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[willmingtonwave]

Hi, I am a recent graduate who is interested in an admissions counselor job.  I was wondering if anyone had any tips for formatting my resume.  When I graduated I thought I wanted to go into management consulting (and after my first few case interviews realized it really was not for me), so I have been revamping my resume.
Thanks for any help.

[methodsman]

Graduated from what? 

What leads you to believe that you will enjoy/are qualified for interviewing students more than/as opposed to interviewing business people?

mm

[willmingtonwave]

I graduated from a top tier liberal arts school with a degree in History. I was an RA for three years, tutored for the history department, and was a mentor for a scholarship program for first-generation students. I also did a summer AmeriCorps session within my school's Public Engagement Center. As for more "professional" experiences, I temped for a think tank in DC. I also did research at two DC museums and am getting a paper published, but I doubt that would matter.

College admissions was something I have always been interested in reading about and I have worked as a rep for my school at some college fairs, which I had so much fun doing. Right now, I am also doing some research for a college guide.

Sorry I was not more specific.  And thank you again for any help.

[phd_hopeful]

I work for an adm office.  Normally when looking at resumes, we want to see what experience an applicant has had both in interfacing with the public and with the institution.  If you are applying for a position at your alma mater it can often times help because when you list your activities (RA, mentoring, etc) it shows you have a deeper understanding of the institution than other outsiders.  Listing the think tank and museum research work can help if you can swing them to showcase how detail oriented you are.  Depending on the institution, an adm counselor can be a roadhog and spend 90% of their time at fairs/high school visits or they can have more responsibility and manage major projects.  If the office expects you to take charge of planning events or major projects, that research experience is valuable.  Plus, normally you are told where to travel and then you have to plan the trip so if the office knows that you can handle independent projects on your own, they can feel more secure in giving you the adm counselor position.
When listing the RAing, mentoring, and AmeriCorps work, make sure you talk up the way you can relate to students.  That is a skill paramount to adm and proven success is attractive in an applicant.
Oh and if you don't like interviewing you may want to check and make sure your office doesn't interview applicants else you may wind up in another field you don't enjoy.

[zharkov]

First, you need to understand that at 90 pct of the colleges and universities in the US, admissions is basically a sales and marketing job.   

Second, get a copy of What Color is my Parachute.  Tell you most of what you need to know to look for a job in a different career from you major.

Third, contact both the admissions VP or director of your alma mater and the career or placement center.  Talk to the VP of admissions for ideas about breaking into the field, maybe network into other schools to get your foot in the door.

[willmingtonwave]

@phd_hopeful: Thank you for your detailed response.  I am going to make some notes, about applying those experiences to working with students/details/research so that I exemplify what they are looking for.  It is great to hear from someone who works in an admissions office and has firsthand experience!

@zharkov: Yes, I do understand that.  I am interested in talking to and helping students, but I am also interested in the strategy and marketing aspects of college admissions.  I am a first-generation student and had to learn about college admissions on my own.  Whenever I talk to people about different colleges, I really feel in my element.  Even at the college fair, a few people were confused why I was not working for a school.  Simply, I like people and helping students.  Also thanks for the book recommendation.  I am also reading "The Gatekeepers," but will check that out next!

As for what I said about not liking case interviews, I was talking about the case interview format, which consulting firms and ibanks like to use on applicants.  It is going through business situations involving different things like mergers and acquisitions, strategy, etc.  A did not enjoy doing them (and was pretty bad at them), but usually the "case" is a good gauge whether you'd like the job.

[willmingtonwave]

Also, one last question--how are extension certificates perceived/valuable?  I am interested in doing one on college counseling at either UCLA or UCSD to learn more about strategy, financial aid, and working with international students.  They seem like a cost-effective way to learn some more.  Thanks!

[zharkov]

Also, one last question--how are extension certificates perceived/valuable?  I am interested in doing one on college counseling at either UCLA or UCSD to learn more about strategy, financial aid, and working with international students.  They seem like a cost-effective way to learn some more.  Thanks!

Talk to your alma mater's admissions director, and other admissions directors with whom you may network.

I suspect a masters in higher ed admin might help, maybe an MBA in marketing.  In any case, if you do consider any masters or certificate, do so at a school roughly in the same league as your undergrad school.  The ones you mention seem fine.

[willmingtonwave]

Also, one last question--how are extension certificates perceived/valuable?  I am interested in doing one on college counseling at either UCLA or UCSD to learn more about strategy, financial aid, and working with international students.  They seem like a cost-effective way to learn some more.  Thanks!

Talk to your alma mater's admissions director, and other admissions directors with whom you may network.

I suspect a masters in higher ed admin might help, maybe an MBA in marketing.  In any case, if you do consider any masters or certificate, do so at a school roughly in the same league as your undergrad school.  The ones you mention seem fine.

Zharkov,
I am going to try to reach out to a few dean's of admissions that are alumni from my alma mater to talk to them about what to do.  Thanks again for your thoughtful responses!

[higheredguy]

I'm interested in the route you took.

As you may know by now, the number one thing an admissions person should have is passion for the university. I would second the notion that the job is a sales/marketing job and an MBA would be perfect.

[willmingtonwave]

Hey all,

Well I am still searching for jobs.  I thought my best bet would be with my alma mater, but it is a small school and I think they may have hired one person.  Something I have changed in my cover letter is a new focus on being a first-generation student (I also mentored first-generations students at my alma mater).  I have seen quite a few positions mention recruiting first-generation students, so I hope this will be helpful.

It seems in the past few weeks there have been a lot of job listings, so hopefully something will present itself! 

As far as pursuing any sort of further education, I wish I could, but student loans (combined with a retail job) do not leave much money to play with.  Ideally, if I could get some sort of tuition reimbursement, I could start taking classes again.

Thanks again for all the advice and thoughts.  I will hopefully be posting some good news on here soon!

[dale1]

Wilmington:

Many admissions jobs just require a BA/BS.  I would get in the door somehow then use tuition remission/fee waiver and do your MS in Higher Ed/Student Affairs/College Student Personnel or an MBA (many are generalist programs, not specialized).  The MS in Higher Ed... will open a lot of doors for you.  You don't likely want to be an admissions counselor for more than a few years.

[willmingtonwave]

Wilmington:

Many admissions jobs just require a BA/BS.  I would get in the door somehow then use tuition remission/fee waiver and do your MS in Higher Ed/Student Affairs/College Student Personnel or an MBA (many are generalist programs, not specialized).  The MS in Higher Ed... will open a lot of doors for you.  You don't likely want to be an admissions counselor for more than a few years.

Yeah that would be the plan.  It doesn't hurt that some of the jobs I'm applying for are at schools with great higher ed programs!

Also, I have been thinking about this strategy for applications--what are your thoughts on e-mailing a short note to the director/dean of admissions about my interest/why I would be a good fit.  I know in the for-profit world, if done right, this would be viewed positively.  What do you all think?

[dale1]

I'm much in favor of informational interviews with the admissions staff and perhaps the assoc. director or director.  I expect an e-mail wouldn't really do much for you.  Admissions is a personal game.

[willmingtonwave]

I'm much in favor of informational interviews with the admissions staff and perhaps the assoc. director or director.  I expect an e-mail wouldn't really do much for you.  Admissions is a personal game.

Do you think that would be okay even after I applied?  I would like to talk to them, because a few of the schools are similar to my alma mater, so talking to them would help.  Thanks for all your help dale1!