Position Summary:

The Admissions Counselor is part of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (OUA) at Vanderbilt University (VU) and is a key individual contributor responsible for assisting in the efforts to engage with visitors and prospective students and families on and off-campus and to recruit and evaluate the applications of new members of the undergraduate schools of the university. Day-to-day work and priorities will vary with the admissions and enrollment seasons.  This position will interact extensively with prospective students and applicants and may exercise independent judgement in contributing to admissions decisions. This position will also engage with the major functional areas of the office: Access, Organizational Culture, Learning & Development, Evaluation & Selection, Marketing & Communication, Recruitment & Outreach, and Visitor Experience, Strategy, & Management. 

About the Work Unit:

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Vanderbilt University is a critical unit within University Enrollment Affairs that contributes greatly to the entire Vanderbilt community. Its mission is to recruit, select, and enroll a varied cohort of degree-seeking first-year and transfer students who are intellectually curious, academically talented, and socially engaged. The Office consists of a team that includes the Director, an experienced group of admissions officers, and a well-seasoned support staff engaged in marketing Vanderbilt globally. To accomplish this, members of the OUA team travel both domestically and abroad to conduct high school visits, attend college fairs, and participate in speaking engagements. The Office communicates systematically with hundreds of thousands of prospective students through traditional printed publications, the web, and other social media channels, and serves as the first point of contact for members of the public interested in VU. 

OUA fully supports the concepts of access and belonging and is committed to the belief that equity and social justice must be accorded to all. At OUA, our organizational culture is grounded in a commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and collaboration. We believe that fostering a supportive and vibrant workplace is essential to our mission of attracting and enrolling students who will thrive at Vanderbilt. Our culture emphasizes respect, open communication, and continuous professional development, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute to our collective success. As a member of OUA, you are joining a dynamic team that is dedicated to making a positive impact both within the university and in the broader community. The Office also believes that a part of its responsibility is to contribute to a various university community where students, staff, and faculty of differing backgrounds, viewpoints, and life experiences learn about and from each other in classroom settings as well as throughout the entire campus. It strives to ensure that the composition of the OUA staff reflects its commitment to these values. 

At Vanderbilt we want everyone in our community to know they belong. The broad and varied backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of our Vanderbilt community members enrich the educational experience and provide important avenues for growth and development for every member of our community. We endeavor to create an environment in which all members of our dynamic and varied campus community can engage in dialogue, learning, innovation, and discovery, preparing leaders to engage with the world and its complexities. 

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Assist the efforts of the functional areas of OUA: Access, Organizational Culture, Learning & Development, Evaluation & Selection, Recruitment & Outreach, Visitor Experience Strategy & Management, Marketing & 

Communications and Operations. May include the following:

Review application materials, read and evaluate applications in an accurate and timely manner within our high volume and highly selective admissions process.  Meet with or present information sessions to prospective students and applicants as assigned. Travel for recruitment and outreach purposes, including participation in forums, high school visits, college fairs and career day programs as assigned. Assist with developing recruitment plans for meeting enrollment goals.  Assist with programs designed to impact recruitment, outreach, and yield efforts (PreVU, Open Houses, Counselor Conference, Anchor Days, daily information sessions, VirtualVU sessions, etc.)

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to an Assistant or Associate Director of Admissions.

Education and Certifications

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary. Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record. Vanderbilt University engages a third party to provide continuous up-to-date notifications regarding negative changes to motor vehicle records. 

Experience and Skills:

As a salaried (exempt) position, ability to work weekends and nights is necessary, especially in key times of the recruitment cycle. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are necessary. Strong public speaking skills, with comfort in front of audiences of 150+, are necessary. The ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a varied community is necessary. Ability to travel independently up to 12+ weeks annually is necessary. Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart confidential information is necessary. Skill in the use of the Slate CRM, word processing, spreadsheet, and/or presentation software is preferred. Organizing and coordinating skills are preferred.