People who work in admissions counselor jobs for colleges are actually taking significant responsibilities for the recruitment and retention of students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Their responsibilities cover the entire recruitment territory of a college or university, and they usually report to the associate director of the school's admissions. Aside from recruitment, other duties may be assigned to such positions. For instance, they may be responsible for advocating academic, career, talent, and personality development programs and organizations for students. They may also work one-on-one with undergraduate students, guiding them through their applications for postgraduate studies at the country's prestigious academic institutions.
The extent of the responsibilities that are given to those in college admissions counselor jobs varies based on the given school or university's policies. Clearly, their work is predominantly performed in the given school itself, where they may be assigned to their own offices. (Since privacy is essential in this job, counselors are usually given their own private offices.) Their work schedules typically depend on the given work setting, but admissions counselors usually work the same hours as teachers, though they may travel more frequently to attend conferences and conventions. For admissions counselor jobs that handle college career planning and placement, working hours may be irregular, requiring longer working hours during student recruitment periods.
Qualifications
For admissions counselors, educational requirements are typically based on their occupational specialties. Usually, a master's degree and state licensure comprise the common qualifications. Licenses for admission counselors vary by state and are governed by the given state's school counseling certification program. In any event, a specialty in the study of college student affairs or secondary school counseling and education will be a great advantage. When hiring new counselors, training programs are provided by some employers, whereas other counselors are required to participate in workshops and graduate studies to maintain their certificates and licenses. More importantly, counselors must possess high physical and emotional energy to effectively address the responsibilities that their positions entail. One of the great things about these jobs is that employees are given the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies. Often, people who are working in these positions are at an advantage when it comes to scholarship grants.
Employment
The demand for admissions counselors is expected to grow at a faster rate than the average rate for all occupations through 2016. These jobs are primarily demanded in the field of vocational studies and education. Understandably, demand does depend somewhat on the location and the occupational specialty. The need to replace people leaving the field is one of the factors for this growth. With the increase in the number of company offices, there will also be an increase in the demand for admissions officers and counselors. With possible business openings, there will surely be a place for an admission counselor in most companies. In the government, there should be a need for counselors to assist the beneficiaries of welfare programs. Private companies also account for a great chunk for this demand due to the need to hire new employees with new skills for new jobs.
Aside from the growth in the demand for admissions counselors, what make these jobs most appealing are their attractive salary rates. Middle earners were recently determined to have an annual income of between $36,120 and $60,990. The highest earners made $75,920 per year, while the lowest earners had an average annual income of $27,240.
