You enjoy working with students and their families in a counseling role, helping guide them through the sometime complicated, sometimes tortuous, but in the end invariably fulfilling college application process.

You know that a college education is generally seen as necessary for the continued success of high school graduates. What’s more, you understand that the viability of an independent school is directly correlated with the undergraduate admissions of its students. If you are looking to be a vital player in an independent school’s college counseling team and want to leave a tangible impact on the students with whom you work, then you should consider a position as a college counselor at an independent school.  But wait. 95% of the person’s hired into these roles have either prior college counseling experience and/or undergraduate (preferred) or graduate school admissions experience. 

College Counseling at an Independent School

The goal of an independent school is not merely to create happy, well-educated young people. An independent school derives success from stewarding students to the next stage of achievement, preparing them for academic and professional success in and beyond college. Parents and students generally need assistance, support, and information during the confusing and complicated college application process, and independent schools’ college counselors fill this important need.

Counselors advise students and parents about standardized testing, college essays and applications, financial aid options, and more. The successful college counselor communicates well-with both families and college admissions officers-and conveys to students the “best-fit” schools for their individual skills and interests. The best college counselors keep abreast of admissions trends in higher ed and serve as valuable resources and advisors for college-bound students at all phases of their independent school education after grade 9 (typically).

Finding College Counselor Jobs Through CS&A

The CS&A College Counselor Placement Team works with schools to recruit college counselors at all levels from Assistant Director to Dean of College Counseling). We welcome candidates with prior college counseling or college admissions experience especially if they are former teachers or administrators and possess good writing and clear communication skills. We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications expressly include:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university (Masters’ Degree welcomed!)
• Previous experience in college admissions or college counseling or both
• Knowledge of a wide range of universities, including Ivy League, NESCACs, State University systems, the top 100 colleges and universities in the US as well as leading international universities (mostly UK, CAN, etc.)
• Experience teaching or working in an independent, private, boarding, college preparatory, or like-kind school setting
• Strong public speaking, writing, organization, and communication skills
• Ability to perform well under deadlines; well-organized
• Experience interacting with young adults and their families, school administration, and college admissions offices
• Ability to read and understand students well,
• Able to exercise both discretion and transparency
• Sensitivity, openness, and approachability
• Skills, talents, and flexibility for contributing to the independent school community in additional capacities. For example: Coaching sports, advising extracurricular activities, supervising a dorm at a boarding school, etc.

Interested Candidates Should Contact

Ben Bolté

Practice Leader, Key Administrator Practice, Senior Consultant

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