Roles of the School Guidance Counselors
School guidance counselors are professionals who help students at all levels -- from elementary school to high school -- prepare for the future. School guidance counselors additionally promote a student's social and personal well-being. They can work with students one-on-one, in a small group or in a class setting to fulfill their many roles. Employment of school guidance counselors is projected to increase by 14 percent from 2008 to 2018, and the median annual wage of these professionals at the time of publication was $51,050, reports the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Addressing Social Problems
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One of the most important roles of a school guidance counselor is to help students address personal issues. School guidance counselors watch children during play activities or class, and talk to parents and teachers about any social problems or strengths the students display. They offer conflict resolution classes and alcohol and drug prevention programs for students. In addition, school guidance counselors work to build relationships with students to identify bullying situations, domestic abuse or other family situations that can impact a student's performance at school.
Academic Planning
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School guidance counselors help plan students' academic paths. For example, they are responsible for ensuring the school's curriculum meets students' academic and developmental needs by collaborating with school administrators and teachers. They also can work with students to improve their studying and test-taking skills, and they help students choose the number and types of classes they need to complete each semester in order to graduate on time.
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College Planning
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Another important role of school guidance counselors, particularly those at the high school level, includes advising students about what college majors to pursue based on their academic strengths and interests. They also help steer students toward apprenticeship programs or vocational/technical schools, if they are not interested in attending a four-year school.
Giving students interest and aptitude assessment tests is one way to assist students in determining their post-secondary avenues. In addition, guidance counselors remind students about admission requirements for various schools, and update students on upcoming standardized test dates. They also share information about financial aid opportunities for college-bound students.
Career Planning
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Helping students plan for their life-long careers or even temporary jobs is an important duty of school guidance counselors, specifically high school counselors. School guidance counselors teach students how to write effective resumes and cover letters before applying to jobs, and show them how to job search effectively. These professionals also perform mock job interviews with students to help them hone their interviewing skills.
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References
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