Raptorific

I go to Temple and enjoy soda. I also like dinosaurs and Batman. I promise, I am not a child.

• Posted 3 months ago

  So, I'm seriously considering becoming a history teacher. But, my high school guidance counselor is crap. Like, you're-from-a-small-town-and-you're-never-going-to-get-out-so-why-try. crap. Do you have any insight into anything that might be even a little bit helpful? (Scholarships, Colleges, Time-frame, Things to keep in mind, etc.)

  Asked by Anonymous

  1. Look for schools school somewhere that’s not a small town. If you weren’t anon, I could give you more specific advice based on the area where you live, but alas, I have to work in generals. Honestly, most schools in cities have an education program geared towards getting you a job in the city. I suggest collegeboard.com, that really helped me in my decision. 
  2. Make sure teaching is something you really want to do before you commit to it. I’ve seen too many people who think they’ll be teachers because it’s fun and you get summers off who give up on the idea a few months in when they realize there’s no money in it. Just make sure it’s something you want, not something you think will make you financially successful. 
  3. Take your SATs seriously, but don’t stress about them. The SATs are a big test that is, honestly, a test on how good you are at taking the SATs. The best prep book you could possibly get is Sparknotes, because it doesn’t teach you content, but how the tests are organized and how the questions are written. You’ll do better to study how to identify the tricks they use while writing the questions than you will to study the content itself. Study the content as well, but don’t discount Sparknotes. Those dudes went to Harvard. 
  4. Apply for every scholarship. It’s not like they make you pay extra if you don’t get them, but they certainly make you pay less if you do. 
  5. Apply for lots of schools. It’s better to have more options than you need than fewer, right?
  6. If you’ve got a sucky guidance counselor, make friends with your teachers. There’s no one who can advise you better on what it takes to become a teacher than someone who already is one. I had the benefit of a good guidance counselor (my love to Mrs. Pacitto), but there’s no better resource than talking to your teachers, figuring out who can write you the best letters of recommendation, and cultivating relationships with people who can get you a teaching job down the road. 
  7. Get letters of recommendation. If you know even one teacher who likes you, they’ll probably write you a letter of rec, and I’m about 95% certain having a letter full of good things about you can’t possibly hurt your schooling or career. 
  8. Remember that guidance counselor when you have students who are looking for guidance. Don’t be like them. Strive to avoid that. Use the people who are bad at their jobs as examples of how not to act. 

  Hope I helped!

  • Anonymous

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