Bay Area College Admissions Counselor — Elite Guidance

Empowerly; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Empowerly helps students navigate the college admissions journey, focusing on personalized planning, strategic application guidance, and essay support. The role serves Bay Area families and students, with a strong emphasis on STEM pathways and top 50 universities.

The counselor will develop tailored academic and extracurricular plans, advise on testing strategies, build college lists, and guide families through early action/decision processes and financial aid options.

Qualifications

• Graduate from a top 50 national university (advanced degrees like MD, PhD, MBA, JD, or Masters are a plus).
• Experience as a college counselor for high school students, with a track record of acceptances into a top 50 national university.
• Have consistent availability in the afternoons (after 3:00 p.m.) and/or on weekends to meet with students.
• Possess passion for education, talent for teaching, essay writing, and essay editing.
• Possess exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Able to plan around and meet deadlines
• Possess dedication to client service
• Able to commit to students for multi-year packages
• Former admissions officers at top 50 colleges
• Experienced independent college counselors (NACAC, WACAC, IECA, etc)

Responsibilities

• Keep up to date with current college admission changes.
• Available for 20-25 students with flexibility based on schedule and bandwidth.
• Advise students about extracurriculars that expand interests and may potentially present leadership opportunities.
• Help students with meaningful summer plans by applying to internships, explore competitions, research opportunities, and community service options.
• Create a plan for standardized testing that includes strategies for improving scores and help decide which tests are appropriate.
• Help create college lists, rate colleges for students (reach, target, and safety), and offer tips for college visits.
• Guidance through the entire application process: personal statement, activities, resume, recommendation letters, essay review and edits, utilizing research when necessary, reviewing entire application materials before submitting.
• Strategizing plan for early action, early decision, regular decision as well as waitlisted strategies and college choice guidance.
• Discuss financial aid resources and guidance as well as merit scholarship resources.
• Prepare for sessions in advance, be on time, log sessions in a timely manner, stay in touch with students, maintain a healthy relationship with parents, and include parents in all communications.
• Support a wide range of students, including; transfer, undergrad, post graduate, and international.
• Attend monthly team meetings.
• Utilize resources available within Empowerly to provide optimal advice for all students.
• Monitor Empowerly email account and Slack account for up-to-date Empowerly communications.

Skills

College counseling

Essay editing

Student mentoring

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree from a top 50 national university

Advanced degrees (MD, PhD, MBA, JD, or Masters) a plus

Tools

NACAC

WACAC

IECA

Job description

Empowerly helps students navigate the college admissions journey, focusing on personalized planning, strategic application guidance, and essay support. The role serves Bay Area families and students, with a strong emphasis on STEM pathways and top 50 universities.

The counselor will develop tailored academic and extracurricular plans, advise on testing strategies, build college lists, and guide families through early action/decision processes and financial aid options.