What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director of College Counseling position at The Rivers School?
The Rivers School — a 6-12 co-ed independent day school in Weston, MA, just outside Boston — seeks professionals who are looking to join a dynamic, innovative, and welcoming school community.
The Associate Director of College Counseling will serve as the primary college counselor for approximately 35 students and their parents per admission cycle. In this role, the Associate Director will provide individualized counsel on the college process, educate the Rivers community on the admission landscape, and maintain a presence in the field beyond our community. The Associate Director is expected to embody "Excellence with Humanity" by: operating with integrity and energy; observing the highest standards of best practices with respect to equity and inclusion, and developing authentic relationships of trust with students, faculty, administrators, and families in the campus community. This is a school-year position with some student interaction over the summer to assist with essays and application work. Summer work can generally be completed remotely.
The Associate Director of College Counseling is expected to:
Serve as Primary College Counselor to juniors and seniors
Rivers encourages interest from candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, experience, and perspectives among our professional and school community. We recognize that skilled and innovative individuals follow a variety of pathways in life, and we enthusiastically invite applications from those who may have experience that meets our qualifications in non-traditional ways. Rivers offers BIPOC affinity, LGBTQ affinity, and white allyship spaces for professionals, as well as institutional professional development, to support and enrich our work around equity and access. In addition to mentorship from peers and direct supervisors, all professional community members benefit from a year-long onboarding program.
The Associate Director of College Counseling will serve as the primary college counselor for approximately 35 students and their parents per admission cycle. In this role, the Associate Director will provide individualized counsel on the college process, educate the Rivers community on the admission landscape, and maintain a presence in the field beyond our community. The Associate Director is expected to embody "Excellence with Humanity" by: operating with integrity and energy; observing the highest standards of best practices with respect to equity and inclusion, and developing authentic relationships of trust with students, faculty, administrators, and families in the campus community. This is a school-year position with some student interaction over the summer to assist with essays and application work. Summer work can generally be completed remotely.
The Associate Director of College Counseling is expected to:
Serve as Primary College Counselor to juniors and seniors
- Conduct initial meetings with juniors and their families designed to demonstrate a knowledge of both the student and the process, build trust, and establish sound relationships
- Help create college lists based on a student's interests, aspirations, and academic characteristics
- Guide rising seniors through the academic course selection process with their interests and the college process in mind
- Provide counsel on the standardized testing process, considering both a student's abilities and colleges' various testing policies
- Assist with all aspects of the application, including the thoughtful development of essays and supplements
- Offer strategic advice about the application process utilizing previous years' admission data and knowledge of the admission landscape
- Craft a comprehensive and compelling letter of recommendation for each individual student
- Co-lead parent events for 9-12 grade families providing age-appropriate advice
- Assist in the development of programs for students that deepen their awareness of self and best prepare them for the college process
- Liaise with the upper school administration to offer counsel on course titles and other topics that may have implications for the college process
- Advise Rivers colleagues seeking ways to support students in the college process and inform the community of the latest trends, issues, and expectations in the college admissions world
- Help host admission officers visiting Rivers
- Visit college campuses with the goal of both learning more about the institution and establishing relationships with admission offices to ensure Rivers is broadly understood and respected
- Maintain a presence on a national scale, attending conferences and presenting on topics whenever possible
Rivers encourages interest from candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, experience, and perspectives among our professional and school community. We recognize that skilled and innovative individuals follow a variety of pathways in life, and we enthusiastically invite applications from those who may have experience that meets our qualifications in non-traditional ways. Rivers offers BIPOC affinity, LGBTQ affinity, and white allyship spaces for professionals, as well as institutional professional development, to support and enrich our work around equity and access. In addition to mentorship from peers and direct supervisors, all professional community members benefit from a year-long onboarding program.
