Junior Counselors are selected from students who attended PALS as delegates and showed strong leadership. If you're recommended and invited, you spend the next nine months, October to June, training through PALP, attend the Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat and pass final clearance before you serve at PALS.

See the Full Path Understand the Commitment See Your Service Hours

The Quick Version

You can't sign up for this pathway. Junior Counselors in Training are invited from past PALS delegates who showed strong leadership.
You complete the full PALP program plus nine months of extra leadership training.
You attend the Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat (February 9–15, 2027), a May capstone and June training, and must pass each step.
Junior Counselors generally earn 100 to 150 service hours or more, including early arrival at PALS.

The Whole Path at a Glance

Every Junior Counselor starts as a PALS delegate. Steps 2 through 6 are the Junior Counselor in Training year. You earn the Junior Counselor title only after Final Clearance in step 7.

Attend PALS as a Delegate

Select delegates are invited to join the next year's group of Junior Counselors in Training.

Invited to Junior Counselor in Training

PALS staff recommend you, and you accept the additional commitment.

Join PALP and Practice for Nine Months

You join the PALP program from October to June. PALP sessions and real NVEEE work are where you practice leading.

Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat

Feb. 9–15, 2027: a hands-on training week.

May Capstone

A combined leadership scenario and portfolio review.

June Operations and Final Clearance

Safety, boundaries, chain of command and coaching if assigned. You must pass final clearance to serve.

Serve as a Junior Counselor

Once cleared, you serve as a Junior Counselor at your chosen PALS location. If you aren't cleared, you remain a Junior Counselor in Training.

Junior Counselor in Training vs. Junior Counselor

You can't sign up for this pathway. You attend PALS as a delegate first, and delegates who show strong leadership may be recommended by staff and invited. Not every delegate is invited.

Junior Counselor in Training	Junior Counselor
The training year before you serve.	The cleared leadership role at PALS.
You practice, build evidence and may still have coaching items.	NVEEE has confirmed you can serve safely and reliably.
Does not guarantee a PALS placement.	Tied to an assigned PALS campus and role.

You are still a full PALP participant. Every regular PALP requirement still applies, and your Junior Counselor in Training work sits on top of it, not in place of it. If you are not finally cleared, you remain a Junior Counselor in Training and do not serve under the Junior Counselor title.

PALP students at a leadership roundtable — Junior Counselors in Training stay part of the full PALP year, including leadership roundtables.

Before You Accept

Once You Accept, You're Committed

Accepting is a promise to your team, your future PALS delegates and NVEEE. Review the work, travel and cost with your family first.

You Stay for All Nine Months

Accepting commits you to PALP, the Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat and serving at PALS. You can't back out later because another activity comes up.

You Help Raise Your Costs

You know the costs a year ahead, and raising the money is your responsibility. NVEEE offers fundraising options throughout the program.

Recommendation Letters Are Earned

Finishing the full commitment makes you eligible to ask for a letter. Letters are never automatic, and NVEEE writes one only when your year earns it.

Seniors Are Invited Case by Case

Many colleges start in the summer, which can conflict with PALS. If you can fully commit, NVEEE will work with your schedule when possible. Seniors are always welcome in PALP.

What You're Training to Do

At PALS, Junior Counselors help lead under staff supervision, so PALS shouldn't be the first time you lead a group. You may help lead:

✓ Icebreakers and connection activities.

✓ Workshops and small-group discussions.

✓ Student project work and presentation practice.

✓ Transitions and daily program flow.

✓ Including everyone and everyday accountability.

✓ Other responsibilities assigned by adult staff.

How Your Practice Grows

Month	What you practice
October	A small role and about 5 minutes leading reflection.
November	One leadership task during Give Miami Day work.
December	Calming a confused group and knowing when to bring in staff.
January	A 10–15 minute connection activity.
February	The Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat.
March	A 10–15 minute respectful discussion.
April	A 15–20 minute Life Lab activity.
May	A capstone scenario and review of your year.
June	The 90-minute PALS Operations Readiness session.

Student leaders presenting to the group at PALS — Student leaders take the front of the room at PALS.

In Their Own Words

What Junior Counselors in Training Say About PALS

Every Junior Counselor in Training starts as a PALS delegate. Here is how past Junior Counselors in Training rated their growth after PALS, on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much).

2025 Junior Counselors in Training

100%Social Issuesrated their knowledge of social issues a 4 or 5

90%Leadership Confidencerated their confidence in their leadership abilities a 4 or 5

90%Friendships and Connectionsrated their ability to make new friends and build meaningful connections a 4 or 5

80%Resolving Conflictsrated their confidence resolving conflicts a 4 or 5

4.3 / 5Average Ratingaverage across leadership, resolving conflicts, friendships and social issues

2026 Junior Counselors in Training

100%All Four Areasrated leadership, resolving conflicts, friendships and social issues all a 4 or 5

4.5 / 5Average Ratingaverage across leadership, resolving conflicts, friendships and social issues

Ratings from the PALS reflection questions in the PALP application. Scale: 1 = not at all, 5 = very much.

It gave me the skills I needed to become an ambassador and lead the school and upcoming students, although I am only a sophomore (and I give full credit to PALS).

Sabrina, 2025 JCIT, UCF

PALS also inspired me to begin a community service student organization at my school.

Sydney, 2025 JCIT

Better connections, networking and a home.

Kaylen, 2025 JCIT, UCF

PALS taught me how to face my fears and let myself be vulnerable to rejection, and I have already gained a lot from just getting over my fears.

Olivia, 2026 JCIT, Georgetown

See Junior Counselors in Action

Watch what goes into Junior and Senior Counselor training and service at PALS.

Watch on YouTube More NVEEE Videos

Feb. 9–15, 2027 | Required for Junior Counselors in Training

The February Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat

The retreat is your main training week, built around doing, not lectures. You practice real PALS situations through role-play, team challenges, feedback and retries, and you complete service projects as a team.

It runs Tuesday, Feb. 9 through Monday, Feb. 15, 2027, with Feb. 15 as the travel day home, and counts for 30 service hours. Can't make every day? Tell us early. NVEEE can arrange a late arrival and will work with you on other conflicts or issues so you can still complete your training.

See Costs & Commitment

Junior Counselors in Training leading a leadership workshop at PALS

Junior Counselors in Training practice real leadership skills from October to June, building toward PALS.

Your Nine-Month Portfolio

You aren't cleared on one good week. NVEEE looks at all nine months. By June, your portfolio must show:

Category	Minimum
Live leadership	4 different live experiences, from a short activity to a PALS-style segment.
NVEEE and PALP work	1 event or campaign responsibility, start to finish.
Community Impact Project	1 defined project leadership responsibility.
Coaching others	2 documented coaching or rehearsal sessions.
Including everyone	1 example of including a quieter, virtual or new student, or solving a group problem.
Retreat, May and June	All required retreat blocks, the capstone, Operations Readiness and any assigned coaching.

Coach Without Taking Over

Do	Don't
Ask questions that help a student think.	Rewrite their work so it becomes yours.
Rehearse a presentation and give feedback.	Create the presentation for them.
Help a quieter student join in.	Speak for them.
Bring serious concerns to adult staff.	Handle a serious concern alone or promise to keep secrets.

How You Get Cleared

In May, your capstone and nine months of evidence lead to one of three results. You get the skills and rubric in advance, so it isn't a surprise.

May result	What happens next
Ready	You move on to June.
Ready with coaching	You complete targeted coaching before June clearance.
Additional preparation required	Important areas still need work before you can be considered.

In June, every Junior Counselor in Training completes a 90-minute PALS Operations session on safety, confidentiality, conduct and chain of command. If you were rated Ready with Coaching, you also complete a 60-minute coaching session. Then you are either cleared to serve or you remain a Junior Counselor in Training.

Struggling with a skill is expected. Feedback, retries, coaching and make-ups are built in. What can't be replaced is live practice: worksheets, attendance and reflections alone won't clear you.

Completing PALP doesn't automatically clear you as a Junior Counselor.

What Happens at PALS After You're Cleared?

You arrive before the delegates to prepare: one day early at Florida campuses and two days early outside Florida. During PALS, you lead activities and discussions, coach project work and support staff within the limits of your role.

You must stay in good standing all week. NVEEE can limit or end the role for safety, conduct, reliability or performance concerns.

A full-group discussion circle at PALS — Full-group sessions, the kind of room Junior Counselors help lead.

Cost & Payment

Choose What Goes on Your Ticket

You register for PALP and pay on one form. You decide what to include now, and every option can be paid in full or on a payment plan.

Option 1

PALP Only

$50 registration fee
$200 PALP Program Fee

$250 total

Payment plan: paid in full by December

Option 2

PALP + Retreat

$50 registration fee
$200 PALP Program Fee
$350 Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat

$600 total

Payment plan: paid in full by December

Best Value

Option 3

PALP + Retreat + PALS

$50 registration fee
$200 PALP Program Fee
$350 Junior Counselor Service and Training Retreat
Your PALS tuition at last year’s early bird rate

$600 + PALS tuition

Payment plan: 8 monthly payments

Payment plans include a one-time $20 Paythen setup fee. Your first payment includes the $50 registration fee.

Why Put It All on One Ticket?

✓You pay one $50 registration fee, not two. Registering for PALS separately later means paying a second $50 registration fee.

✓You get 8 months to pay. If you wait, PALS payments still have to start by January because NVEEE must secure housing and campus contracts early. Fewer months means larger payments.

✓You lock in last year’s PALS rate at the early bird price, with none of this year’s increase.

✓NVEEE covers your early-arrival training day at PALS, including housing, food and all expenses for that first training day.

✓You can still switch your PALS location if you change your mind later. Your payments are adjusted.

✓Your PALS spot is secured as long as you meet the Junior Counselor requirements. If you don’t clear, you receive a refund for PALS.

✓You won’t have to come up with PALS money later. It is already part of your plan.

See the Difference

Example: Paying Separately

You choose Option 2 now and pay your $50 registration fee. You finish paying PALP and the retreat by December. In January, you register for PALS, pay a second $50 registration fee, and start PALS payments with only a few months left before summer.

Example: One Ticket

You choose Option 3 now and pay one $50 registration fee. PALP, the retreat and PALS are spread across 8 monthly payments. You keep last year’s early bird rate for PALS, and your early-arrival training day is covered.

Want the full PALP cost breakdown and Miami Dolphins tuition support details? See Cost & Registration.

How Much Service Can This Pathway Add?

Your known minimum before PALS is 75+ hours: 45+ PALP hours plus 30 for the retreat. PALS delegates earn about 50 hours, and you earn those plus your early-arrival days.

100–150+ hoursBetween PALP, the retreat and PALS, Junior Counselors generally earn 100 to 150 service hours or more, depending on the time they put into service projects.

Service hours depend on verified participation and work. The known minimum is not an automatic award of hours.

Understand PALP Service Hours

Is This Path Right for You?

If you're invited, this path may fit you if you're willing to:

✓ Lead live, even while your confidence is still growing.

✓ Prepare before people depend on you.

✓ Take direct feedback and try again.

✓ Help peers without taking over.

✓ Speak up early when something is wrong.

✓ Commit to the extra work, the retreat and all nine months.

Final clearance is based on proven readiness, not an invitation, payment or years in PALP. If you want the title without the practice and responsibility, this probably isn't the right pathway for you.

Have Questions?

Every PALP question and answer now lives on one page, organized by topic.

Junior Counselor Questions See All FAQs

The Goal Isn't to Look Like a Leader. It's to Be Ready When Other Students Are Counting on You.

The Junior Counselor in Training year gives you time to practice before PALS asks you to lead in real time.

If you attended PALS and receive an invitation, read the commitment carefully, talk it through with your family and decide whether you're ready to do the work that comes before the title.

Review the Commitment Explore Leadership & Advancement See PALS

Junior Counselor Pathway

Junior Counselors Are Invited. Then They Train to Lead.