Counselor FAQs

We know you’ve got questions! Our goal is to help! Check out the questions and answers below to help you better understand the role of counselor.

What are we looking for in an applicant?

It’s pretty simple. Love God, Love Biblical Community, and Love the Incoming Class! Beyond this, our 400 counselors are very diverse. Our hope is to have a staff full of many different personalities, interests, and involvement in an effort to relate to the diverse incoming class. Ultimately we are hoping for a willing and sacrificial heart that is eager to serve the incoming students and point them to godly community in this city!

Do I have to have been to retreat as an incoming student to apply?

No! We have many staff who have never been to retreat. Even if you’ve never stepped foot onto Latham Springs property, we will do everything to equip and prepare you for leading as a counselor!

What are the actual requirements to apply?

Counselors must be (1) a full time student at Texas A&M or Blinn with a 2.0 GPA, (2) involved in a local church and bible study based small group, and (3) in Bryan/College Station the semester following retreat.

* note: involved is defined as committed to a local church with a heart to grow and give back to the body of believers through the local church. Bible study can be through the local church or through an organization like Cru, Navigators, etc.

What is the time commitment in the spring semester?

Counselors will have eight (8) camp meetings that run from the end of February to the end of April. These camp meetings are two hours long and typically happen late on a weekday, depending on when everyone in that camp can meet. Beyond this, there are two all staff retreats (March 1st - 2nd and April 5th - 6th) and then camp hangouts to bond and build relationships with the others in your camp! These camp hangouts aren’t mandatory, but encouraged.

What happens in a camp meeting? How am I equipped to lead a small group?

Camp meetings are designed to (1) train counselors to be well equipped to lead a small group of incoming students and (2) build bonds with the people in your camp so you can display a glimpse of that godly community to be found in this city. At these camps meetings, time is spent in prayer each week for the incoming class as well as time spent practicing sharing testimonies and the gospel, practicing leading discussion for a small group, and covering curriculum that will equip you to best lead the incoming class. This training will calm any nerves you have of being unequipped as well as encourage you to know there are others by your side to support and cheer you on! These camp meetings are led by a quad (two co-chairs and two prayer teamers) who will be your biggest support in Impact!

Why do counselors have to be in town the fall semester after retreat?

Retreat is really just an opening ceremony of sorts for the relationships formed at retreat. In the fall semester, counselors are a source of connection, encouragement, and guidance to the incoming students in their Impact small group! It is in this time that relationships are deepened and opportunities to get these students plugged into a local church takes place.

Can I apply for only one session? Can I apply for all four sessions?

An applicant for counselor only has to be available for one session to apply. Applying for more than one session does have value though, in that it increases your chances of being selected. Our encouragement is that IF you are available for multiple sessions, select all those sessions. It’s very important though to NOT select sessions* in which you have a conflict. Counselors are specifically selected for a session and if you put it as a choice, you must be willing to do that session. There is no giving preference to certain sessions.

* note: sessions also include two (2) workdays before that session where counselors prepare for retreat.