What are the job duties of a high school counselor?

I'm considering a career as a high school counselor, but I'm curious about what the day-to-day job duties actually look like. What tasks and responsibilities do they typically handle during a school day?

As a high school counselor, your role would encompass a number of responsibilities centered around student academic success, personal/social development, and career planning. Typically, your core duties can include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Academic Guidance: This may constitute the bulk of your duties, with tasks such as assisting students in course selection for each semester, coordinating with teachers to track student academic progress, assisting students with the college application process; which can include educating them on the admissions process, helping them understand their options, such as the differences between private and public schools, liberal arts colleges vs universities, and so forth. In addition, you may offer support with scholarship and financial aid applications.

2. Career Counseling: You'd provide resources and information to help your students plan their career paths. This can involve conducting aptitude tests to understand students' abilities and interests, educating them about a variety of career options, putting them in touch with mentors or potential internships, and helping them navigate complex decisions.

3. Supporting Personal and Social Development: This entails providing one-on-one counseling to students in need, guiding them through various adolescent issues, offering advice on relationship management, stress management, self-confidence and more. At times, you may need to intervene in situations of bullying, drug usage, or mental health concerns and direct students to appropriate resources.

4. Administrative Tasks: High school counselors also have to complete tasks like maintaining records of their interactions with students, collecting data on their students' successes and challenges, and preparing reports.

5. Collaborative Actions: You will frequently collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to create a collective support structure around the student. From parent-teacher meetings to school-level policy decisions, counselors play a significant role.

To note, the tasks and responsibilities can vary depending on the students' needs, school size, school district policies, and other factors. Finally, a high school counselor role can bring the emotional challenge of supporting students dealing with tough issues, but many counselors find this work rewarding when they see students thrive.