College-Bound Counselor

`Position Description:

SOY would like to fill an immediate opening for a College-Bound Counselor who will support the students in SOY’s college-bound program—first-generation youth in the West-side of Costa Mesa who attend high school in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

This position would be part-time, working up to 30 hours a week both at the SOY center and at the local high schools, bridging the connection for the SOY students during their school day and after school at SOY. The main role of this College-Bound Counselor would be to provide college guidance to students from 9th to 12th grade as they pursue their goal to attend higher education, most of them being the first in their family to do so. The position could be a 2-3- or 4-day position depending on the hours and flexibility of the college-counselor chosen.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide counseling to college-bound students, starting in 9th grade, to make sure that they are choosing the right classes and completing the right requirements to be eligible for 4-year colleges and universities
• Work with the SOY academic coordinator to make sure all underclassmen are receiving tutoring if needed, are taking the right classes, come to academic meetings at SOY and make sure that all seniors apply to college and complete their FAFSA
• Meet with school counselors on a regular basis to make sure that students are not getting behind and are working with them for any needs they might have to finish their classes and prepare for college
• Encourage all students to do their best, finish their course work, enroll in extra courses that SOY offers to help them prepare for college
• Make important connections with the AVID teachers, AP teachers, counselors, and administrators at the high schools and also make connections with admissions counselors and academic counselors at colleges and universities
• Meet with students and their parents to plan out a path to college for these first generation students, including educating their parents on the process
• Hold weekly meetings for seniors in the fall, helping them apply for college, helping them write their essays, decide what colleges they should and would like to apply to, submit FAFSA and financial aid applications, write and apply for scholarships and help them decide which college to go to once they receive their college acceptance letters.
• Make connections with local university professors, university programs, student run organizations and volunteer church and business groups to provide mentors, tutors and interns for our SOY students
• Help students find the right colleges for them and help them decide on their majors
• Help set up college tours for SOY students with admissions counselors and different departments and organizations that cater to first-generation students
• Make sure that our college-bound students do not fall through the cracks and that they can fulfill their dream to attend college

Requirements:

• 3 to 5 years of experience working in high school counseling or college counseling or admissions experience at a community college or university
• Knowledge of college admissions process and financial aid services
• Masters in Counselor or School Psychology preferred
• Teaching experience or counseling experience a must
• Willingness to encourage high school students to work towards higher education
• Knowledge of workings of a high school, including knowing how to work with busy teachers and counselors and administrators
• Ability to provide individual and private counseling to students to help them reach their goal of higher education
• Knowledge of workings of a non-profit whose role is to promote the best of every individual and level the playing field for those that cannot afford their own private college counselor
• Leadership qualities and exceptional relationship-building skills
• Good organizational skills and oral and written communication skills
• Experience working with young people and teens in positive environment
• Ability to encourage the best of each young person, motivating them to do their best and to encourage them to take more challenging classes and to strive for applying to a top university
• Passion for encouraging youth to excel and willing to listen to them and help with their problems, stresses, and challenges, with a sense of empathy
• Ability to make frequent changes of routine and pace of activities due to unpredictable demands from students, parents, teachers, staff, and unforeseen issues without loss of composure
• Understand that during the center hours, it is important to always put the students’ interests first and to keep a healthy and easy-going atmosphere for study and encouragement
• Understand that while visiting a high school campus, it is important to follow the rules and etiquette of the school and work effectively with the school for the best interests of the students
• Adaptability to a variety of situations and an ability to make all feel at ease
• Ability to work with parents and deal with different family dynamics
• Expertise in computer programs including excel, word, Google docs and social media forums
• Bilingual in Spanish and English necessary to communicate with parents

IF INTERESTED:

• Please provide a cover letter of intent and a resume with the application to be considered for this position

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $28.00 - $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: No more than 30 per week

Schedule:

• After school
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

• Costa Mesa, CA 92627: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person