Admission Counselor

Details•San Diego, CA

3d•$5,859 - $5,859

About The Position

The Admission Counselor serves as a primary representative of the University, managing the full recruitment cycle within assigned territories. This role balances strategic outreach—including travel, presentations, and relationship management—with meticulous application review. The Counselor acts as a dedicated guide for prospective students and families, navigating them through the enrollment process while contributing to the development of departmental policies and recruitment strategies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum of 1 year in college admissions or a relevant field such as K-12 education, student leadership/outreach, public relations, or sales/marketing.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record for recruitment travel.
Exceptional oral communication skills with the ability to present confidently to diverse audiences, ranging from individual families to large groups of several hundred.
Strong written communication skills and the ability to build rapport with students, parents, and high school partners from diverse backgrounds.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and a willingness to master recruitment databases (CRMs like Slate or Salesforce) and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom/Teams).
Proven ability to work independently, manage a complex travel schedule, and meet strict deadlines without constant direct supervision.
A team-oriented mindset with the flexibility to contribute to a high-energy, collaborative office environment.
A baseline understanding of—or a strong desire to learn—the University of San Diego’s mission, academic programs, and unique student life.

Responsibilities

Application Evaluation & Scholarship Review
Comprehensive Review: Perform holistic evaluations of freshman and transfer applications by calculating cumulative GPAs, assessing curriculum rigor, and analyzing school competitiveness.
Decision Making: Recommend final admission decisions (Admit/Deny/Waitlist) based on individual student profiles, applicant pool trends, and the University’s mission.
Scholarship Management: Determine merit-based scholarship eligibility and award amounts based on established institutional criteria.
Stakeholder Communication: Provide transparent and empathetic updates to prospective families and high school counselors regarding application status and decisions.
Strategic Territory Management & Recruitment
Data-Driven Travel: Manage assigned geographic territories by analyzing historical data and school reports to identify high-priority high schools, community colleges, and CBOs for recruitment.
Outreach & Presentation: Lead engaging presentations at high schools and college fairs; coordinate off-campus receptions and alumni networking events.
Logistics: Independently schedule and manage all travel logistics for recruitment during the Fall and Spring seasons with some trips potentially lasting two consecutive weeks.
Professional Development: Represent the University within professional organizations such as NACAC and WACAC to stay current on industry trends and ethics.
Counseling & Public Information Sessions
Student Advising: Serve as a subject matter expert for prospective students on admission requirements, financial aid basics, academic programs, and campus life.
Community Outreach: Conduct workshops for college-access groups (e.g., AVID, Upward Bound, CalSoap) to assist underrepresented populations with college planning.
Campus Presence: Serve as the designated "Counselor of the Day," providing one-on-one consultations for visiting families and supporting all major on-campus recruitment events.
Leadership & Collateral Projects
Liaison Duties: Act as the formal point of contact for specific Academic or Athletic departments to streamline the recruitment of specialized cohorts.
Transfer Support: Assist with domestic and international transfer credit advising and evaluation.
Project Management: Co-lead the planning and execution of special admission events and departmental initiatives as assigned.