College Counselor

Great Hearts Academies•Irving, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Great Hearts Academies provides quality support and individualized attention to each student throughout our multi-year preparation for the college application process. Our perspective is that university life offers profound opportunities to students for the continuation of their pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. It provides the time and space for students to greater deepen who they are, both intellectually and morally amongst their leaders and peers. Thus it is of the utmost importance that our college counselors assist students in identifying and attending an appropriate educational environment since the formation they receive at university will be a determining factor in their vocations and roles in society. College Counselors provide individualized planning and advice to students and their parents. The counselor’s aim is to help students identify, apply and eventually attend the school that is the best fit given their interest, family goals and financial circumstances. There is no crisis counseling, and since the curriculum contains no electives, college counselors do not work on course selection and student scheduling.

Requirements

Experience in school college guidance or selective college admissions
BA required
A deep knowledge of institutions of higher education, including signature and honors programs, financial aid, scholarship opportunities, and the various factors informing a student’s institutional fit
Leadership of a compelling program detailing the admissions process for students and families, with informative, transparent, supportive relationships with those families undertaking the daunting process and a momentous decision
Exceptional writing, organizational, leadership, and interpersonal skills, along with receptivity to accountability
A strong work ethic, self-confidence, and the proven ability to design and execute projects
Responsiveness to all constituencies: students, parents, faculty, administration, the board, colleges
Eagerness to represent the school on campus visits, in membership to NACAC, and in community programming
Must be able to pass fingerprint background clearance
Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching
May be required to move or position equipment up to 20 pounds approximately
May need to travel locally to the various academies within the Dallas metro area
Candidate must have reliable transportation and valid driver’s license
Some national travel may be required
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements
May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities

Nice To Haves

MA preferred

Responsibilities

Developing college workshops for parents and providing individual parent counseling to answer questions about high school curriculum, college acceptance, the application process, etc.
Deliver college curriculum to prepare students for post-secondary planning
One-on-one advising on prospective colleges, as well as helping students evaluate their interests for an initial selection of a college major, if needed
Educating upperclassmen on application process through group workshops and individual meetings
Assisting students with applications, college essays and scholarship essays
Processing college application paperwork and writing letters of recommendation for admissions and scholarships
Researching and advertising summer study, internships, and scholarship opportunities
Facilitating the selection process for students nominated to represent the school for summer programs or scholarships
Updating the School Profile and other Academy documents
Maintaining a working calendar of events and tasks within the office
Coordinating and administering PSAT/NMSQT to sophomores and juniors and providing post-test counseling to develop individual test preparation plans for the SAT/ACT, as needed
Working as the school’s SSD Liaison (Services for Students with Disabilities) and assuring that the information process on college testing accommodations is coordinated with the Academy’s Special Education Coordinator
Coordinate the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test for interested sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Updating and maintaining college test stats, college acceptance data, scholarship tracking, and alumni information
Responsibility for registrar tasks; coordinating with the office manager for some of the registrar tasks; taking on responsibility for issuing transcripts for high school students applying to summer programs and colleges, as well as issuing final transcripts for high school graduates
Assisting the office with the processing of incoming transfer credits and serving as liaison to the Headmaster in matters of credit acceptance and necessary make-up credits for transfer students
Assisting the headmaster or his/her designated representative with devising remediation plans for high school failing semester grades to allow on-time high school graduation
Maintaining the school’s college counseling website, Naviance, and college rep visit site
Developing background information for the end-of-year awards ceremony highlighting the plans of each graduating senior
Collaborating with the Great Hearts College Counseling Team in Texas on various projects
Attending various College Counseling meetings and other trainings
Chaperoning for College Counseling events
Networking with colleges, including travel to schools and hosting admissions reps; activity in NACAC and attending National Conferences
Consulting with the Director of Academics as needed