What are the best admissions counselor qualifications and training to get ahead?

What is the best training for becoming an admissions counselor? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective admissions counselor?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

A great place to start is at the admissions office of your Alma Matter. It will give you a good feel for the job and allow you to gain some valuable experience

I would disagree with DM. Although working for your Alma Matter will often be the easiest way into an Admissions Counselor position, it does not always paint a proper picture of if that is a good career choice. You can sometimes be blinded by your great experiences at your school and will not really see the job for what it's worth.

With that said, I think the best training for the position would start while you are an undergrad. Working in the admissions office, volunteering as a tour guide, or generally becoming close to those who work in the admissions office will give you a flavor of what the job entails. I have found that a connection like this is often the starting point for many who enter the field. Other paths can include a background in human resources, I have heard of some doing the reverse and entering the business world after spending time in college admissions as well.

After entering the profession, a lot of the training and so forth is self-taught. You learn a lot from your experiences, which you bring to your later jobs. With that said, though, there does exist a Master's of Education in Higher Education which is the next level of education for someone in this career. I personally am aiming to get my M.Ed. because I do not have a strong education background, and I feel it might be beneficial for resume purposes.

SR in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: I would disagree with DM. Although working for your Alma Matter will often be the easiest way into an Admissions Counselor position, it does not always paint a proper picture of if that is a good career choice. You can sometimes be blinded by your great experiences at your school and will not really see the job for what it's worth.

With that said, I think the best training for the position would start while you are an undergrad. Working in the admissions office, volunteering as a tour guide, or generally becoming close to those who work in the admissions office will give you a flavor of what the job entails. I have found that a connection like this is often the starting point for many who enter the field. Other paths can include a background in human resources, I have heard of some doing the reverse and entering the business world after spending time in college admissions as well.

After entering the profession, a lot of the training and so forth is self-taught. You learn a lot from your experiences, which you bring to your later jobs. With that said, though, there does exist a Master's of Education in Higher Education which is the next level of education for someone in this career. I personally am aiming to get my M.Ed. because I do not have a strong education background, and I feel it might be beneficial for resume purposes.

Thanks for the advice. I am applying for an admissions counselor position, so I needed this info. - Evan

I would agree with SR, in my undergrad I was a "rep" in the Admissions office at my Alma Mater. It taught me how the office ran, and the responsibilities of an admish counselor. Now as an Admish counselor, I can see how that time benefitted me and prepared me for my job.

There is a great website that can help you with this info at www.collegereps.net. It has an article "How to Become and Admissions Counselor" and more information for admissions professionals too.

Most of the online admission rep positions are high pressure for the per representing the college or University. The director of admissions has to hit the numbers, this falls to the assistant directors making there numbers. And as it all rolls down hill, the admission advisor will be told anything and everything to get those numbers.
You need a need a successful sales background, the ability to convence people that your PRODUCT is better than the other 30 Universities and tech schools that have called them.
You will need to make between 100 and 125 dials a day, and be able to handle hang ups and life story's of people that may or may not be able to complete sentences or thoughts.

The admissions advisor profession has become the same as all professions in this economy.
You are only as good as your last enrollment.