College Counselor

Description

The College Counselor plays a vital role in guiding students and families through every stage of the college process. This includes college exposure, exploration, application, standardized testing, and ultimately, the selection of a right-fit institution. The College Counselor must be highly knowledgeable and skilled in supporting students—particularly those who are first-generation and from low-income backgrounds—as they navigate the path to higher education. This role also involves equipping families with the tools and information they need to effectively support their student’s college journey.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Assisting Director of College Counseling (DCC) in Planning and implementing college counseling programs that are aligned with the SEED College Access and Success Guide;
• Applying SEED’s approach to college matching throughout the college process and programming for students and families across all grades;
• Responsible for assisting with providing personalized college counseling to seniors and their families as well as leading one-on-one college counseling sessions with seniors;
• Assisting with the college search, fit, and application process for seniors and their families and educating them about colleges/universities;
• Supporting the use of aviance with all students including but not limited to career inventory, career interest profiler for students;
• Managing and maintaining aesthetically pleasing College Center area and bulletin boards that reflect SEED’s college success culture and approach to college matching;
• Supporting the maintenance and ongoing accuracy of the SEED College Data Tracker through timely data entry and weekly updates to ensure student information remains current and actionable;
• Providing regular reports to the Director of College Counseling (DCC);
• Conducting outreach to and meeting with all college admissions representatives and facilitating meetings between college representatives and students, while also serving as a liaison with college admissions offices throughout the year;
• Chaperoning SEED-approved national and regional college fairs;
• Supporting the college letter of recommendation process;
• Ensuring that information about the college process is reaching families and they are being invited to all college counseling events and meetings;
• Partnering with the DCC and the CTS team to maintain and share information on colleges, college guides, scholarships, financial aid, and paying for college; providing access to major scholarships;
• Staying aware of issues and trends in college admissions, higher education, testing, as well as keeping up-to-date with the work and findings from associations, including: The College Board, the National Association of College Admission Counselors, National College Access Network, Education Trust;
• Supporting rituals and traditions associated with senior transition;
• Supporting financial aid/financial education sessions;
• Chaperoning ALL college tours local, out of county and out of state;
• Designing and managing 9-12 community service opportunities and hours in conjunction with other directors;
• In conjunction with DCC manage College Representative visits on campus;
• Junior Class Facilitating junior college prep seminar in the fall and spring;
• Assisting with ACT and SAT test prep partnerships, course delivery, test registration; and test data;
• Managing the grading process, lesson planning, and all general teacher duties under the guidance of the Director of College Counseling and Director of High School Academics;
• Senior Class Facilitating senior college prep seminar in the fall;
• Managing the grading process, lesson planning, and all general teacher duties under the guidance of the Director of College Counseling and Director of High School Academics;
• Collaborating with staff from SEED DC, SEED MD, and members of the CTS team to support the planning of the College Prep Boot Camp for Seniors;
• Supporting rituals and traditions associated with senior transition to include the planning of Signing Day;
• Managing the grading process, lesson planning, and all general teacher duties under the guidance of the Director of College Counseling and Director of High School Academics;
• Other duties or skills may be required, and or assigned by the supervisor.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly to students, families, and colleagues.
• Exhibits strong organizational ability, attention to detail, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities while consistently meeting deadlines.
• Possesses deep knowledge of college admissions processes, financial aid systems, and institutions with strong outcomes for low-income, first-generation students; highly familiar with the principles of college fit and match.
• Effectively supports and advocates for a diverse student and family population, demonstrating sensitivity to the needs of underserved communities and first-generation college students.
• Actively promote SEEDs right fit model.
• Utilizes data and technology confidently to inform decisions, track progress, and manage systems related to college counseling and student success.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or 3–5 years of experience in college access and success counseling within a school, community-based, or university setting.
• In-depth, up-to-date knowledge of the college application, admissions, and financial aid processes, including FAFSA completion.
• Familiarity with college fit and match principles, as well as NCAA eligibility and recruitment regulations.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage faculty, staff, students, families, alumni, and community stakeholders.
• Proficient in education and counseling technologies, including systems like Naviance, CoPilot, and PowerSchool.
• Proven track record of delivering impactful programs or services to underserved students and communities.