Position Title: College Counselor - part-time

Location: Great Hearts Northern Oaks Upper School

FLSA Status: Exempt, Salaried

Distinctive benefits for Great Hearts faculty

• Exceptional Benefits (medical, dental, vision etc.) with minimal employee cost
• Texas Teacher Retirement System
• Uniquely valuable professional development offerings, from great books seminars with academy colleagues, to leadership and special education coursework/pathways, to reduced tuition graduate degree support with select partner universities

Position Summary:

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.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Fully embrace the school's vision of community, learning, and leadership.
• Read, know, and support the philosophy, policies, procedures, and other pertinent data of the school as published in the Faculty Handbook and most current Family Handbook.
• Follow school policies and procedures, including the Academy Crisis Plan, to ensure the safety and security of students on campus.
• Develop and host college workshops for parents; provide individual parent counseling to address questions about high school curriculum, college acceptance, the application process, etc.
• Provide one-on-one advising to students on prospective colleges and assist in evaluating interests for initial selection of a college major.
• Research and advertise summer study, internships, and scholarship opportunities.
• Guide students through the college search and selection process.
• Educate upperclassmen on the application process through group workshops and individual meetings.
• Assist students with applications, college essays, scholarship essays, resumes, and personal statements.
• Write letters of recommendation and send them, along with transcripts, school profiles, and teacher recommendations, to colleges via Naviance.
• Update and maintain Naviance and the School Profile.
• Advertise and educate students and parents on dual enrollment, AP, and CLEP exams.
• Facilitate the selection process for students nominated to represent the school for summer programs or scholarships.
• Maintain a working calendar of events and tasks within the office.
• Coordinate and administer PSAT (10th and 11th grade), PreACT (10th grade), and assist the DTC with 9th grade ASPIRE and 11th grade ACT testing.
• Provide post-test counseling (PSAT/PLAN) to develop individual test preparation plans for the SAT/ACT, and advise students on when to retake standardized tests.
• Serve as the school's SSD Coordinator and coordinate college testing accommodations with the Academy's ESS Coordinator.
• Update and maintain college test statistics, college acceptance data, scholarship tracking, and alumni information.
• Coordinate registrar tasks with the office manager, including issuing transcripts for high school students applying to summer programs and colleges, and final transcripts for graduates.
• Assist with processing incoming transfer credits and serve as liaison to the Headmaster regarding credit acceptance and remediation plans for transfer students.
• Enter prior credits for high school transfers into Schoolmaster to ensure completeness of records for college applications.
• Assist the Headmaster or designated representative with devising remediation plans for failing semester grades to support on-time graduation.
• Maintain the school's college counseling website and Naviance site.
• Develop background information for the end-of-year awards ceremony highlighting the plans of each graduating senior.
• Work with the Great Hearts College Counseling Team on various projects, including writing articles for the College Counseling Quarterly Newsletter.
• Attend Great Hearts College Counseling monthly meetings and other training.
• Attend four quarterly college counseling meetings annually.
• Chaperone the annual Great Hearts College Tour and participate in local GH College Counseling field trips.
• Network with colleges, including travel to campuses, hosting admissions reps, and fostering relationships with college representatives.
• Participate in NACAC or RMACAC conferences annually.
• Coordinate and host college visits.
• Plan, schedule, and execute College Admissions 101 for juniors and College Admissions 201 for seniors.
• Host alumni panels and student/parent events such as Intro to College Night, Junior Parent Night, High School Preview Night, and Parent Coffees.
• Be available for student and parent appointments in-person during the school year and remotely during June and July.
• Advocate for students with colleges, especially when students are on the bubble for admission.
• Complete ECAP requirements.
• Assist with the Symposium by soliciting participation from colleges, students, and parents, and attend the event.
• Host the ASVAB for students prior to graduation.
• Build and foster relationships and ongoing networking with other GH college counselors and external college representatives.
• Consult with the Great Hearts Director of College Counseling as needed.
• Perform additional assigned campus duties.