College Counselor

GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE; Hartsville (SC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) seeks a college counseling professional to support students and families through the college-search and admissions process. You will guide students and parents, identify fitting colleges and scholarships, and teach portions of the College Planning Seminar.

Responsibilities include writing senior letters of recommendation, ensuring application documents are complete, and serving as the College Liaison for GSSM.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and comparable, relevant experience required.
• Master's degree in educational counseling, higher education/student affairs, or related field with a minimum of 3 years in high school or college counseling/admissions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Guide students and parents through the college search and admissions process.
• Identify colleges and scholarships that fit students' needs and teach parts of the College Planning Seminar.
• Write letters of recommendation for seniors and ensure required documents are submitted for applications.
• Assist with school-day testing logistics (PSAT, SAT/ACT, WIN, AP exams).
• Serve as the College Liaison for GSSM and coordinate programs for NCAA, First Generation students, Fly-In Programs, and international students.

Job description

The South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) is seeking a highly skilled and dedicated professional to serve as a college counseling professional. You will work alongside a team of four other college counseling professionals, including a Director and Assistant Director, to develop programs that meet the diverse needs of the student population. Your primary responsibilities will include guiding students and parents through the college search and admissions process, identifying colleges and scholarships that best fit their needs, and teaching sections of the College Planning Seminar course. Additionally, you will be required to write letters of recommendation for the Senior cohort, ensure that all supporting documents are submitted for each college and scholarship application, and serve as the College Liaison for GSSM. You will report directly to the Director of College Counseling and Advising.

The significant areas of responsibility for this position include

• Steward residential students (and their parents) through the college search and application process, including entrance requirements, scholarships, and financial aid. Plan content for and teach sections of the College Planning Seminar course. Write letters of recommendation for the senior cohort and ensure additional supporting documents are submitted for each college and scholarship application.
• Assist the testing coordinator with setup and administrative tasks for school-day testing. This includes but is not limited to the PSAT, SAT/ACT, WIN, and AP exams.
• Act as the Scholarship Liaison by providing a monthly scholarship newsletter and other communications related to scholarships, including American Legion and Auxiliary for the Oratorical Contest and Palmetto Boys and Girls State programs. Promote oratorical contests for students and coordinate all travel for competition presentations. For PBS and PGS: promote and coordinate the application and selection processes.
• Serve as the liaison for special programs, including (but not limited to) NCAA, First Generation students, Fly-In Programs, Service Academies, and International Students. Provide relevant programming to aid in the college process.
• Represent GSSM in professional organizations and various advisory groups locally and nationally. Visit college campuses to remain current on opportunities for our students. Stay up to date on admissions and higher education trends.
• Perform other duties as assigned and required by the Director of College Counseling & Advising.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

A bachelor's degree and comparable, relevant experience required.

Please note that some areas of the Agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript prior to hiring or within a specific timeframe required by that area after hiring. Failure to produce an official, certified transcript may result in not being hired or termination.

Preferred Qualifications

A master's degree in educational counseling, higher education/student affairs, or other related field with a minimum of 3 years in high school, college counseling, or admissions setting preferred. Experience working with high school students in an advanced and specialized academic environment will be considered highly, and previous college admissions experience is welcome.

Additional Comments

The SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

About GSSM

GSSM's mission is to seek out and advance the state's most talented and motivated students, offering them a transforming education with a special focus on science, mathematics, and engineering that cultivates joy in learning and builds the confidence to engage as ethical leaders with the world's most significant issues.

GSSM is nationally recognized for the quality of its advanced STEM, humanities, student research, and international programs. Our faculty and staff share a passion for their disciplines and a commitment to inspire and lead students to achieve their best while fostering the joy of learning. GSSM is a public high school serving 11th-12th grade students residentially and 10th-12th grade students through virtual programs. GSSM's Outreach Center engages over 8,000 elementary and middle school students across the state through various STEM educational programs in partnership with several school districts.