Admissions Counselor

Job Title: Admissions Counselor

Department: Office of Admissions

Reports to: Associate Director of Outreach

Location: Hybrid; Minimum 1 Day On-Campus Required. Regular local recruitment travel and

occasional regional/national recruitment travel.

Salary Range: $66,000 - $70,000

About Palo Alto University

Palo Alto University (PAU) is a private, non-profit educational institution accredited by the

Western Association of Schools and Colleges. PAU is dedicated to education with an emphasis in

the behavioral and social sciences; to promoting future innovators and leaders for the benefit of

society; to generating knowledge through research and scholarship of the highest level; and to

providing services to the community informed by science and scholarship. PAU is considered an

industry leader in doctoral psychology education, and is home to several “all-star” psychology

researchers and educators.

About the Office of Admissions

The Office of Admissions manages a comprehensive outreach and admissions program for all

PAU degree programs. Admissions team members aim to be both professional and

approachable, and maintain the highest standards for access, equity and transparency in all

aspects of our work. The Office of Admissions and Outreach recognizes that students can take

many paths to PAU, and seeks to recruit and enroll those students who would thrive in our

programs, regardless of background.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Associate Director of Outreach, Admissions Counselors/Senior Admissions

Counselors have primary responsibility for engaging with, supporting, and encouraging

prospective students through the admissions process. Admissions Counselors become subject

matter experts in their academic programs, and assist the University in meeting enrollment

goals in an ethical manner focused on fit and student wellbeing. Admissions Counselors play a

vital role in representing the University to prospective students, and are expected to be

responsive, professional and warmly supportive. Admissions Counselors serve as admissions

generalists, participating in student recruitment, responding to student inquiries, meeting with

students (in-person or virtually) and assisting in admissions interviews for our graduate

programs. Admissions Counselors work closely with students to encourage them to submit their

applications. Senior Admissions Counselors are expected to have a minimum of 3-5 years of

experience and lead more complex initiatives. The Admissions Counselors will also assist their

peers during heavy times, so are expected to have a functional knowledge of the other

programs and admissions processes.

Job Duty Summary

● Ensure the confidentiality of student records in compliance with the Family Educational

Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

● Engage with regional and national professional organizations, as appropriate.

● Heavy use of EMP (our CRM) to manage the inquiry processes.

● Complete EMP tasks as assigned.

● Be responsible for recruiting specific student groups, for example, doctoral students,

international students, undergraduates, community college transfers, etc.

● Respond to student inquiries via email, phone and Zoom in coordination with student

workers.

● Provide excellent customer service, responding promptly to phone and email inquiries.

● Assist students, in a counseling capacity, to assess their fit for the institution and for the

range of programs available

● Assist students in completing applications and troubleshooting issues that may arise.

● Provide one-on-one counseling appointments to prospective students via phone, Zoom

or in-person.

● Assist the team in admissions reporting and forecasting by providing insight into the

pipeline.

● Ensure excellent quality control within the admissions process, including keeping careful

notes regarding communications with, and about, students.

● Provide campus tours, as needed.

● Clearly understands policies and procedures, and applies them fairly and consistently.

Seeks clarification if unsure.

● Coordinate with Associate Director of Outreach in staffing recruitment events, including

webinars.

● Represent the university at local and national events.

● Assist in yield efforts for the programs, including admitted student events.

● Collaborate closely with the admissions team to provide a “warm handoff” for applicants

once their application is submitted.

● Assist in admissions interviews for our graduate programs

Minimum Requirements

● Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred

● 1-3 years of experience in admissions/enrollment. Graduate program experience is

preferred.

● Sr Admissions Counselor 3-5 years of experience in admissions/enrollment. Graduate

program experience preferred.