Jennifer Binneboese

School Counselor, Washington Park High School



1. What did you study in college?  Was your plan to enter the school counseling world?

I was a psychology major as an undergrad and a counseling major in grad school.  I have a lot of family members who work in the education field and I was adamant that I wasn't going to go into education as a career.  I originally wanted to become a forensic psychologist and be a FBI profiler.  

2. What inspires you most about your job?

Watching student come in as freshmen and grow, mature and find themselves by senior year is amazing to watch.  I love seeing the excitement from students when they get accepted to a college or win a scholarship.  Our Senior Awards Night and graduation are such proud moments for me.  Knowing I helped a student somewhere along the way in that process inspires me to keep coming back each year.  

3. What is the best part of what you do?

I get to work with some pretty amazing people.  School counseling is a team effort: counselors, social workers, psychs, admins.  Our job can be really challenging and I always know I can go to them for support, to vent or for a laugh.  Additionally, as a Wisconsin School Counselor Association (WSCA) Director of Operations, I am able to help promote the school counseling profession and to change the narrative from 'guidance counselor' to 'school counselor'.

4. How has being a member of WACAC helped you?

It has helped me learn more about college admissions.  I have grown my network of people I can call on when I have questions.  Being involved in a WACAC committee has also helped me grow professionally, pushed me out of my comfort zone at a time and allowed me to work on my leadership skills.  

6. What is one piece of advice you would give a new admissions counselor or high school counselor?

I would tell new high school counselors to not be afraid to ask questions.  I still ask my peers questions 13 years into the profession.  There is so much changing information we need to know to assist parents, students, teachers and our peers.  Take it all in, try to be organized, go to those counselor workshops/conferences to stay up to date (and network).

7. What's an interesting fact about you that has nothing to do with admissions counseling?

I love digital photography, especially black and white.  I shoot primarily nature, landscape, architecture, and macro and street photography.  

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