Upper School College Counselor

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School•Columbia, SC

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Upper School College Counselor provides personalized guidance to Upper School students and families in a collaborative and supportive environment. The counselor works with approximately 30–40 students from each graduating class, offering curricular, college, financial aid, and scholarship guidance and maintaining regular communication with parents. The role supports students throughout the college application process, including drafting and revising applications, essays, personal statements, and supplemental writing, and writing letters of recommendation. The counselor helps coordinate college representative visits, builds relationships with higher education admissions colleagues, and contributes to college counseling programming, events, and activities. The position also includes travel for college visits, conferences, and professional organizations; professional development; and participation in school activities and committees. The counselor supports the School’s Episcopal identity and commitment to diversity and multicultural education, works collaboratively across divisions, and completes required annual HR training. The position is primarily indoors, with occasional field trips to college campuses. The office is in the Robinson Center on a campus of more than 122 acres, and the employee must be able to travel independently between buildings and work both indoors and outdoors. Some evening and weekend commitments are required. Frequent walking, standing, stooping, and bending may be required, as well as the ability to lift up to 50 pounds. A criminal background check is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Passion for working with teenagers and a thorough understanding of the developmental needs of high school students.
Comfort working directly with parents and families and navigating challenging situations with discretion, diplomacy, and professionalism.
Ability to manage and complete multiple tasks in a high-expectations environment.
Energy, empathy, flexibility, and collaboration.
Good organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to travel independently between campus buildings and work indoors and outdoors.
Some evening and weekend commitments are required.
Criminal background check required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Experience in college counseling, college admissions, or higher education student development roles preferred.
Experience with Student Information Systems, Slate, Common Application, Cialfo, Google Suite tools, and web-based programs preferred.

Responsibilities

Schedule one-on-one counseling sessions with approximately 30–40 students from each graduating class.
Provide personalized curricular, college, financial aid, and scholarship guidance, and maintain regular communication with parents.
Coach students through drafting and revising college applications, essays, personal statements, and supplemental writing.
Write compelling, memorable, and authentic letters of recommendation.
Assist with coordinating college representative visits to Heathwood and cultivate partnerships with higher education admissions colleagues.
Help plan and implement college counseling programming, events, and activities.
Travel as needed for college visits, conferences, and professional organizations to remain current with the college admissions landscape.
Pursue professional development opportunities.
Help plan and chaperone weeklong Winterim experiences.
Serve on Exhibition, Upper School, and school-wide committees as needed.
Attend and support after-school activities and programs, including athletics, concerts, theater, and class programs.
Support the School’s Episcopal identity and practices and its commitment to diversity and multicultural education.
Work collaboratively with Upper School colleagues and colleagues across divisions.
Complete required annual HR training, including CPR, first aid, mandatory reporting, and hazardous materials handling.
Perform other work as necessary to support the School’s endeavors.