College Counselor

Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, a Catholic school on Chicago’s West Side and a member of the Cristo Rey Network, challenges and inspires its young women and men through the integration of academics, work experience, and extracurricular activities to lead lives of integrity, faith, and servant leadership for the greater glory of God.

Vision Statement

Expanding corporate, community, and university partnerships, Christ the King Jesuit College Prep will be a top choice for young people and their families of the greater West Side. Developing essential skills for a thriving future career through academic excellence, professional opportunity, the promotion of justice, and Gospel-centered values, our students will flourish in a safe and loving environment.

Job Summary

The College Counselor plays an essential role in ensuring all Christ the King students are on track to enroll and succeed in college. The position demands a remarkable commitment to serving diverse students of limited economic means, the majority of whom are first-generation degree seekers, through the implementation of a comprehensive, four-year college counseling program. The position requires extensive experience with the college admissions process, a strong sense of low income students’ and family needs in preparing for college, and the ability to manage professional relationships across a variety of internal and external stakeholders. In addition, candidates should be prepared to work closely with Naviance, Scoir, or MaiaLearning and integrate it into the workflow of the college counseling office.

Key Responsibilities

Delivering college counseling instruction & curriculum support

• Teach assigned sections of junior and senior college prep courses
• Support the curriculum development of the senior and junior college prep courses
• Planning and leading workshops for parents and students on key topics (financial aid planning, different types of institutions, scholarships, essay writing) related to the college admissions process
• Ensuring parents and students comprehend the different application requirements, admissions policies, and financial aid applications associated with different colleges
  
  

• Guide and assist students through the entire college and financial aid application process; advise and support a student portfolio of juniors, seniors, and their families as they go through the process; and help students and families aspire realistically and choose wisely.
• Meet with juniors and seniors, individually and in small groups, to discuss the process and individual college choices.
• Ensuring students take advantage of special opportunities made available to low-income students in the college search and application process (i.e. fee waivers, fly-in visits, university partner programs and scholarships)
• Writing and managing the collection of letters of recommendations for all seniors
  
  

• Building and celebrating a school-wide college-going culture (e.g. publicly posting college acceptances, on-site admissions days, planning and leading senior acceptance assemblies, and other school-wide traditions)
• Assisting with the coordination of the SAT suite of assessments (PSAT) and other schoolwide or special testing programs
• Visiting / touring college campuses with students
• Ensuring students participate in a College Fair each year
• Help students identify and complete applications for summer pre-collegiate programs
• Assist with the coordination of college explorations days, career day, senior signing day, and other college and career-focused events
  
  

• Maintain records for tracking college applications and scholarships
• Collect, track and share department data on application submissions, scholarships and testing data
• Maintaining a comprehensive list of scholarships and summer enrichment opportunities on Naviance Succeed or another database
• Establishing, pursuing, and tracking clear school goals for college admissions, enrollment, persistence, and completion
• Developing and maintaining a robust network of college admission professionals through regular communication and visits
• Maintain accurate Scoir records (or its equivalent) for all Christ the King Jesuit students
• Process and submit all transcript requests for college applications, scholarships, and pre-collegiate summer programs
  
  

• Participating in professional development opportunities offered by the Cristo Rey Network’s national office
• Attend and participate in grade level team meetings, as assigned
• Support the work of the CTK admissions office through participation in Open House, Family Interview Days, and other admissions-focused events
• Participating in information programs hosted by colleges and universities in the region
• Representing Christ the King at local, state and national college admissions conferences (College Board, NACAC), college fairs, and college tours
• Participating in professional development opportunities offered by local college access / admissions organizations (i.e. Association of College Admissions Counselors)
• Serving as an expert to students, parents and staff on the on the entire college search and selection process
• Other duties, as assigned
  
  

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited 4-year college or university is required
• 3+ years of college counseling, college admissions, classroom teaching, or experience in related fields is preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to the Cristo Rey Network mission, with a belief in the potential for all students to
• succeed in college and career
• Demonstrated success in teaching, counselling, coaching, and/or advocating for young people from under-resourced communities
• Cultural competence in addressing complex issues and a demonstrated commitment to promoting inclusion, equity, diversity, and accessibility
• Strong understanding of the academic, financial, and social barriers to college access for underrepresented, first-generation students
• Adaptable, collaborative, accountable, and flexible
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a small, but dynamic, team
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to manage professional relationships across diverse stakeholders
• Strong technology skills including proficiency with MS Office Suite (excel, word, ppt) and database management
• Flexibility to adjust hours as needed and to meet deadlines and school needs
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed
  
  

Salary is commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits (medical, dental, vision plans, life and disability insurance,

401(k) plan with matching contributions, paid time off and paid holidays) are included in the overall compensation package.