Few people set out to become admissions counselors, say people in the profession. They tend to stumble into it.
But the field is requiring skills that are more demanding and varied than ever. And at a time when universities are looking especially hard at the bottom line, people in admissions need to constantly learn new things and make themselves indispensable, according to panelists at a recent conference of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Counselors shared thoughts on how to stay on top of the often stressful changes at their universities while avoiding a burnout.
Some say they’re still excited by what got them into the profession — the potential to help students and change their lives.
But at many universities, funding cuts, shrinking recruitment budgets, added responsibilities and growing technology in admissions have made their jobs increasingly challenging, they say.
“You’re dealing with so many constituents — the president, board, staff, students, parents, alums,” says Vern Granger, associate vice president and director of admissions at Ohio State University. “There’s increased visibility. You’re the communicator-in-chief.
“And it’s not just hitting [recruitment] numbers — it’s hitting numbers within those numbers,” he says, later adding that admissions officers are becoming not just gatekeepers of incoming classes, but also “class shapers.”
