The International Schools Review Forum

Ouch...not sugar coating, are you...

I know what you mean though. I had enrolled in a PhD program here in the US with a concentration in international education, but after 3 classes, the work just got redundant... I would much rather just do dissertation work...

....

@centennial95

I Didnt think you wanted sugar coating???

Hello everyone, I would like to know where to get specific international college university high school counselor training that teachers the high school counselor how to help students enter both US and British post secondary institutions. I would need an online course or certification. Anyone know how to gain this skill without on the job learn as one goes? It seems that schools want that skill set and often will ask for someone who is VERY knowledgeable about the process and about the institutions. Thank you in advance.

There arent any. What your looking for doesnt exist. There are some certification programs in the US out of CA for example that will give you a certificate through extended studies. There isnt a comparable program in the UK, the UK system is a single unified pathway using a common application system. Its all numbers and known metrics. The closest comparisons are educator consultant courses. regardless there is no IE course that will give you a certificate in global or even just US/UK admissions and application process.
Counselor certification programs spend little if any time on this aspect of the job. You might get a few lectures, maybe a unit on it, and there are some single courses in it but thats it. The bulk of counselor training and education programs is focused on the mental health aspect.
This is why the skill set is so valued, the only way to obtain the expertise is experiential.

UCLA has a good certificate course on the fundamentals of college counseling that is offered online that many people have taken who don't have other training and don't come from a university admissions background. I haven't done it, though I know many people who have. I do think it's a bit more US centric.

I've mainly learned about UK universities through conference sessions on UCAS. The UCAS website is actually very well put together and so it's a good resource to check out. They have some useful training videos that I think are available without being an adviser. Admittedly, I've had the opportunity to strengthen my understanding by talking with UK admission representatives.

I've included a list of things to check out that would be in person training opportunities.

There are other good training events that specifically address international school counselors like the Principal's Training Center (http://www.theptc.org/) and College Board's International Summer Institute for International Counselors . Some places also do training for college counseling aimed at people working at US private high schools, but these probably are more US centric that you might need. Taft School in Connecticut has one; https://www.taftschool.org/tec/detail.aspx?id=16E10.

If you're in Europe, I would recommend going to Council of International Schools' (http://www.cois.org/page.cfm?p=2132) conference in Barcelona Spain in November on international admission and guidance. This will be a great opportunity to network with other international school counselors and learn about the university admission process in many different countries. CIS also has regional forums that could be worth going to in Bangkok (October), Mexico (October), and South Africa (March '17), which would serve some of the same purpose in those regions.

International ACAC (formerly OACAC; http://www.oacac.com/) has a very useful conference each year in different parts of North America during the summer. Another great place to network and learn about the university search process. This year they are also hosting a regional event in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya in October. They did something similar in Shanghai last year. It's meant to reach counselors who can't get to North America during the summer due to cost/time issues.

A good Facebook group to join is the IACAC group, though it's closed so you'll nee to reach out and ask to join. Lots of people with good advice and who are willing to be helpful once you do start working in the area.

None of those is going to be a combined program, and except for UCLAs program none of them will give you a certificate or will be online. The only pathway is experiential. They are some great resources though if you have lots of time and money, but if your not a counselor already and cant turn that into talking the talk, and an opportunity to show what you cando then your not getting anything for all those resources.

Excellent information, Eion! Great ways to get some of the basics of University Counseling before taking on the job cold.

I also remember there used to be a summer workshop offered at Georgetown University and sponsored by the State Dept. According to this link, it will be at New York University this summer: http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/c6969.htm



eion_padraig wrote:
> UCLA has a good certificate course on the fundamentals of college
> counseling that is offered online that many people have taken who don't
> have other training and don't come from a university admissions background.
> I haven't done it, though I know many people who have. I do think it's a
> bit more US centric.
>
> I've mainly learned about UK universities through conference sessions on
> UCAS. The UCAS website is actually very well put together and so it's a
> good resource to check out. They have some useful training videos that I
> think are available without being an adviser. Admittedly, I've had the
> opportunity to strengthen my understanding by talking with UK admission
> representatives.
>
> I've included a list of things to check out that would be in person
> training opportunities.
>
> There are other good training events that specifically address
> international school counselors like the Principal's Training Center
> (http://www.theptc.org/) and College Board's International Summer Institute
> for International Counselors . Some places also do training for college
> counseling aimed at people working at US private high schools, but these
> probably are more US centric that you might need. Taft School in
> Connecticut has one; https://www.taftschool.org/tec/detail.aspx?id=16E10.
>
> If you're in Europe, I would recommend going to Council of International
> Schools' (http://www.cois.org/page.cfm?p=2132) conference in Barcelona
> Spain in November on international admission and guidance. This will be a
> great opportunity to network with other international school counselors and
> learn about the university admission process in many different countries.
> CIS also has regional forums that could be worth going to in Bangkok
> (October), Mexico (October), and South Africa (March '17), which would
> serve some of the same purpose in those regions.
>
> International ACAC (formerly OACAC; http://www.oacac.com/) has a very
> useful conference each year in different parts of North America during the
> summer. Another great place to network and learn about the university
> search process. This year they are also hosting a regional event in Africa
> in Nairobi, Kenya in October. They did something similar in Shanghai last
> year. It's meant to reach counselors who can't get to North America during
> the summer due to cost/time issues.
>
> A good Facebook group to join is the IACAC group, though it's closed so
> you'll nee to reach out and ask to join. Lots of people with good advice
> and who are willing to be helpful once you do start working in the area.

Yeah, I know one of the people who helps out with the training for the program. He's very knowledgeable.

I went to it some years back when it was still at Georgetown. It's a good program for people looking to get a good start on international college counseling. People with admissions or extensive US independent schools may not benefit quite as much from it, but they do tackle non-US (Canadian, UK, European) admissions a bit too.

Eion

So, is there a preference of acquiring a masters in school counseling or clinical mental health counseling? I was considering getting my masters in "clinical mental health counseling" and becoming a licensed professional counselor. With that master's degree and already having some years of teaching under my belt, I could have a decent chance at getting a counselor position at an IT?

@wilcoman

Masters in school counseling, not only is it preferred over clinical counseling but school counseling leads to a professional educator credential much easier than a mental health degree. The issue of course is you can rarely get an LPC license with a School Counselor Masters, and its a lot more work, requiring another supervised internship you would have to do as part of a Uni program and they would likely make you complete their program. The best option if you wanted to do the climical masters and LPC would be to create your degree plan at whatever Uni you are at following the D.C. guidelines and possibly doing a double internship. You could then take the PRAXIS and apply for a school counselor credential. It is not worth the work though if you want to fully be a school counselor.

Is it possible though to get a counselor position at an IT without a school counseling credential, but just a masters in counseling and as a LPC?

wilcoman wrote:
> Is it possible though to get a counselor position at an IT without a school
> counseling credential, but just a masters in counseling and as a LPC?

Yes, it's possible and I know several School Counselors currently working at decent international schools who do not have a Masters in School Counseling. Masters in School Psychology, Clinical Counseling, Social Work, and Clinical Psychology will be considered by a lot of schools from my experience.

@wilcoman

Its possible, sure, its not very probable though, and your likely looking at lower tier ISs.

The qualifications of "counselors" currently working at international schools vary dramatically. Some are teachers who have no experience but are being team players to impress the boss. Others just little girls who are cheap and like to talk to students and the heads like the girls (in more ways than one) and consider nice talkers counselors. Others have specializations in college or mental health counseling through premier post-bac programs such UCLA's or masters programs in school counseling for the soci/emo specialists. Some are generalists, some are specialists. A majority are highly average, a great number are so bad they are worse than a school having no counselor at all, and a minority are at the top of their field.