School Counseling

[robinsparkles]

I'm currently applying for my M.S. in Counselor Education, with a focus in school counseling. I'm confused about how important it is to attend a brand name university because ultimately I will get my state certification from any program I attend. So far I have been accepted to:

1) A prestigious, top-tier, private university in NYC that will cost somewhere near $70k for the entire program.

2) A mid-tier private university on Long Island, within 30 minute driving distance to where I live, and will cost around $45k.

3) I am expecting acceptance soon at 1 or 2 CUNYs (public universities in NYC), which would cost me under $20k for the programs because I am a state resident.

Does anyone have any insight on this? I'm getting a lot of encouragement to go to School #1, but I'm not sure if the prestige factor of the school will be beneficial enough in this profession to make it worth spending that much money! The schools in NYC would also have the added expense of train and subway passes. I'm not sure if I need to give the names of the schools, but I can if that would make a difference. Thank you!!

(Edit: I also don't have any student loan debt from undergrad.)

Edited March 27, 2010 by robinsparkles

[joro]

Can you get the same job regardless of which school you attend? Look into the schools a bit more and find out where the alumni end up. So would a brand name university determine where you end up? I think it depends on your field of work.

[LTee]

Im kinda in this same position, but Im applying for School Psych Ed.S programs. Im under the impression from the school psych's Ive talked to that as long as you have the appropriate certification, then your good. They both said that in interviews no one has ever asked them what school they went to. If you have a chance to spend less Id do it. But Im curious to hear what other people think.

[jessable01]

I'm currently applying for my M.S. in Counselor Education, with a focus in school counseling. I'm confused about how important it is to attend a brand name university because ultimately I will get my state certification from any program I attend. So far I have been accepted to:

1) A prestigious, top-tier, private university in NYC that will cost somewhere near $70k for the entire program.

2) A mid-tier private university on Long Island, within 30 minute driving distance to where I live, and will cost around $45k.

3) I am expecting acceptance soon at 1 or 2 CUNYs (public universities in NYC), which would cost me under $20k for the programs because I am a state resident.

Does anyone have any insight on this? I'm getting a lot of encouragement to go to School #1, but I'm not sure if the prestige factor of the school will be beneficial enough in this profession to make it worth spending that much money! The schools in NYC would also have the added expense of train and subway passes. I'm not sure if I need to give the names of the schools, but I can if that would make a difference. Thank you!!

(Edit: I also don't have any student loan debt from undergrad.)

I have my M.A. in Professional Counseling, which I know is not a school counseling concentration, but I'll just answer from what I've gathered from the counseling field in general. I don't know as much about the specific licensure or credentials required to practice as a school counselor, but I've encountered that jobs basically just want to see a specific license and awesome recommendations, and if school counseling doesn't have a specific license, then jobs typically want to see CACREP accreditation and the state certification (and awesome recommendations).

I would never dream of spending $70K on a masters degree in counseling. I got mine for under $20K, have worked for a couple years to get my state license and done some research, and just got accepted to a counseling PhD program. In the interview, they never asked me about my masters program's prestige, rather they asked what my current interests and work/research experiences have been. I don't even know what masters programs some of the other counselors I work with attended. As long as its accredited and they're able to get their license, no one really seems to care what masters program in counseling you went to except for in that "getting to know you" way.

I'm in the Midwest and not the NYC area, so I don't know if things are any different out there, but I wouldn't spend so much money for the school since, as you mentioned, you're going to come out with the same state credential as someone who attends the $20K state school. What's most important is getting close with your professors and taking advantage of all the opportunities you can so you can get awesome letters of recommendation down the road rather than going to a school solely for the prestige attached to the name.

But that's all just my thoughts!

[robinsparkles]

I would never dream of spending $70K on a masters degree in counseling

Yeah, I agree the price seems ridiculous in comparison to the salary I'll probably be making, but I'm not sure if the top-tier university would come with networking opportunities and other resources that could help me get a good job faster.

[robinsparkles]

To clarify the first post, #1 is Columbia Teacher's College, #2 is C.W. Post, and #3 would be Hunter