS. I already have an MS in education (and tons of secondary teaching experience), so I'm not sure if I also need an MS in counseling or just the credential? I see some programs that offer both.

For those of you that have transitioned from teaching into counseling, do you feel it was the right decision? I'm nervous about spending more time/money on schooling.

TIA!

Looking for an affordable, CACREP-accredited program for masters in school counseling that is fully online and asynchronous, so that I can keep working my 9-5 while going to school. I am located in Oregon & looking to get licensed here. I could potentially travel to the state of the school for a short period of time as I know some schools have a 1-2 week in-person requirement, but hoping to avoid that if possible.

Capella University seems promising, but they seem unable to give me a clear understanding of what it will cost. Anybody who completed the program recently have an estimate of what it'll cost?

University of the Cumberlands also seemed like a good affordable option, but their MA in Education w/ concentration in School Counseling is sadly not CACREP-accredited.

Thanks in advance for your help!

I’m in a bit of a predicament- I am being offered a job at a school in a neighboring district - pretty excited to have an offer especially since to be honest there isn’t a lot of movement around the local districts right now - but it’s at an elementary school (I’ve only done secondary). I do think I’d thrive in the demographic and what they are wanting from me - just nervous about the age range since I’ve never really envisioned myself at an elementary school.

HOWEVER a job just opened up in a school that is literally less than a quarter mile away from me, it’s a junior high, their pay range is higher. But their application process just started and won’t close until end of next week and the school that offered me would like an answer by the end of this week.

I think I just need someone to tell me not to be an idiot - or someone who’s been in a similar situation.

Note: These are both like Student Behavior/ MTSS support roles - not counseling jobs - between the two districts there has been 1 opening and I don’t think my application even went to “reviewed”.

UPDATE: I took the elementary position - the hours actually worked really well with my family needs and ultimately I felt like it was going to be a great challenge and a way for me to expand my resume.

Hi all! I’ve never been to an ASCA conference (or any conference!), and I have no idea what to wear. It’s in New Orleans, which will be hot. Also, for the dinner, any suggestions? I know I’m probably overthinking this, but I fear coming overdressed or, worse, underdressed.

Hi all-

I have been a counselor at a high-achieving private school for 10 years. I like where I work, I like the people I work with, I make good money. I’m just also a little burnt out. The commute is 40 minutes each way on a good day. We are also getting a new principal this year for the first time in about 16 years.

A job opened up at a public school where my kids will also attend one day (they are in elementary now). Slight pay cut, however, commute is 15 mins each way.

I guess I’m just not sure what to do. Which I recognize is a good position to be in, having 2 options.

Basically, I’ve spent so long in a private school, I’m kind of having imposter syndrome about moving to a public school. It’s also hard to know when the right time to leave a job is. Like do i leave and start over basically? Or stay where it’s comfortable?

Are public high schools that much harder/different? Has anyone moved from private to public?

Thanks for listening (reading)

Hi! I’ve been a school counselor working in a private religious high school in the suburbs of a major city. I’ve started at this school right after graduating with my masters and have been there for 5 years. The pay obviously sucks but the flexibility is great, especially since I’m a mom with young children. There are obviously pros and cons to working in a private school but lately the „cons” list seems to be growing daily and frankly, I am getting tired of the drama. I know that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side but the amount of things that I know absolutely not fly in a public school, fly here.
Recently I was made aware of an opening at a public school near me and was thinking about applying but I will be honest that I am nervous to make the jump. What is it really like working in a public school? I did do my internship at a very well resourced public high school but I can’t really say I received an accurate depiction of the job since the school received so much funding and operated so well.
For those that have made the jump from private to public, what was your experience like?

Hope you guys are having a nice summer off (can’t say I am because my private school REQUIRES I work all summer 🙃).

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Hi everyone. I currently live in Utah and was hoping to secure a job at a school and move prior to the beginning of the school year. I’ve been applying to interventionist and school culture positions on the west and north sides. I have a BA in Community Advocacy and Social policy with several years experience in education and behavior intervention. I sent in applications on Friday and Monday and emailed principals/assistant principals directly. Is it unrealistic to think I can manage both things before the school year starts? I don’t want to move without a job secured and I probably couldn’t even get an apartment without proof of income. I’ve been reading the hiring process can be lengthy and I just want to manage expectations. Also, can anyone tell me how competitive these kinds of positions are at magnet schools? Any info or insight would be appreciated!!

Just about a year ago I made this post:

The comments on it were really what I needed to hear, and honestly just so sweet it made me cry (I’m super emotional lol).

I just wanted to come back on here and happily tell everyone that after a couple interviews and a few rejections, I just accepted a position at an elementary school and am so excited to start being a counselor!

Thank you to those in my original post that commented and gave me such nice encouragement. I was in a weird place when I posted that, and if I’m being honest, I was close to dropping the program. The kind words on my post and from my friends IRL really changed my attitude around.

I love lurking this sub for all the helpful tips and positivity (for the most part), it definitely helped me get to where I am now being graduated and hired. 💕

Hi, I have been a counselor for 2 years but only landed long term subbing positions which are ok, especially for experience. All the interviews I’ve had I get a no or get ghosted. A lot of these interviews are with so many people in the panel, it makes me feel so nervous and shaky. I do not know how to deal with such large panels and hate walking into a room with 8 people waiting to hear from me. I know the market is cooked but why are schools like that LOL. I feel more confident when it’s 3-4 people in the panel and I am comfortable with speaking as I am used to holding parent workshops/presentations. Does anyone have any advice? I have been very sad and crying as I had two back to back interviews where i got told no. I should ask for feedback, and i did but I just haven’t heard back yet. Thank you all! I often get nervous and lose my train of thought with large panels.

At a 4th of July party last year, I had a conversation with someone who recently moved to the area who was connected to a mutual friend. I asked the pretty standard questions of where they’re from and what brought them here. I don’t know if anyone else has encountered push back from asking what someone does for work, but I caught some indirect flack for asking someone what they do for work. I later overheard him expressing to a few of our friends that it’s so weird that one of the first questions to ask someone is what they do for work, and someone else agreed with the fact by making a comment that what we do isn’t tied to what we’re worth. Agree with the last part, not the first.

I ask because I’m genuinely curious to find out what jobs are out there and how they discovered or fell into the position. Whether you’re a work to live or live to work kind of a person, however you answer the question tells me so much more about you and it’s a great place for follow-ups. For a portion of people, what they do is an intrinsic extension of who they are, what they like to do, or what their strengths are. I completely understand the work to live perspective, tell me about what you work for or what you have been into lately.

I realized living in a highly competitive, high cost of living area that this question carries contextual implications, but at the time I didn’t have the words to articulate the confusion, frustration, and embarrassment I experienced. Does he have a point, and from your experience, is this an indication of a larger cultural shift in attitudes on the subject I’m out of the loop on?