Admission Counselor

Vassar College; City of Poughkeepsie (NY); On-site; USD 62,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Vassar College is seeking a full-time Admission Counselor to join a collaborative admissions team on campus. The role supports enrollment and retention of a diverse student body, advocating access and affordability while traveling to engage with high schools, colleges, and communities.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree and a commitment to inclusion, with the ability to travel during peak periods. Compensation is commensurate with experience and posted accordingly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Commitment to diversity and building an inclusive community.
• Excellent work ethic with a can-do attitude and a knack for creative problem solving.
• Team player with empathy, respect for others, a collaborative approach, and a sense of humor.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills and a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to work independently on tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity and comfort with technology and database systems.
• Ability and willingness to work extended hours during peak periods.
• Advocate for liberal arts education.
• Must exercise good judgment, discretion, and integrity while working collegially with faculty, students, staff, and alumni in a high‑pressure, deadline‑driven environment.
• A valid REAL ID driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Represent Vassar to diverse audiences in high schools, at college fair programs, on campus, and through a range of online media.
• Manage a recruitment territory which entails travel, reading, and review of applicants from a particular region.
• Maintain relationships with secondary school officials, college access organizations, and partnership programs on behalf of Vassar.
• Correspond with prospective students and their families.
• Assist in organizing and participating in a range of admission events.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Vassar alumni admission volunteers.
• Participate fully in the evaluation of applications and the selection of the first-year and transfer classes.
• Liaise with key campus constituents.
• Work with one or more of the office’s initiatives such as diversity outreach, international outreach, campus events, communications, supporting alumni volunteers, and/or assisting with college counselor programming.
• Ability to travel for several weeks; four weeks of fall travel and one to two weeks of spring/summer travel.
• Perform additional responsibilities as delegated to support the operations of the department.

Job description

Department

Admissions

Job Family

Administrator

Vassar College is deeply committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees by promoting an environment of transparency and respect for differences. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who meet the qualifications of a posting. If you need to request an accommodation to fully participate in the search process, please contact [e-mail].

Job Description

Position Summary

Vassar College is seeking a full-time Admission Counselor. Salary will be commensurate with the level of experience of the successful candidate.

The Admission Counselor will join a creative and inclusive team responsible for representing Vassar and participating in the selection of candidates for the entering class. This position will work collaboratively to support the enrollment and retention of intelligent, highly engaged, and creative students, regardless of their financial circumstances. The counselor will support and advocate for the College’s values regarding access, affordability, and inclusion. This is an on-campus position.

Responsibilities

• Represent Vassar to diverse audiences in high schools, at college fair programs, on campus, and through a range of online media.
• Manage a recruitment territory which entails travel, reading, and review of applicants from a particular region.
• Maintain relationships with secondary school officials, college access organizations, and partnership programs on behalf of Vassar.
• Correspond with prospective students and their families.
• Assist in organizing and participating in a range of admission events.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Vassar alumni admission volunteers.
• Participate fully in the evaluation of applications and the selection of the first-year and transfer classes.
• Liaise with key campus constituents.
• Work with one or more of the office’s initiatives such as diversity outreach, international outreach, campus events, communications, supporting alumni volunteers, and/or assisting with college counselor programming.
• Ability to travel for several weeks; four weeks of fall travel and one to two weeks of spring/summer travel.
• Perform additional responsibilities as delegated to support the operations of the department.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Commitment to diversity and building an inclusive community.
• Excellent work ethic with a can-do attitude and a knack for creative problem solving.
• Team player with empathy, respect for others, a collaborative approach, and a sense of humor.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills and a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to work independently on tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity and comfort with technology and database systems.
• Ability and willingness to work extended hours during peak periods.
• Advocate for liberal arts education.
• Must exercise good judgment, discretion, and integrity while working collegially with faculty, students, staff, and alumni in a high‑pressure, deadline‑driven environment.
• A valid REAL ID driver’s license.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Experience in highly selective college admission and an appreciation of small liberal arts colleges.
• Experience working with Slate.

Compensation

The compensation for this position is $62,353.20 - $63,750 per year. When extending an offer, Vassar College considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, budget, and other market and organizational considerations. The starting salary range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate at the time of posting.