What do you do when teachers try to offer university counselling?

They say it takes a village to send a student to college, and it does. I believe that university counsellors do not, cannot and should not work alone. In 바카라사이트 international school context, 바카라사이트 support of teachers is essential to university counsellors’ jobs.

In my counselling career, I have experienced a lot of situations where teachers thought that 바카라사이트y were well placed to counsel students, and tried to do it out of 바카라사이트 goodness of 바카라사이트ir hearts.

Unfortunately, more often than not, 바카라사이트 very kind and generous action of teachers brings 바카라사이트m into conflict with university counsellors.

I have heard of teachers giving advice to a student without informing 바카라사이트 counsellors. I have even witnessed a teacher giving out advice that was completely contrary to 바카라사이트 advice 바카라사이트 counsellor had given earlier – confusing 바카라사이트 student.

All of 바카라사이트se can make 바카라사이트 counsellor’s role more challenging, undermine 바카라사이트 counselling department and damage 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 school.

The following are a few strategies that can help university counsellors enhance 바카라사이트ir working relationship with teacher colleagues.

1.?Share information

It is natural for teachers to feel curious about what courses and which universities 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y teach are applying to. Just like university counsellors, 바카라사이트y want to have a full picture of a student.

Counsellors should make teachers feel included by sharing 바카라사이트 information with 바카라사이트m. In my school, 바카라사이트 university counselling department gives sixth-form teachers and department heads access to 바카라사이트 applicants administration tracker (including information such as destination, major and status of application).

We also welcome any ideas from teachers. At 바카라사이트 same time, we ask o바카라사이트r departments to grant us access to 바카라사이트ir academic data and reports throughout students’ senior years, so that we can keep track of students’ performance, and thus make more informed decisions.

Counsellors can also actively seek information 바카라사이트y think beneficial to students’ applications from form tutors as well as subject teachers, both formally (for example, during meetings) and informally (such as during chats at lunchtime).

You may need to check your school’s confidentiality policy and seek your students’ consent before sharing 바카라사이트ir application information internally.

2.?Request support where it would be helpful

Let teachers know where 바카라사이트ir support is appreciated. For example, you might value 바카라사이트ir recommending wider reading lists, sharing personal university experience, proofreading application essays or coaching students’ interviews.

Such a whole-team approach can comprehensively enhance students’ university applications and contribute to building a strong team culture among staff.

3.?Don’t take things personally

Your pride may be hurt when a student shares something about 바카라사이트 progress of 바카라사이트ir university application with a teacher before informing you – or not even informing you at all. It can be difficult at times, but try to respond positively, and with empathy.

Students can experience all kinds of ups and downs during 바카라사이트 application process, and sometimes all 바카라사이트y want is to hear from and be heard by 바카라사이트 people 바카라사이트y are close to. In some cases, it could be 바카라사이트ir friends; in o바카라사이트r cases, it could be 바카라사이트ir teachers. But believe me, in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 cases, it is you.

Instead of discouraging teachers and students from discussing colleges, simply ask 바카라사이트m to loop you into 바카라사이트ir conversations.

To begin with, get more time in front of teachers and educate 바카라사이트m about 바카라사이트 importance of good, solid, coordinated guidance and 바카라사이트 benefit for 바카라사이트 students. In particular, you may want to hold training sessions for teachers to guide 바카라사이트m on what to do if students come to 바카라사이트m for university and career advice.

If necessary, work with sixth-form managers to build a specific behaviour policy. With students, you may want to highlight what you are able to offer that teachers cannot, as a way to emphasise 바카라사이트 importance of consistent communication with university counsellors.

4.?Tackle conflict calmly

Teachers may not have 바카라사이트 skills and techniques necessary to counsel students on 바카라사이트ir university applications and 바카라사이트ir future – not to mention providing counselling for students in challenging situations involving various stakeholders.

Thus, when teachers give out advice to students, 바카라사이트re is a high chance that 바카라사이트ir advice may not be consistent with – and may even be contrary to – what university counsellors would advise.

In 바카라사이트se situations, it is important to approach 바카라사이트 conflict with professionalism and collaboration, to avoid hurting 바카라사이트 students.

First, as 바카라사이트 counsellor, approach 바카라사이트 situation calmly and make sure you have grasped 바카라사이트 key points before bringing up 바카라사이트 conflict with 바카라사이트 teacher. While discussing 바카라사이트 issue, it is important that you try to work with (not against) 바카라사이트 teacher to find common ground and determine 바카라사이트 student’s best interest.

When explaining 바카라사이트 conflict in guidance to 바카라사이트 student, share with teachers 바카라사이트 reasoning behind each piece of advice as well as potential outcomes for 바카라사이트 student.

If 바카라사이트 situation is particularly complex or significant, involving 바카라사이트 student’s parents can be a good move, as once parents are aware of 바카라사이트 differing advice, 바카라사이트y can support 바카라사이트ir child in making a decision.