Why School Counseling

Why I Chose a Career in School Counseling

Welcome to SchoolCounselor2Be! I’m so glad you’re here — whether you’re already in grad school, applying soon, or just curious about what it’s like to step into this world. This blog is all about the real-life, sometimes chaotic, often inspiring journey of becoming (and being) a school counselor.

When people ask why I chose school counseling, I always think back to the classrooms and hallways where I first realized how much more goes on behind every student’s smile. Kids walk into school carrying invisible backpacks filled with their stories — the good, the heavy, the hopeful. I wanted to be someone who could help unpack those stories safely. Teaching was meaningful for me, but school counseling felt like the perfect intersection of everything I loved: relationship-building, advocacy, and helping students grow not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.

As I moved through my program, I discovered that school counseling is this beautiful mix of heart and strategy. You’re supporting students through crises one moment and analyzing data to improve academic outcomes the next. It’s dynamic, human work — and it changes lives.

Getting Started as an Aspiring Counselor

If you’re thinking about diving into this field, the first thing to know is that not all counseling programs are created equal. Look for ones that are CACREP-accredited — that stands for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. It’s kind of the gold standard for counseling education. CACREP accreditation means the program meets national standards for curriculum, practicum experience, and faculty qualifications, which makes your degree portable across states and your path to licensure smoother. Basically, it’s like buying a car that already passed every safety test.

A lot of people ask if they need to take the GRE to get in. The good news? Many schools have dropped that requirement. For example, places like the University of Virginia no longer require GRE scores for their M.Ed. in Counselor Education, and Capella’s online school counseling program has also gone test-free. Some programs are more competitive than others — a few state universities report acceptance rates below 20%, while others, like the University of Minnesota, accept about one-third of applicants. So if you’re applying to a top program, don’t be discouraged if it feels tough — that’s normal. Write an authentic personal statement, gather solid recommendations, and show them you have a heart for this work.

The Many Roads After Graduation

One of the best things about this field is how many directions you can go once you graduate. Most people imagine school counselors sitting in an office at a K–12 school, helping students plan schedules or talk through social challenges — and that’s definitely part of it. But the reality is much broader. School counselors serve as advocates, mental health supporters, and academic coaches, often all in the same day.

Some graduates move into district or leadership roles, coordinating counseling programs and mentoring newer counselors. Others use their training to work in community agencies or nonprofits, supporting children and families outside of school walls. And for those of us who also feel called to clinical work, there’s an exciting option: pursuing dual credentials that open the door to private practice.

Programs like William & Mary’s CACREP-accredited M.Ed. in Counseling let you earn your school counseling degree and qualify to sit for the NCE or NCMHCE exams upon graduation — the tests needed to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). It’s a huge advantage if you see yourself eventually working with children and teens in private practice while still keeping one foot in the school world. I love that flexibility: the chance to impact students daily in schools now, and then expand into private practice later, carrying those same values of advocacy and support.

My Next Chapter

For me, that’s exactly where I’m headed. After finishing my school counseling program, I plan to pursue my LPC and build a private practice focused on children and adolescents. I’ve always been drawn to that age group — the in-between years where everything feels big and uncertain, and one trusted adult can make a world of difference. Working with kids in schools has given me such a deep understanding of what they face day to day, and I want to bring that insight into the therapeutic space.

It’s not a quick journey — there are supervised hours, exams, and plenty of continued learning ahead — but it’s one that feels aligned with who I am. School counseling isn’t just a career to me; it’s a way of showing up for people when they need it most.

A Final Word for Future Counselors

If you’re just starting to explore this path, take heart. There’s no single “right” route into this field — only the one that fits your story. Choose a program that feels like a good match for your values and goals (bonus points if it’s CACREP-accredited), connect with mentors, and say yes to experiences that stretch you. Whether you end up in a bustling middle school, a quiet private office, or somewhere in between, you’ll be doing work that matters deeply.

Thanks for being here for the first post of SchoolCounselor2Be. I’ll be sharing insights about grad school life, counseling tips, licensure prep, and stories from the field — the real, messy, rewarding parts of learning to help others. Here’s to the journey ahead — and to the future counselors making the world a little kinder, one student at a time. 💛