Admissions Counselor

Admissions Counselor

Columbia College - Columbia, SC 29203

Overview

Position Type Full Time

Description

The Undergraduate Day Admissions Counselor is responsible for recruiting and enrolling qualified traditional-age students to Columbia College. This role manages a geographically assigned recruitment territory, building and maintaining meaningful relationships with prospective students, families, and high school partners. You'll represent Columbia in the field, review applications, and contribute to institutional enrollment goals.

Working directly with high school partners and prospective students, the Undergraduate Admissions Counselor serves as a key point of contact in their assigned region. The role requires strong relationship-building skills, sound judgment, comfort with travel, and the ability to balance strategic recruitment with meaningful engagement. This position executes institutional recruitment strategies while having real autonomy and ownership over territory-level decisions.

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with school counselors, teachers, and school leaders in your assigned region.
• Conduct regular high school visits, participate in college fairs, and reach out to prospective students.
• Represent Columbia College's mission, culture, and value proposition with authenticity and enthusiasm.
• Track your territory's progress and work with your supervisor to refine recruitment strategy based on outcomes.

• Review applications from your territory and make sound admissions recommendations using institutional standards and enrollment strategy.
• Apply judgment to identify students who align with Columbia's mission and are positioned to thrive in a small, residential liberal arts community.
• Reach out to admitted students to answer questions and support their enrollment decision.
• Collaborate with orientation and student success teams to ensure smooth student transitions.

• Take on special projects and initiatives based on your interests and strengths.
• Receive regular coaching and feedback from your supervisor to support your professional development and growth.

• Recruitment pipeline growth and territory development
• Application-to-admit and admit-to-enroll conversion
• Quality of relationships with high school partners
• Accuracy and quality of application reviews and admissions recommendations

• Relational Intelligence: Builds authentic, meaningful relationships with students, families, and school partners.
• Sound Judgment: Applies critical thinking to application review and territory strategy decisions.
• Ownership Mentality: Takes initiative and accountability for territory results and professional growth.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with team members and campus partners to support student success.
• Resilience: Maintains professionalism and continues to grow through challenges and changing circumstances.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in recruitment, admissions, sales, customer service, or equivalent experience building relationships and driving outcomes.
• Comfort using CRM systems and other technology platforms.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel 3–5 days per week during peak recruiting seasons.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Higher education admissions or enrollment management experience.
• Familiarity with Slate CRM or similar enrollment management systems.
• Experience at or knowledge of liberal arts colleges.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work independently with little direction.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; pays attention to detail.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work; ability to multi-task.
• Ability to meet schedules and timelines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality; skilled judgment.
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written directions.

Schedule & Work Environment

Location: In-person. During recruiting seasons (summer, fall, spring), you'll be on the road 3–5 days per week. During slower periods, you'll be office-based.

Wage Class: Exempt. Hours will reflect the needs of the enrollment cycle and may exceed 40 hours per week during peak recruiting seasons.

Why This Opportunity

• You'll be mentored by a supervisor who is invested in your growth and professional development.
• You'll have real ownership of your territory—your decisions and strategies directly impact results.
• You'll work with a collaborative, talented team that values both professional excellence and relational culture.
• You'll be part of a mission-driven institution committed to education, engaged citizenship, and meaningful relationships.

Commitment to Mission

This position requires commitment to Columbia College's mission and core values: positive interpersonal relationships, professional communication, diversity, integrity, leadership, stewardship, and accountability.

Columbia College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The College does not discriminate in access to its educational programs or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or sexual orientation.

EOE M/F/D/V