So Ive been thinking...

For the past few months I have been debating going back to school (I was 3 yrs in to a BA @ Dowling in Elementary Ed- when I got preggo and realized I no longer want to teach)

I didnt want to rush back and spend more $$$ on something I didnt want to do- so Ive been back and forth with all sorts of things, but it seems going back to be a social worker/guidance counselor is what I want to do...

I have billions of questions and maybe you all can help me...

1. Are any of the online schools/programs for your BA legit? It would be so hard for me to go back FT, work FT and of course continue my other "job" of being a mommy and wife

2. Any schools have a program geared specifically to becoming a guidance counselor. I see Dowling has a sociology/anthropology with a concentration of social work- but is that what Im looking for??? (I do plan on meeting with a counselor at the college )

3. Those who are guidance counselors in the public school (or private schools even) How difficult was it for you to get a job???? Just like when I was going for Education- there is still that big fear of not being able to get a job on LI.


Any other help would be greatly appreciated...

Its killing me to be paying back my student loans and not have anything to show for it- but it'll kill me even more to throw away $$$ on something I dont wanna do

Re: So Ive been thinking...

I am currently attending University of Phoenix online for my MBA in Accounting. I have done a lot of reserach and it is definately legit. I love the online environment and I love having the flexibitly that it allows me to have.

Any other questions let me know

Re: So Ive been thinking...

I'd honestly be careful before going the guidance counselor route.

I know several people who went that route and can't find jobs here for the life of them.

I have my MSW which I think is a much more flexible degree.

Message edited 1/13/2008 11:52:39 AM.

Re: So Ive been thinking...

I know that CW Post has a guidance program... my SIL went through it recently. However, jobs in guidance are VERY hard to come by right now- it has been hard for her to even get an interview...

Re: So Ive been thinking...

Re: So Ive been thinking...

Not to reiterate what everyone else has already been saying, but I do think it's VERY hard to get a guidance counselor position on LI. As a teacher in an LI public school who has sat on guidance counselor interview committees a few times, I know how competitive it is. I do think it's worth it, though, if you're willing to look elsewhere for work?

Re: So Ive been thinking...

For the social worker or guidance positions you would need a master's. Stony Brook does offer a Bachelors in Social Work, but it leads into the Master's in Social Work program.

Post has a guidance master's degree program, but again, I know literally 50 people who have the degree and cannot find jobs. Think of how few counselors there are per school...Yet hundreds of people are graduating from the master's programs per year.

There are legit online programs, but I do not think any offer the master's degrees that you would need (either the MSW or the Master's in Counseling).

Re: So Ive been thinking...

Another thing to be mindful of, is that an accredited social work program requires an at least 21-hour per week field work internship. I think it's similar in the BSW program.

I know several people who dropped out of my MSW program because they couldn't meet the internship requirement, due to work or family obligations.

Especially in your first year of the MSW program, it's unlikely that you are going to get one of your top-choice field placements.

You may have to commute a bit, because it has to be at a place where there is a field instructor who has taken the course in field instruction.

Message edited 1/13/2008 1:32:11 PM.

Re: So Ive been thinking...

I have my BA is Social Sciences/Psych,
I then went for masters in school counseling, (they do not refer to it as guidance counseling) I went to LIU Brentwood. Hofstra also has a program. It is very hard to find a job, but the program is great. You will have to do an intership during the day.

Re: So Ive been thinking...

I could be wrong, but I think most degrees in "the helping professions" require an internship during the day.

I know someone who recently went back to school P/T for school psychologist. She is doing okay with the coursework piece right now, but is hoping her current job will work something out with her so she can fit in an internship at a school district when that starts her second year.

I also think it's for 3 days a week, like the MSW internship ;).