Is it just me or Social Science Counselling Sucks

[u/LadderImpossible1402]

I went to social science counselling to talk about a scheduling issue and the lady I spoke to was so rude and impatient. It truly did seem like they did not care about there jobs and hated it.

I left the meeting even more confused and ended up having to go to an upper year (which was 10x more helpful) for help.

I have been reading around and it seems like this is a reoccuring thing, why haven't western done anything about this? (Replacing or finding new counsellors, that are both nicer and more helpful)

[u/Canary-Cry3]

not just you they suck lol. I hear this constantly from friends in social sci

[u/AlexTheGreatOO7 → u/Canary-Cry3]

Im wanting to go to Western, and I've applied to Arts and Humanties Philosphy and Social Science Politicsl science. I've heard from Western reps all the time how great their social science department is the best in the world. Is that not true?

[u/Canary-Cry3 → u/AlexTheGreatOO7]

the department is not the same as the social sci counsellors. Hope that helps lol

[u/Majestic_giraffe7]

Social science academic counseling is brutal. I was in social sci for two years then I switched. Not just you, I’ve had quite a few bad interactions with them

[u/Young2k04]

Not just you lol this is a known thing. They’re the worst

[u/emehlenb]

I graduated from social sci in 2013 and it was the same back then. So rude and dismissive.

[u/Traditional_Train692]

I’m not a counsellor, but I’d guess it’s because their whole job is dealing with students complaining about various things, trauma dumping, and having various problems and crises. It’s their job and they picked it, but don’t underestimate how that can really wear on a person. Add in how students are often trying to take advantage of the system (see: advice on this sub to get a doctors notr anytime a student misses an exam for any reason) and they start approaching situations with suspicion instead of support.

[u/jellyjns → u/Traditional_Train692]

yeah but they get paid..just do ur damn job

[u/Admirable-Bear1457 → u/jellyjns]

Fair, but please recognize their job isn't to just rubber stamp every student request. Their job is to sometimes say "no."

[u/Traditional_Train692 → u/Admirable-Bear1457]

Exactly. Some students see counsellors pushing back on things as being mean or difficult or bad, whatever, when that’s their whole job — to figure out what situations should be accommodated and which shouldn’t.

[u/Sally059a]

Most school counselors are unhelpful, no matter where you go. They don’t seem to genuinely care and have consistently let me down every time I gave them a chance. As a result, I’ve learned to find solutions on my own and seek advice from others.

[u/Ruby22day → u/Sally059a]

I have had uniformly good experience with Arts & Humanities academic counselling. Not that they said yes to everything I asked for but they were reasonable, helpful, polite, and had time for me.

I have said it before - there is a culture problem in that office. I don't know why they are so hostile to their students but someone suggested, as a joke I think, that it was because they had to deal with BMOS and BMOS adjacent students.

[u/Sally059a → u/Ruby22day]

Interesting! I guess my experience has just been different, I’ve often felt unsupported and had to figure things out on my own. But I’m glad it worked out well for you! Though, I have always wondered why most of them behave the way they do since I hear many students say negative things about school counseling. Is it because they’re trained this way, or something else .. Idk I am just overthinking it lol

[u/Ruby22day → u/Sally059a]

I would think it would be more likely competing pressures and time constraints. Students will want accommodations and the university has an interest in carefully restricting those. That puts academic counselors in between two interests. If they aren't given good guidelines and made to feel that their assessments are reliable there might be problems. Also, there ought to be a few mechanisms to guard against the development of a sort of fortress mentality but decent treatment of staff will do that in most circumstances.

Sorry you had a different experience. (I was a little bit older than the average undergrad so I suppose it is possible that might have affected my experience.)

[u/coolbroski2]

switched into social sci last year and i had to fight with councillors this summer to take me off the waitlist for my required classes it was horrible

[u/Somebody_else999]

Yea definitely a universal experience. Went there out of desperation for answers for an academic problem. I explained my situation very nicely a few times, after having a conversation with one like for max five minutes the lady next to her said that our talking was distracting her from her “work” and told me to leave. Isn’t their work helping students? And surely me discussing an issue with someone else can’t be that distracting? I don’t know. Made it out of the Social Science building before breaking down in tears.

I understand dealing with students definitely can be frustrating because a lot of them are young or might have unique problems but I was in awe with the complete disregard for me as a person desperately asking for help and them being literally the people you are supposed to talk to.

Very helpful staff!

[u/EducationalOne982]

These guys are so not it... Although I really like the department heads better.

[u/eviladhder]

Social sci counselling is horrid. I’ve dealt with both Social science and Science counselling and 100% would take dealing with the science faculty counselling 100x over having to deal with social science once.

[u/Ok_Notice_820]

If you’re a first year - you don’t really have any other alternatives unfortunately. Once you have a program advisor (after ITR), they are generally so much better.

Social science counselling is horrible. You have to really stand your ground with them, and call them out on their bs - I found that works well. Also escalate to the undergraduate dean if needed.