College Advisor

New Paradigm for Education • Detroit, MI

5d • Onsite

About The Position

New Paradigm For Education (NPFE) is a non-profit Charter Management Organization (CMO) dedicated to ensuring all students in Detroit achieve at the highest levels. NPFE seeks a College Advisor to work with the counseling team, scholars, and their families throughout high school to prepare them for and support them through all elements of the college application, admissions, matriculation, and transition processes. The goal is to ensure scholars not only make it to college but also succeed through and beyond it. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of college admissions and financial aid processes, strong entrepreneurialism, systems-driven approach, organization, relentlessness, creative problem-solving skills, follow-through, research, networking, and communication skills. Careful planning for strategic use of time and resources is also essential.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, preferable in education or in assigned content area.
• Previous experience in either high school counseling and/or college admissions field is required.
• Extensive knowledge of the college admissions and financial aid processes – including relevant state information.
• Skills necessary to help students be successful in college: entrepreneurialism, systems-driven, organized, relentlessness, creative problem solving, and follow-through.
• Research, networking, and communication skills.
• Ability to plan carefully to ensure strategic use of time and resources.
• Highly motivated and driven by results.
• Extremely organized with an ability to balance deadlines and multiple workstreams.
• Flexible and adaptable to ever-changing student needs and work demands.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Enduring belief in the endless potential of all scholars.
• Commitment to going “above and beyond” in the name of student success.

Responsibilities

• Support and guide all 12th-grade students through each step of the college and financial aid application process.
• Provide one-on-one college counseling to a caseload of 40-45 seniors through the admissions cycle, including creating a college list, writing and revising the personal statement, advising on financial aid, and making final matriculation decisions.
• Work closely with parents and guardians of all students on caseload, including evening workshops and meetings for families.
• Ensure students take advantage of special opportunities made available to low-income students in the college search and application process (e.g., fee waivers, fly-in visits, university partner programs and scholarships).
• Work closely with the AF College and Alumni Report Card to meet all deadlines and goals related to college partnerships.
• Plan and lead workshops for parents on key topics (financial aid planning, different types of institutions, scholarships, etc.) related to the college admissions process.
• Ensure parents and students comprehend the different application requirements and deadlines, admissions policies, and financial aid applications associated with different colleges.
• Write and manage the collection of Letters of Recommendation for all seniors, including providing professional development and coaching for the Letter of Recommendation writing process for all teachers.
• Contact and meet with campus admissions representatives to build positive relationships and market AF applicants.
• Become familiar with the academic and social environments at the various colleges seniors are considering in an effort to recommend suitable matches.
• Develop and maintain a robust network of college admission professionals through regular communication and high school visits from colleges and universities that best support first-generation, low-income college students.
• Assist with the administration of the SAT assessments (PSAT and SAT).
• Attend and give input on planning for overnight college trip for seniors.
• Work with other members of the school-based college team to ensure alignment of summer opportunities and collect feedback from Alumni Counselor.
• Assist with specific projects and areas as determined by the Dean of College.
• Participate in school-wide professional development, grade-level teams, and school-specific duties.
• Support and participate in school-wide activities and programming.
• Serve as an advisor for a group of 15-18 students.
• Perform other ancillary duties as needed or assigned.

What This Job Offers

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