Are you interested in becoming a part of the world of education, but you don’t think you are cut out to be a classroom teacher? If you want to have an impact on the lives of hundreds of students without having to set foot in front of a classroom, you might be considering becoming a school counselor. Before you sign up for your college courses, however, it is a good idea to explore the pros and cons of becoming a school counselor so you can be certain this job is right for you.

Pro: Making an Impact on the Lives of Students

Perhaps the greatest pro to becoming a school counselor is the fact that it allows you to make an impact on the lives of many students. After all, you are the person who is responsible for helping them explore their career options and for helping them find the college that is best for them once they reach the high school level. As such, the assistance you provide to your students will likely impact them for the rest of their lives.

Of course, working as a school counselor is not always about just handling class schedules and career paths. Rather, you will also be called upon to work with students who might be experiencing personal problems or otherwise need someone to listen to what is going on in their lives. As such, you have the potential to greatly impact students at an emotional level as well

Con: You Might End Up in the Classroom After All

If you are becoming a guidance counselor with the expectation of steering clear of the classroom completely, you might be in for a rude awakening once you land a job. At some schools, you might actually be called upon to teach a couple classes that are related to your profession, such as conflict resolution classes. Or, you may need to visit classrooms throughout the year to inform students about upcoming college and career-related events. Therefore, if you have a phobia about getting up in front of the classroom, pursuing a career as a school counselor might not be a good choice for you.

Pro: Earning More Than the Teachers

A benefit to working as a school counselor is the fact that you often earn more than the classroom teachers. Therefore, if you are interested in a career in education and you are looking for a way to make a little more than the typical teacher, this might be a good option for you to consider. Of course, you should keep in mind that school counselors generally make more than classroom teachers because they are called upon to work more days throughout the year. In addition, they often work slightly longer hours each day.

Con: You Will Wear Many Hats

A potential con to becoming a guidance counselor is that you may be called upon to wear many hats within your school building. While you may have images in your mind of having one-on-one counseling students to help them overcome emotional problems or to determine their career paths every day, the reality is that you will spend a great deal of time making schedules, administering standardize tests and performing other administrative duties. Guidance counselors are also regularly called upon to perform supervisory duties at lunchtime or in the mornings and after school as students are getting on and off of the bus. Therefore, you should be prepared to take on a number of duties that may not seem directly related to your job when you become a school counselor.

So, what is the bottom line? Simply put, becoming a guidance counselor is a great way to touch the lives of many students. At the same time, you need to prepared to take on extra duties as assigned and to understand that you might end up in front of the classroom from time to time. If you have no problem with these potential cons, then becoming a guidance counselor may be the right career path for you.