I would love to see more school counseling videos! Like planning for the year. Planning out lessons, especially with distance learning and covid guidelines
karoldaniella congratulations!!! It’s such a rewarding career! Let me know if you have any questions going into your program! Your advisers and cohort will be great resources as well :) you’re not alone going into all of this!
I am currently cleaning my school counseling office and can relate so much to you! I am in my second year as an Elementary School Counselor and agree with everything you stand by. Being an Asian-American in the field definitely has it's ups and downs, but I am so glad to be part of this amazing and fulfilling career! Keep it up and look forward to move videos about school counseling.
Thank you for this! I am currently pursuing my masters in counselor education and just decided on school counseling as my specialization. I needed this to confirm my choice and now I am more excited than ever!
I’m so happy you’re happy! Let me know if you have any questions. Always here to answer them if you need :)) best of luck with your program! I’m rooting for you!!
aww I’m so happy you caught that comment and I love that you resonate with it too!! I started off wanting to do HS, but the elementary kiddos caught my heart! Hahaa
I have one year left of college. I am going to get my masters in school counceling. I want to work with adolescent age students because I worked with that age group during my internship. I love how much school counselors deal a lot with mental health and development. I am looking to apply to USD.
Yes! School counselors are integral to the socio-emotional development of the kids they support! You are a valuable to the family and whole school system! Let me know if you have any questions about the application process or the career in general!! :)
Hi! I recently graduated with a BA in sociology and want to pursue and masters in school counseling but sometimes I feel like my English limits me. I don’t have an accent I just don’t have an expanded vocabulary. I don’t feel capable and the crazy thing is I was born and raised in NY but I grew up with Spanish speaking parents so as an adult I realized how limited my vocabulary is. I just feel like this is holding me back.
Hi! Thanks for reaching out and sharing that with me. It was very courageous of you and I appreciate it :) I don’t think you necessarily need an “expanded” vocabulary. You don’t need to be perfectly articulate all the time. I make mistakes and say things incorrectly too! I think what matters most is how you seek to connect with your students/clients. I also think your experiences could be something you could use to notice a need and advocate for a better version of yourself, your students, and your work climate.
Also! Congrats on graduating with a BA in sociology!!! That's amazing! Was it a writing intensive major? You were able to convey your thoughts and feelings well to me!
I appreciate your encouragement! I need it as much as possible right now! I am actually applying right now and looking for recommendation letters. I am working at a daycare and I feel I work best with children one on one. Do you have an email address Incase I have any questions ?
Hi! My undergraduate is in psychology and I did a few months at an internship with a school counseling and I LOVED IT! I was not there enough time to truly experience it and meet people but wow leaving was soo hard. I hope you make more videos on school counseling. I have been struggling on making my decision on MA. I have a bit of experience with Behavioral Technician and even though it was a great experience, I did not think the transportation was for me. I have just took a job to work as a Residential Counselor but I really did feel that I fit in when I was an intern within school counseling. I have a few questions, 1) why did you pick elementary? 2) do you know what is the difference between Social Work and focusing on school counseling or just doing Masters within School counseling on its own? 3) what does your teaching classes focus on? Thank you!!
Hi! Thank you so much for watching :) To answer your questions: 1. I initially thought I would go into high school counseling but in grad school, I did a year long internship at an elementary school and fell in love with the environment. I feel like elementary counseling has a bigger focus on providing therapeutic services, rather than academic support. I do individual and group counseling and whole class lessons. I don’t think I would be able to provide those services in a high school setting. Maybe in a middle school. I felt like I could be more preventative and build a child’s toolkit for success at the elementary level. The environment felt more positive and validating than high school. 2. Social work and counseling have different background experiences. Social work might not have a great emphasis on providing therapeutic services in comparison to counseling. I’m not sure what a social work program entails since I never looked into it but from the work I see social workers providing, they definitely come from a different background and training than a school counselor. 3. I call my lessons, “Building Character with Miss Wai.” I use the second step curriculum and build my own lessons focused on socio-emotional learning! Hope this helps! Will be posting another video related to school counseling soon :)
Hello! I'm a 3rd year psych major, and I'm completely relating with you when you mentioned the pressure you felt from your parents haha. I'm still trying to figure out what my next step after the Bachelors would be. I'm currently thinking about nursing or school counseling, it's pretty stressful trying to make the right decision!
(I hit enter and didn't finish my full comment LOL so I'll finish it here) But anyways I'm glad you were able to have that conversation and figure out what was best for you! Thanks for all of the information you've laid out in the video!
@@daphne2185 Aww thank you!! So happy you're finding this video helpful. It's such a coincidence that you're debating between nursing and school counseling! Both are helping careers that allow you to be relational and compassionate. I'm sure you have a big heart! Should you have any questions in the future, let me know!! :)
Hi! I'm getting my master's in school counseling right now and I just stumbled upon your comment and wanted to respond because while I was working on my undergrad in psych I was SO confused over what to do next. I was interested in school counseling but wasn't really sure what it would entail. So if you can, something I wish I would have done is reach out to school counselors in the area and see if you can come observe them even if it's just for a day to get a better feel for it. You'll most likely need clearances if you don't have them already to go into the school, but it's worth it. This is one of the first things we did in my school counseling class when I started my master's and I wish I would have done it sooner. Plus it doesn't hurt to make some connections early on. Hope this helps, good luck with everything!!
Kate Dzikowski yes I agree! Reaching out to current counselors/psychologists is a great idea! I shadowed a few at all levels to ask questions and get a glimpse into their daily life. Good luck with the rest of your program :))
Aww thank you so much for watching!! Good luck with your spring semester! Let me know if you have any questions going into your semester!! You got this! :)
I’m thinking about becoming a school counselor and have some questions for you! -Is it difficult to find school counselor jobs? (I’m from Sacramento, California). -what are some cons of the job? -why did you specifically pick school counseling over being a teacher (I was considering being an elementary school teacher too)? -how difficult was the masters program? -what is the average salary for places u applied in CA? Thanks!!
1) Jobs depend on the school district and how open and willing you are to relocate. I completed my masters in San Diego, and interviewed in LA, OC, SF, and San Jose. I applied to cities all over CA (Sacramento-San Diego). Some peers in my cohort had a difficult time finding a full time school counseling jobs. I'd recommend looking on edjoin.org to get a better idea of which districts are hiring! 2) I’m only speaking for my experience as an elementary school counselor but some cons are that you will split your time with another school (or multiple). I’m lucky to be full time at ONE school site but most elementary schools counselors split their time between 2+ schools. Other downsides are people don’t know what you do and assume that you are a family therapist, psychologist, doctor, or something outside of your scope of practice. 3) I liked the opportunity to know all students and support all teachers. You have more flexibility in how you want to make your schedule. You get to teach lessons, run groups, and have time to get to know the students/families at your school. I like being well known at my school and I like working closely with my principal/admin. 4) the program was not difficult..mostly time consuming. I think a career that is relational and focused on creating relationships with others and honing soft skills is rewarding and more fun than “challenging.” The main challenges were completing the GRE and CBEST, or writing long academic papers and thesis statements. 5) you can look up salaries on salary.com and see the average! You can also look up salary schedules for the specific school district you are interested in! Counselors are oftentimes paid for extra work days compared to teachers. You also might get extra pay for your masters and having more units. Hope this helps!
thomas oh dear sorry about the late reply..have you started submitted it already? My applications all had their own respective questions to answer so it was structured for me. They all asked about my background and motivations to apply to become a school counselor. Does your application have specific questions to answer or is it a free form essay?
Judy Wai yes it sorta the same as you explained it right now. I think I should be fine with what I wrote with. I really hope I get in. I’m leaning towards elementary school Couseling since I already mentor elementary kids for Fresno Unified. It’s just a joy helping these kids out. Big believer in influencing them while they are young.
I just stumbled upon your channel. I'm glad I did. I am in a school counseling program and will graduate soon. My question is how did you adjust to being a counselor your first year? Is there any tips or advice you can give?
Be present! Send an introductory email to all staff with a photo of yourself, go outside during recess time, ask if you can push into every classroom for 5min to briefly introduce yourself to students, set up a morning coffee chat to introduce yourself to families, join in staff meetings, and be patient with yourself! It’s a process to start at a new school but the first 1-2 months will be spent building rapport :)
Hi! This video was super helpful! I have really been struggling on what career path I should follow and what is right for me. I considered business, but as you mentioned, I'm also not competitive enough or intense like that. I considered being a school counselor and watching this video has really made me excited about it! If I majored in Education, would that be a good major choice to then become a school counselor? (aside from getting a Masters and PPSC)
Aww yay! I’m glad my video sparked your interest! Yes, I think having a major in education would be helpful. Any work or class experience related to working with kids in educational settings would be good. Your masters program and graduate internships will provide you with more insight and knowledge for the career. You got this!!
I would love this job! I'm working on my BA right now in child psychology. I'm concerned with getting experience though. Would working at a daycare give me the right experience?
I think grad schools will see your major and look at the classes you’ve taken. Working at a daycare will give you experience with working with children but I also suggest looking into internships where you work with youth in a school setting or mentorships with youth! I also suggest reaching out to school counselors around your area and asking if you can ask them questions to gain more information about the career! While interviewing, I found that most people did not have direct experience working in a school (that’s what grad school internships were for) but they have worked with kids in some capacity and that work experience motivated them to pursue counseling! Hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions. I’m happy to answer them!
Oh wow!! Nice! I attended the University of San Diego for grad school! UC Davis for undergrad. Where are you going? Congrats on getting into grad school!!
Judy Wai National university for undergrad just about done & I want to apply to Alliant International University(if you heard of it ) for grad school they have. Campus here in SD
Hi! Thanks for asking. I graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Community Development (similar to Sociology) and I have a MA in counseling (school counseling specialization and PPSC). Let me know if you have any additional questions! :)
@@heyjudywai Thank you for the reply. Did you have to take a state test after you completed the Master's program? Also, where did you go for the Master's degree? I stay in California as well. Thanks.
@@LoveBirds-zp5gw I completed a master's thesis (research project) instead of taking the state test. I had an option to test or complete a research project, and I opted for the research project. I went to the University of San Diego!
@@LoveBirds-zp5gw I'm not sure what the test would have looked like..The research project felt more appropriate to do. I received a lot of support throughout my second year to complete my research project. I wanted to do it because I could use it as evidence of my work as a counselor in the future. It was a good thing to do for my personal and professional development! It was not as stressful as I thought it would be!
Hello! Your videos are awesome. I can’t decide if I want to be a school psychologist or a school counselor! I really want to work with children and I am also super interested in psychology as well as child development. What are the differences?
Hi! Thank you so much for watching!! Both counseling and school psych are great careers. The main differences are in salary and job description. School psychs typically get paid more. Their job focuses on assessing/testing students. School psychs oftentimes move schools. They are hired by the district and placed at multiple school sites to test students. From my experiences with school psychs, they oftentimes feel disconnected from a school site because they are traveling to multiple schools throughout the week. They are working professionals and have a solid understanding of student needs! They are oftentimes the main advocate for a student during a IEP/SST.
Both school psychs and elem. counselors tend to be split between schools. I count myself as extremely lucky to have found a district where I am placed at only one school site and will be that school's counselor! It helps to maintain rapport with students, families, and staff. Counselors work very closely with the principal. My principal oftentimes says that I am her right hand and her #1 partner in crime! As a counselor, I provide individual, group, and whole class lessons. School psychs do not teach lessons. If they are lucky and have the time away from assessments, they may provide individual and group counseling sessions. I feel as the counselor, I get to be more fully integrated in a school site. Even when I was split between multiple schools, I still felt as if I had more time to meet all students and work collaboratively with my staff.
Again, both are great professions. Both careers work with children and child development. I think counselors are able to develop deeper relationships with more families, staff, and students. School psychs are well-versed in child needs and similarly to a school counselor, can be an advocate for educating staff on what a student needs and putting systems in place to support that student. Hope this provides some insight! Let me know if you have more questions :) I may be biased towards a counseling career :P but again, both are great professions and both careers are integral to the success of a school system!!
What was your undergrad major? I am currently a freshman in college and I am currently a liberal studies major in hope of becoming an elementary school teacher but I know I want to continue towards my master's as soon as a graduate
I majored in Community and Regional Development..not particularly focused on counseling but I think my work and some class experiences in sociology, humanities, and communications helped. I actually did not take too many psych courses but I learned most through my work experiences. (mentoring, teaching, community service). I don't think you need to specifically major in counseling or humanities or psychology to be a school counselor! You will learn more skills and approaches in the grad program but I think any work experiences related to helping/mentoring/teaching help!
Jorge Saldivar hi!! Congratulations on your acceptance!! I recommend looking through the student alumni and ambassador pages to gain more insight! Do you have any specific questions, fears, or concerns about the program? I thoroughly enjoyed my time at USD and the friendships/networks I’ve made there!
Hi! Thanks for asking! I did not take the CPCE exam. I completed a research project instead. I thought this would be best because we had all of our second year to prepare and I could complete my research at my fieldwork site. Here's a link to my research project (It's at the bottom of the page, titled, "Addressing Barriers to Learning") : sites.google.com/view/heymisswai/about-me/projects?authuser=0 let me know if you have any additional questions about it! Your professors will introduce the project and prepare you for it. It is not as scary or overwhelming as you think and personally, it was great to complete my own research project and talk about it in job interviews!
Did you do a traditional school counseling masters or did you do online? I’m debating getting my masters in School Counseling but am trying to figure out the pros and cons of online programs. (There are no traditional programs near me.)
Rina Yamada I traveled to Japan and visited schools and counseling centers two years ago in Tokyo! I’m not sure what the specific requirements are for international students but I do believe that you will go through a similar application process as listed on the school website. I think the differences and difficulties might be in cultural differences and approaches but as with everything, I’m sure you can make it work! A school counseling program works hard to help their candidates understand their implicit biases, become aware of their strengths as a counselor, and provide the appropriate training to become an effective counselor. Did you have any specific questions about the career? I unfortunately can’t speak for what an international experience might feel like but let me know if you have any general questions about being a school counselor in California!! 💕
Rina Yamada I do also know that school counseling in California is VERY different from counseling in Japan. I think the school counseling career that exists in CA does not exist in Japan...I think school counselors in Japan need training and experience as a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or nurse. I’m not sure that Japan has a specific school counseling career that is similar to CA (or the US). Hope this helps!
G C hi!! So happy to hear from another counselor! Hope you are well and adjusted to distance learning..summer is almost here if it isn’t already for you! Be well and stay safe! :)
I would love to see more school counseling videos! Like planning for the year. Planning out lessons, especially with distance learning and covid guidelines
Thanks for the video ideas!! I'm definitely planning some more SC videos! Thanks again and thanks for watching :)
I just got accepted to the school counseling program. Really nervous, not sure what to expect but you sounded very cheerful! It’s motivational
karoldaniella congratulations!!! It’s such a rewarding career! Let me know if you have any questions going into your program! Your advisers and cohort will be great resources as well :) you’re not alone going into all of this!
I am currently cleaning my school counseling office and can relate so much to you! I am in my second year as an Elementary School Counselor and agree with everything you stand by. Being an Asian-American in the field definitely has it's ups and downs, but I am so glad to be part of this amazing and fulfilling career! Keep it up and look forward to move videos about school counseling.
Thank you so much for watching! Really appreciate this comment. Hope you're having a great start to the new year!!
Thank you for this! I am currently pursuing my masters in counselor education and just decided on school counseling as my specialization. I needed this to confirm my choice and now I am more excited than ever!
I’m so happy you’re happy! Let me know if you have any questions. Always here to answer them if you need :)) best of luck with your program! I’m rooting for you!!
Awww I was thinking about doing high school counseling but starting with them as kinders and seeing them grow omg you love to see it 💕
aww I’m so happy you caught that comment and I love that you resonate with it too!! I started off wanting to do HS, but the elementary kiddos caught my heart! Hahaa
Can you make a clothing look book?? Like outfits you wear to work? ☺️
lindsey cundiff yes!! a look book for educators is coming soon!!
I just decided to switch from Clinical Mental Health Counseling to School Counseling and have been binging your videos!!! You're so awesome!
Aww thank you so much for watching and supporting!!
I have one year left of college. I am going to get my masters in school counceling. I want to work with adolescent age students because I worked with that age group during my internship. I love how much school counselors deal a lot with mental health and development. I am looking to apply to USD.
Yes! School counselors are integral to the socio-emotional development of the kids they support! You are a valuable to the family and whole school system! Let me know if you have any questions about the application process or the career in general!! :)
What did you get your bachelors in? Currently figuring that out for myself
@@amysmith1149 psychology
P Becerra I graduated with a BS in community and regional development (sociology) from UC Davis!
Hiii i want to be a school counselor! This video is really helpful :)
Aww yay! I'm so glad!! Let me know if you have any additional questions about the career! I'm always happy to share more insight!
I love this video and surely needed it! i am currently deciding on pursuing my masters in school counseling!
Aww thanks for the comment!! Let me know if you have any questions about the career!
Hi! I recently graduated with a BA in sociology and want to pursue and masters in school counseling but sometimes I feel like my English limits me. I don’t have an accent I just don’t have an expanded vocabulary. I don’t feel capable and the crazy thing is I was born and raised in NY but I grew up with Spanish speaking parents so as an adult I realized how limited my vocabulary is. I just feel like this is holding me back.
Hi! Thanks for reaching out and sharing that with me. It was very courageous of you and I appreciate it :) I don’t think you necessarily need an “expanded” vocabulary. You don’t need to be perfectly articulate all the time. I make mistakes and say things incorrectly too! I think what matters most is how you seek to connect with your students/clients. I also think your experiences could be something you could use to notice a need and advocate for a better version of yourself, your students, and your work climate.
Also! Congrats on graduating with a BA in sociology!!! That's amazing! Was it a writing intensive major? You were able to convey your thoughts and feelings well to me!
I appreciate your encouragement! I need it as much as possible right now! I am actually applying right now and looking for recommendation letters. I am working at a daycare and I feel I work best with children one on one. Do you have an email address Incase I have any questions ?
Heyjudywai@gmail.com reach out any time :))
Hi! My undergraduate is in psychology and I did a few months at an internship with a school counseling and I LOVED IT! I was not there enough time to truly experience it and meet people but wow leaving was soo hard. I hope you make more videos on school counseling. I have been struggling on making my decision on MA. I have a bit of experience with Behavioral Technician and even though it was a great experience, I did not think the transportation was for me. I have just took a job to work as a Residential Counselor but I really did feel that I fit in when I was an intern within school counseling.
I have a few questions,
1) why did you pick elementary?
2) do you know what is the difference between Social Work and focusing on school counseling or just doing Masters within School counseling on its own?
3) what does your teaching classes focus on?
Thank you!!
Hi! Thank you so much for watching :) To answer your questions:
1. I initially thought I would go into high school counseling but in grad school, I did a year long internship at an elementary school and fell in love with the environment. I feel like elementary counseling has a bigger focus on providing therapeutic services, rather than academic support. I do individual and group counseling and whole class lessons. I don’t think I would be able to provide those services in a high school setting. Maybe in a middle school. I felt like I could be more preventative and build a child’s toolkit for success at the elementary level. The environment felt more positive and validating than high school.
2. Social work and counseling have different background experiences. Social work might not have a great emphasis on providing therapeutic services in comparison to counseling. I’m not sure what a social work program entails since I never looked into it but from the work I see social workers providing, they definitely come from a different background and training than a school counselor.
3. I call my lessons, “Building Character with Miss Wai.” I use the second step curriculum and build my own lessons focused on socio-emotional learning!
Hope this helps! Will be posting another video related to school counseling soon :)
Love your videos Judy! Very honest & insightful. From one SC to another
Thank you!!! It’s always nice to hear from another counselor :)) hope you can find time to relax during this school year! We’re in the home stretch!!
We MISS you at AUDUBON!!!!! They are so lucky to have you!
I'm going in to my school counseling practicum this spring, this video gave me hope!
Shine Lingenbrink aww yay!! Let me know if you have any questions! Enjoy your practicum experience!!
Hello! I'm a 3rd year psych major, and I'm completely relating with you when you mentioned the pressure you felt from your parents haha. I'm still trying to figure out what my next step after the Bachelors would be. I'm currently thinking about nursing or school counseling, it's pretty stressful trying to make the right decision!
(I hit enter and didn't finish my full comment LOL so I'll finish it here) But anyways I'm glad you were able to have that conversation and figure out what was best for you! Thanks for all of the information you've laid out in the video!
@@daphne2185 Aww thank you!! So happy you're finding this video helpful. It's such a coincidence that you're debating between nursing and school counseling! Both are helping careers that allow you to be relational and compassionate. I'm sure you have a big heart! Should you have any questions in the future, let me know!! :)
Hi! I'm getting my master's in school counseling right now and I just stumbled upon your comment and wanted to respond because while I was working on my undergrad in psych I was SO confused over what to do next. I was interested in school counseling but wasn't really sure what it would entail. So if you can, something I wish I would have done is reach out to school counselors in the area and see if you can come observe them even if it's just for a day to get a better feel for it. You'll most likely need clearances if you don't have them already to go into the school, but it's worth it. This is one of the first things we did in my school counseling class when I started my master's and I wish I would have done it sooner. Plus it doesn't hurt to make some connections early on. Hope this helps, good luck with everything!!
Kate Dzikowski yes I agree! Reaching out to current counselors/psychologists is a great idea! I shadowed a few at all levels to ask questions and get a glimpse into their daily life. Good luck with the rest of your program :))
Ah, good lo-fi study music! But seriously, great video! Can't wait for the next one! :)
Aww thanks Jon!! Next one is coming soon..just need the time to film it -.-;
Loved This Video right on time for spring semester to begin!
Aww thank you so much for watching!! Good luck with your spring semester! Let me know if you have any questions going into your semester!! You got this! :)
I’m thinking about becoming a school counselor and have some questions for you!
-Is it difficult to find school counselor jobs? (I’m from Sacramento, California).
-what are some cons of the job?
-why did you specifically pick school counseling over being a teacher (I was considering being an elementary school teacher too)?
-how difficult was the masters program?
-what is the average salary for places u applied in CA?
Thanks!!
1) Jobs depend on the school district and how open and willing you are to relocate. I completed my masters in San Diego, and interviewed in LA, OC, SF, and San Jose. I applied to cities all over CA (Sacramento-San Diego). Some peers in my cohort had a difficult time finding a full time school counseling jobs. I'd recommend looking on edjoin.org to get a better idea of which districts are hiring!
2) I’m only speaking for my experience as an elementary school counselor but some cons are that you will split your time with another school (or multiple). I’m lucky to be full time at ONE school site but most elementary schools counselors split their time between 2+ schools. Other downsides are people don’t know what you do and assume that you are a family therapist, psychologist, doctor, or something outside of your scope of practice.
3) I liked the opportunity to know all students and support all teachers. You have more flexibility in how you want to make your schedule. You get to teach lessons, run groups, and have time to get to know the students/families at your school. I like being well known at my school and I like working closely with my principal/admin.
4) the program was not difficult..mostly time consuming. I think a career that is relational and focused on creating relationships with others and honing soft skills is rewarding and more fun than “challenging.” The main challenges were completing the GRE and CBEST, or writing long academic papers and thesis statements.
5) you can look up salaries on salary.com and see the average! You can also look up salary schedules for the specific school district you are interested in! Counselors are oftentimes paid for extra work days compared to teachers. You also might get extra pay for your masters and having more units.
Hope this helps!
Judy Wai Thank you so much this was really helpful! I love your videos 😊💗
So cool! Looking into being a school counselor when I grow up. Idk how u don't have more views and subscribers!
MarvelAgentDaisy awww I hope you can refer to this video in the future! 💕💕
How can people put the dislike button? I don’t get it! You are lovely and are giving me so much insight 🥺🥺🥺
Omg you’re too sweet!! Thank you so much!!!
great video!! I am currently applying for masters in school counseling at Fresno State
Oh!! Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions about the application process! I considered Fresno and know some people who applied there!
heyjudywai oh really? That’s pretty cool. I have a question...how did you structure your state of purpose letter ? Really want to nail this one.
thomas oh dear sorry about the late reply..have you started submitted it already? My applications all had their own respective questions to answer so it was structured for me. They all asked about my background and motivations to apply to become a school counselor. Does your application have specific questions to answer or is it a free form essay?
Judy Wai yes it sorta the same as you explained it right now. I think I should be fine with what I wrote with. I really hope I get in. I’m leaning towards elementary school Couseling since I already mentor elementary kids for Fresno Unified. It’s just a joy helping these kids out. Big believer in influencing them while they are young.
@@CaloNord congrats on turning it in!! :) hope to hear more about your journey!!
I start in August of this year! And this just got me so excited 🥰♥️
Congratulations!! And aww yay!!! I’m happy! You’ll have so much fun in your program!
Judy Wai everyone keeps telling me it will be so hard, but all my classes look very fun and interesting! At least i will be happy and working hard 🥰
This was so helpful! Thank you so much
Yay I’m glad it helped!!
I just stumbled upon your channel. I'm glad I did. I am in a school counseling program and will graduate soon. My question is how did you adjust to being a counselor your first year? Is there any tips or advice you can give?
Be present! Send an introductory email to all staff with a photo of yourself, go outside during recess time, ask if you can push into every classroom for 5min to briefly introduce yourself to students, set up a morning coffee chat to introduce yourself to families, join in staff meetings, and be patient with yourself! It’s a process to start at a new school but the first 1-2 months will be spent building rapport :)
is this career worth it ?
Hahaha I love my job and it’s been 5years!
Youre going to be my school counselor guide now its decided lol.
Aww thank you SO much! Let me know if you have any other questions! Would love to help!
@@heyjudywai Will do!!! Thank You
Hi! This video was super helpful! I have really been struggling on what career path I should follow and what is right for me. I considered business, but as you mentioned, I'm also not competitive enough or intense like that. I considered being a school counselor and watching this video has really made me excited about it!
If I majored in Education, would that be a good major choice to then become a school counselor? (aside from getting a Masters and PPSC)
Aww yay! I’m glad my video sparked your interest! Yes, I think having a major in education would be helpful. Any work or class experience related to working with kids in educational settings would be good. Your masters program and graduate internships will provide you with more insight and knowledge for the career. You got this!!
I would love this job! I'm working on my BA right now in child psychology. I'm concerned with getting experience though. Would working at a daycare give me the right experience?
I think grad schools will see your major and look at the classes you’ve taken. Working at a daycare will give you experience with working with children but I also suggest looking into internships where you work with youth in a school setting or mentorships with youth! I also suggest reaching out to school counselors around your area and asking if you can ask them questions to gain more information about the career! While interviewing, I found that most people did not have direct experience working in a school (that’s what grad school internships were for) but they have worked with kids in some capacity and that work experience motivated them to pursue counseling! Hope this helps! Let me know if you have more questions. I’m happy to answer them!
Hi I am San Diego , I’m graduating soon and I’m going into school counseling for grad school can you tell me where you went to school
Oh wow!! Nice! I attended the University of San Diego for grad school! UC Davis for undergrad. Where are you going? Congrats on getting into grad school!!
Judy Wai National university for undergrad just about done & I want to apply to Alliant International University(if you heard of it ) for grad school they have. Campus here in SD
@@marharris8627 Very nice!! Congrats on almost graduating!! You're super close!
Hi Judy-
what is your bachelors in and also your master's in?
Thanks
Hi! Thanks for asking. I graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Community Development (similar to Sociology) and I have a MA in counseling (school counseling specialization and PPSC). Let me know if you have any additional questions! :)
@@heyjudywai Thank you for the reply. Did you have to take a state test after you completed the Master's program? Also, where did you go for the Master's degree? I stay in California as well. Thanks.
@@LoveBirds-zp5gw I completed a master's thesis (research project) instead of taking the state test. I had an option to test or complete a research project, and I opted for the research project. I went to the University of San Diego!
@@heyjudywai That's great! Do you feel that it was a lot easier to do that instead of the test?
@@LoveBirds-zp5gw I'm not sure what the test would have looked like..The research project felt more appropriate to do. I received a lot of support throughout my second year to complete my research project. I wanted to do it because I could use it as evidence of my work as a counselor in the future. It was a good thing to do for my personal and professional development! It was not as stressful as I thought it would be!
Hello! Your videos are awesome. I can’t decide if I want to be a school psychologist or a school counselor! I really want to work with children and I am also super interested in psychology as well as child development. What are the differences?
Hi! Thank you so much for watching!! Both counseling and school psych are great careers. The main differences are in salary and job description. School psychs typically get paid more. Their job focuses on assessing/testing students. School psychs oftentimes move schools. They are hired by the district and placed at multiple school sites to test students. From my experiences with school psychs, they oftentimes feel disconnected from a school site because they are traveling to multiple schools throughout the week. They are working professionals and have a solid understanding of student needs! They are oftentimes the main advocate for a student during a IEP/SST.
Both school psychs and elem. counselors tend to be split between schools. I count myself as extremely lucky to have found a district where I am placed at only one school site and will be that school's counselor! It helps to maintain rapport with students, families, and staff. Counselors work very closely with the principal. My principal oftentimes says that I am her right hand and her #1 partner in crime! As a counselor, I provide individual, group, and whole class lessons. School psychs do not teach lessons. If they are lucky and have the time away from assessments, they may provide individual and group counseling sessions. I feel as the counselor, I get to be more fully integrated in a school site. Even when I was split between multiple schools, I still felt as if I had more time to meet all students and work collaboratively with my staff.
Again, both are great professions. Both careers work with children and child development. I think counselors are able to develop deeper relationships with more families, staff, and students. School psychs are well-versed in child needs and similarly to a school counselor, can be an advocate for educating staff on what a student needs and putting systems in place to support that student. Hope this provides some insight! Let me know if you have more questions :) I may be biased towards a counseling career :P but again, both are great professions and both careers are integral to the success of a school system!!
What was your undergrad major? I am currently a freshman in college and I am currently a liberal studies major in hope of becoming an elementary school teacher but I know I want to continue towards my master's as soon as a graduate
I majored in Community and Regional Development..not particularly focused on counseling but I think my work and some class experiences in sociology, humanities, and communications helped. I actually did not take too many psych courses but I learned most through my work experiences. (mentoring, teaching, community service). I don't think you need to specifically major in counseling or humanities or psychology to be a school counselor! You will learn more skills and approaches in the grad program but I think any work experiences related to helping/mentoring/teaching help!
I have recently been accepted into the University of San Diego for school counseling! Do you have any tips or advice about the program? Thank you!
Jorge Saldivar hi!! Congratulations on your acceptance!! I recommend looking through the student alumni and ambassador pages to gain more insight! Do you have any specific questions, fears, or concerns about the program? I thoroughly enjoyed my time at USD and the friendships/networks I’ve made there!
Hi I have a question? Did you have to take the cpce exam or did you have a choice to either take more classes or a thesis/research project?
Hi! Thanks for asking! I did not take the CPCE exam. I completed a research project instead. I thought this would be best because we had all of our second year to prepare and I could complete my research at my fieldwork site. Here's a link to my research project (It's at the bottom of the page, titled, "Addressing Barriers to Learning") : sites.google.com/view/heymisswai/about-me/projects?authuser=0 let me know if you have any additional questions about it! Your professors will introduce the project and prepare you for it. It is not as scary or overwhelming as you think and personally, it was great to complete my own research project and talk about it in job interviews!
Judy Wai thank u so much
Did you do a traditional school counseling masters or did you do online? I’m debating getting my masters in School Counseling but am trying to figure out the pros and cons of online programs. (There are no traditional programs near me.)
Paigelyn McElveen hi! I attended USD in person. I did not do an online program but it seems like it could be a great, flexible, and cheaper option!
Hi! I'm from Japan. I'm thinking to go grad school for school counseling in the states. Isn't it hard for foreigners to be a school counselor??
Rina Yamada I traveled to Japan and visited schools and counseling centers two years ago in Tokyo! I’m not sure what the specific requirements are for international students but I do believe that you will go through a similar application process as listed on the school website.
I think the differences and difficulties might be in cultural differences and approaches but as with everything, I’m sure you can make it work! A school counseling program works hard to help their candidates understand their implicit biases, become aware of their strengths as a counselor, and provide the appropriate training to become an effective counselor.
Did you have any specific questions about the career? I unfortunately can’t speak for what an international experience might feel like but let me know if you have any general questions about being a school counselor in California!! 💕
Rina Yamada ALSO! My video about interviewing for a school counseling program might be helpful in explaining the interview process and how to apply :)
Rina Yamada I do also know that school counseling in California is VERY different from counseling in Japan. I think the school counseling career that exists in CA does not exist in Japan...I think school counselors in Japan need training and experience as a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, or nurse. I’m not sure that Japan has a specific school counseling career that is similar to CA (or the US). Hope this helps!
Hello from a fellow school counselor!
G C hi!! So happy to hear from another counselor! Hope you are well and adjusted to distance learning..summer is almost here if it isn’t already for you! Be well and stay safe! :)
Teach me how to be like you please
kissuuuu~~