Graduate Admission Specialist (Student Services Professional II)

San Diego State University • San Diego, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Graduate Admissions Specialist plays a critical role in shaping the incoming graduate student community by evaluating applications and ensuring a smooth admissions process. Working under the direction of the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, this position reviews domestic and international applications, determines eligibility, and supports the accurate processing of admission decisions. The role combines detailed records evaluation, policy interpretation, and communication with applicants, faculty, and campus partners. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and contributing to graduate student success from the very first step of their academic journey. Enrollment Services is comprised of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Office of Evaluations, Prospective Student Services, Out-of-State Recruitment and Strategic Partnerships, International Recruitment, Class Schedule, Communications, Financial Aid, Scholarships, and the Cal Coast Student Financial Center. Enrollment Services implements SDSU enrollment management policies and provides services to students from their initial point of interest in SDSU to their graduation. The Office of Admissions is organized into the following areas: First-Year Admissions, Transfer Admissions, Graduate Admissions, Athletics & International Admissions, Admissions Eligibility Unit, First-Year Admissions Processing, Graduate Admissions Processing and Enrollment Services Support Unit. The function of the Graduate Admissions Unit is to perform various tasks that would facilitate the admission of eligible graduate students to the university. This involves the processing and routing of applications to the appropriate campus departments for review and the creation of academic student records for the College of Graduate Studies. Graduate Admission Unit is responsible for processing applications to graduate programs by receiving, coding and updating the student information system. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to, reviewing transcripts and test scores, reconciling application uploading errors, calculating grade point averages, determining residency and preparing files for department review.

Requirements

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job-related field.
• Possession of the required knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth.
• Previous experience in a university setting in admissions, advising, evaluations or other student service related offices.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Experience with document reviews in a high volume environment.
• Experience in data entry and updating database records.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree and one year of professional student services work experience is preferred.
• Experience analyzing data to determine eligibility for services and/or benefits is preferred.
• Experience using a student information system at a college or university (People Soft/Campus Solutions) is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate graduate, post-baccalaureate, and certificate applications by reviewing transcripts and determining admission eligibility.
• Process and reconcile application data, including resolving errors and reviewing reports to ensure accuracy and workflow efficiency.
• Interpret and apply CSU, Title V, and SDSU policies to guide application processing and routing to academic departments.
• Communicate with applicants, faculty, and institutions to clarify requirements and support the admissions process.
• Identify process improvements and ensure compliance with established procedures and standards.

Benefits

• Generous Time Off: 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Retirement: CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• Education Support: CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional Offerings: FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans.
• Campus & Community: Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees