Anyone went to Grad school for School Counseling

[blue27]

Since I have been having such a hard time in my job search, I am thinking going back might be a good idea.. has anyone on here gone back for MSW or for "school counseling". I think maybe getting a license in something I am interested in may be better then just findind a job..let me know what you guys think...

[wordsmith]

Note that in many states, you must have a threshold amount of classroom teaching experience to be a school guidance counselor. I'm not sure where Illinois sits right now, but I know when I was getting my ed degree in Minnesota, you had to teach for at least a couple of years before you could become a guidance counselor, even if you had the master's, and IL (home state) was the same. That changes all the time, though.

[blue27]

Note that in many states, you must have a threshold amount of classroom teaching experience to be a school guidance counselor. I'm not sure where Illinois sits right now, but I know when I was getting my ed degree in Minnesota, you had to teach for at least a couple of years before you could become a guidance counselor, even if you had the master's, and IL (home state) was the same. That changes all the time, though.

I think I am going to go in and meet with one of the advisors for the program I am interested soon so this is a good question to ask..I not sure about the teaching if that's the case I won't be able to do this program.. but then I again I really I am interested in social work too.

[cheshrcarol]

My best friend just finished up his M.S. in school counseling. You might want to look into whether jobs are in demand in your area. Where we're from it's extremely difficult to get a job, especially for females because there's several times more of them with the degree. It's also one of the first positions to get cut when budgets need trimming.

But if you like kids and don't want a classroom of the same ones, it's a viable direction for you to go. It also pays decently.

Also, the degree is a lot of work. He went to a non-competitive school and still had to put in a lot of time and effort in.

[Deni81]

I will be starting work on my masters in school counseling in the fall. My background does include 2 years of being a classroom teacher and not every state requires you to have prior teaching experience for the program.

Check the national school counselor association web page for each specific state and their requirements. PM me if you need anything else. Good luck.

[winneythepooh7]

I obtained my Master's in Social Work in 2004. School social work is a completely different certification in NYS and you basically have to beg to get your 2 field placements in a school setting to get the hours towards the certification from what I understand. School SW positions are really hard to come by from what I can see. Usually, this is a budgeted position and the first to get cut. Often school SWers are responsible for all the grade levels, so it's a very stressful job. I know people who do SW stuff in schools in NYC and most are contract positions, based around how many students you get to improve their attendance, so they are always afraid of not having a job come next school year.


I have advanced extremely quickly in my field since getting my MSW. Starting in July, my company is planning to train me on the business-side of running the company, so if all goes as planned, in the next year or so, I will be making a pretty penny.

I do pretty decently as well in terms of what decent social work salaries are in this area. I do have a ton of work though, so at times, it feels like I am working the hours of 2 jobs, and not that you asked or may even care, but being a social worker in NYC is very very fast paced and very very cut-throat. Other social workers and people in charge of our programs from the state have no problems cursing at us in a heartbeat if they think we are not doing our job to the best of our ability.

I recommend working in the field for a few years to see if it is what you really want to do. Having work experience under your belt will also help you get a livable salary once you actually do graduate with your Master's. Plus you really need to have a backbone and be willing to let things roll off your shoulders to be a social worker. If you are the type of person who is really sensitive or takes things personally, I don't advise going into this field at all. Feel free to ask me any other questions!!

P.S. I know several people with Master's in School Counseling who cannot get a job or are stuck in very low-paying school counselor jobs in private Catholic schools because there are like 1000+ applicants for one position that opens up on Long Island.

[Deni81]

I've found that more jobs for school counselors are found in states where school districts are rapidly growing (FL, NC, and some others).
Also you can work in a college or university setting with a school counseling degree in some places.
It is a good idea to research the field before making a final decision. Talk to advisors/professors in the program, people working as school counselors, etc. Just be mindful that school counseling is not a field that guarantees a job after graduation (actually very few fields do) but it might a worthwhile option for you.

[winneythepooh7]

IMO, at least from my experience and this area, it seems like people with a background in social work have an easier time finding a job. Yeah, you may have to start at the bottom like in any field, but at least the jobs are there.

[blue27]

oh wow thanks for so many replies, I was hoping for so more positive feedback, but think this feedback is good in way..I can know some of the cons to these fields, in my area I found out you don't need teaching experience for entry level school counseling.. thanks GOD..I don't know many people in Chicago who have had a hard time finding placement.. so think it may depend on your location..

but SW not sure about it here..the one girl i know found a job right out of school.. but I am going to keep talking to different people in the field to learn more...Also my Mom and a close friend work with the Chicago Public School Systems here, they have been taking to peoeple for me and telling me info about my options too, but thanks again for all the info..

[winneythepooh7]

Yeah, definitely speak to people who are doing it in your area, or potential areas you would like to wind up.

It's interesting: I thought this area probably paid the most but from chatting with people in other areas, I found out that Portland and even cities in Kansas pay more than I make for jobs that are even below what I do now!

But money should not really be a motivating factor in the human service fields anyway because you are not really going to find super high paying jobs........making a livable wage however definitely needs to be a consideration.

[blue27]

But money should not really be a motivating factor in the human service fields anyway because you are not really going to find super high paying jobs........making a livable wage however definitely needs to be a consideration.

I know..Exactly;)
I am so far removed from the making alot of money thing as this point..I thinking of something I want to do as a career something I am interested, and social service usually doesn't pay well but if pays well in other ways that I find rewarding. i mean I started volunteering with artist with disabilities and I love it..

[winneythepooh7]

Good for you! Not that I am even remotely an artist, but that is one area that is severely lacking as a resource for so many of my clients that could benefit, who are. I often look high and low to try to find very low cost art programs and they just do not exist, or have huge wait lists. There's one lower cost program I've found in Lower Manhattan but it's still like $300 for a class and when you only get $710 a month from the gov't (1/3 of that that goes to your rent), that doesn't leave much leftover for art classes. But social workers could always apply for grants to open up a program like this ;). Or recruit more volunteers like you!

[cameralady]

I've found that more jobs for school counselors are found in states where school districts are rapidly growing (FL, NC, and some others).
Also you can work in a college or university setting with a school counseling degree in some places.
This is true. I work for a department that offers such a degree. Although it's primarily geared toward people who will work in K-12 schools, there are a number of people (especially those who already work at this university) who go the program and focus on higher ed. With that, you can do stuff like work in admissions or res life.

[wordsmith]

This is true. I work for a department that offers such a degree. Although it's primarily geared toward people who will work in K-12 schools, there are a number of people (especially those who already work at this university) who go the program and focus on higher ed. With that, you can do stuff like work in admissions or res life.

That's pretty cool; I considered for a time working in res life, because I'd enjoyed working in that dept. as a student, but nearly everywhere I looked into at the time required a master's in student affairs, higher education admin. or similar.

[kurtfb7199]

well i finally got accepted in a K-12 guidance counselor M.Ed. program and I can say im very excited to get the heck out of my current job which has been working as a residential/youth counselor with troubled youth for the past 6 years. I have to say im feeling very good about this and cannot wait to start.

[Phenomenon]

I see this thread has died out, but I am strongly considering an MS in school counseling. I started my MSW but really did not like the program. I live in New York State. Am wondering if there are any other areas you can go into with this degree beside middle and high school. It seems like it is more of a advanced cert. degree although some college in my state offer just the MS. I was invovled in a program for high school students who would be first generation college students, and thought this degree might lead toward a career along those lines.

[winneythepooh7]

I see this thread has died out, but I am strongly considering an MS in school counseling. I started my MSW but really did not like the program. I live in New York State. Am wondering if there are any other areas you can go into with this degree beside middle and high school. It seems like it is more of a advanced cert. degree although some college in my state offer just the MS. I was invovled in a program for high school students who would be first generation college students, and thought this degree might lead toward a career along those lines.

I am a MSW in NYS. Just curious what you didn't like about the program and what school you went to? You can always PM me if you are not comfortable going into detail on the boards.

[Phenomenon]

Went to Stony Brook, did not like the location of the school, you also had to have your own transportation for a decent internship, which I did not and the program was very health oriented.

If anybody has any info on the school counselor degree I would apperciate it!

[kurtfb7199]

hey,

I started classes in my MA for school counseling. The only thing I will say is find a school that is CACREP accredited that opens up alot of doors to you. Man I'm busy

[Phenomenon]

Seems that all the schools I've looked at have that, would think it they would need to it to be competitive. All the degrees I've seen for school counselors are actually Masters in Education Degrees.
I take it you're busy from school. I'm really dreading going back after being out for a few years. I'm so bored at my job though I'm hoping the work won't seem so bad. It's really amazing how much work grad school is considering most people I know who have a masters do not seem to know shit about their field or anything else for that matter. I guess they just memorize a bunch of crap and retain nothing.