Admissions Counselor

Samuel Merritt University • Sacramento, CA

34d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Admissions Counselor serves as the primary point of contact for prospective students, health science advisors, community college and university counselors, community partners, and healthcare professionals at Samuel Merritt University (SMU). This role involves counseling students on academic programs, admission options, and curriculum, as well as representing SMU at recruitment events. The position focuses on the admission cycle for undergraduate and graduate programs and requires a demonstrated commitment to SMU's mission, vision, and values, including diversity and inclusion.

Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree required.
• Demonstrated experience in student recruitment and admission required, or substantially similar work experience.
• Excellent organizational skills with a strong ability to meet all deadlines related to work projects with attention to detail.
• Moderate experience with spreadsheet software such as EXCEL.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to converse effectively with counselors, prospective students and family members, and other professional colleagues.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to organize and effectively communicate thoughts through the written word.
• Ability to read English and carry out written instructions.
• Ability to work and concentrate in a busy, multi-tasked, multi-faceted environment.
• A courteous and professional manner is required.
• Diplomacy in dealing with conflict.
• Ability and willingness to serve as an ombudsperson for students in a crisis situation.
• Excellent attention to detail as they relate to the successful, daily operation of the Office of Admission.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions and exercise professional judgment.
• Ability to analyze other statistical data pertaining to enrollment trends and projections.
• Ability to interact with University faculty and staff, medical center staff, prospective students and their families, and other University admission personnel.
• Ability and skill to work independently, and as part of a designated team.
• Ability and willingness to travel locally, regionally, and nationally for recruitment purposes.
• Ability to rent a car and a willingness to travel by airplane.
• Working knowledge of legal and ethical issues pertaining to the admission profession and processes related to the admission of students, specifically the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of student information system database and operational systems (i.e. Power Campus, Webadmit, SalesForce, SharePoint, Target X, Webex, Zoom, MS Teams, Outlook)
• Knowledge of private universities/colleges.
• Knowledge of UC, CSU, community college, and K-12 structures.
• Knowledge of SMU academic programs, student services, resources, and student recruitment strategies.
• Bilingual, Spanish speaking is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Establish contact with prospective students and counselors through continued presence at recruitment events.
• Communicate with prospective students regarding admission requirements, entry options, prerequisites, applicant pool statistics, denial of entry, curriculum, and general financial aid.
• Develop and execute recruitment strategies.
• Demonstrate and articulate the value of higher education.
• Represent Samuel Merritt University at transfer days, graduate and professional days, transfer centers, conferences, and other community events.
• Participate in regularly scheduled, on-campus Information Sessions.
• Participate in diversity-related recruitment events on and off campus.
• Independently maintain continued contact with prospective students throughout the application process.
• Notify applicants of their status while encouraging continued interest in Samuel Merritt University.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners: community colleges, non-profit organizations, hospitals, medical systems, etc.
• Provide effective and accurate counseling to prospective students on issues related to admission and financial aid, including prerequisite courses, course articulation, the admission process, deadlines, timelines, GPA calculations, course repeat policy, application competitiveness, denial reasons, and strengthening applications.
• Assure accurate and detailed evaluation of applications for admission, including checking for completeness, completion of prerequisites, and GPA calculations.
• Consult with academic departments to make admission decisions based on prescribed admission eligibility criteria.
• Review applications for accuracy after faculty decisions are made.
• Update information in NursingCAS and PowerCampus.
• Ensure compliance with official transcripts and other required documents after each semester begins.
• Perform other duties as requested by the Dean of Admission.
• Plan and coordinate travel.
• Participate in the enrollment planning process.
• Support other Admission team members when needed (appointments, events, application processing).
• Apply a ‘team approach’ mentality.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level