What does an admissions specialist do?
An admissions specialist's main role is to provide timely, accurate, and complete evaluation service of academic credentials for incoming first-year and transferee students, as well as existing enrolled students. They serve as a vital member of the evaluation team to ensure a smooth and timely evaluation process. They also support the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in overall function from enrollment processing, application of student files, reviewing the transcript of records to evaluate academic credentials of incoming freshmen students, and transferee applicants.
Admissions specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real admissions specialist resumes:
- Manage assignments of paying medical bills limit in depth that include organizing and researching regulations as pertain to veterans eligibility.
- Determine eligibility of applicants base on university and program guidelines, verifying exams, transcripts, character clearance and gpa.
- Develop quarterly investor PowerPoint presentations.
- Prepare PowerPoint presentations for prospective students that familiarize groups of students to what the university offers.
- Conduct patient interviews and collaborate with on-call psychiatrists to make recommendations for patients being consider for PEC or psychiatric placement.
- Coordinate eligibility qualifications concerning private insurance and Medicaid.
- Participate in promoting and interviewing applicants for enrollment by displaying knowledge of programs and career directions.
- Provide prospective and enroll students with educational plans and career approach to ensure a successful college experience.
- Coordinate eligibility qualifications concerning private insurance and Medicaid.
Admissions specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 24% of Admissions Specialists are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and Social Work. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Speaking skills, and Compassion.
We break down the percentage of Admissions Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 24%
Conducted patient interviews and collaborated with on-call psychiatrists to make recommendations for patients being considered for PEC or psychiatric placement.
- Customer Service, 14%
Communicate accurately, positively with students and provide exemplary customer service.
- Social Work, 9%
Conducted scheduled and unscheduled tours as needed in collaboration with other departments including Social Work, Nursing and Administration.
- Admissions Process, 7%
Interviewed candidates utilizing admissions processes, counseled candidates and maintained student information through enrollment process.
- Data Entry, 4%
Managed confidential patient information in electronic database; performed data entry.
- Mental Health, 4%
Responded to telephone and face-to-face inquiries from individuals and families seeking mental health care or information about mental health-related services.
Common skills that an admissions specialist uses to do their job include "patients," "customer service," and "social work." You can find details on the most important admissions specialist responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an admissions specialist to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." Additionally, an admissions specialist resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "reduced data entry errors through implemented quality control procedures and advised campus registrars during the tuition re-classification reviews. "
Speaking skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling admissions specialist duties is speaking skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." According to an admissions specialist resume, here's how admissions specialists can utilize speaking skills in their job responsibilities: "represented liberty university through making outbound calls to students who submitted inquiries. "
Compassion. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of admissions specialists is compassion. This skill is critical to many everyday admissions specialist duties, as "school and career counselors and advisors often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be able to empathize with their clients and students." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "demonstrate compassion, patience and respect for residents and their families through difficult transitions and terminal stages. "
Listening skills. admissions specialist responsibilities often require "listening skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems." This resume example shows what admissions specialists do with listening skills on a typical day: "communicated with prospective students through emails, phone calls and a live chat instant messaging system. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for admissions specialist responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of admissions specialists all the time, as "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." An excerpt from a real admissions specialist resume shows how this skill is central to what an admissions specialist does: "utilize knowledge of health insurance, medical billing and medical terminology as well as strong interpersonal and customer service skills. "
The three companies that hire the most admissions specialists are:
- Texas Health Resources26 admissions specialists jobs
- Acadia Healthcare19 admissions specialists jobs
- Trilogy Health Services12 admissions specialists jobs
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Compare different admissions specialists
Admissions specialist vs. Peer mentor
A peer mentor is an individual who builds a relationship with another person or mentee who is new to the career or at the same level. Peer mentors must serve as a social role model and educate mentees on various resources and services. They coordinate and facilitate social programs and training and discuss any mentee concerns with the top management. Peer mentors are also required to maintain confidentiality with any shared information between mentors and mentees.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between admissions specialists and peer mentor. For instance, admissions specialist responsibilities require skills such as "patients," "customer service," "social work," and "admissions process." Whereas a peer mentor is skilled in "role model," "mathematics," "gpa," and "peer support." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Peer mentors really shine in the non profits industry with an average salary of $30,162. Comparatively, admissions specialists tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $34,222.peer mentors tend to reach lower levels of education than admissions specialists. In fact, peer mentors are 5.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Admissions specialist vs. Student mentor
A student mentor is responsible for guiding the students on their educational and professional development by encouraging the students to reach their maximum potential, helping them with their study habits and academic concerns. Student mentors widen the social connection of the students by recommending them to join school activities and other educational organizations. They analyze the students' strengths and weaknesses and implement strategies to address those difficulties. A student mentor also advises the students of their potential careers, considering their interests and social experience.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, admissions specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "customer service," "social work," and "admissions process." Meanwhile, a student mentor has duties that require skills in areas such as "role model," "student life," "mathematics," and "academic support." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, student mentors earn a lower salary than admissions specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, student mentors earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $33,166. Whereas admissions specialists have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $34,222.student mentors earn similar levels of education than admissions specialists in general. They're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Admissions specialist vs. Student representative
A student representative takes the role of listening, collating, and communicating student's views. Student representatives attend meetings and escalate matters which affect the students. They demonstrate honesty and integrity in academics. They take part in labs, seminars, and classes as well as assign work on time. These students need to develop responsible behaviors, including honesty, respect, compassion, courage, accountability, and fairness. Also, they should have the ability to lead and manage a group of students.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from admissions specialist resumes include skills like "patients," "customer service," "social work," and "admissions process," whereas a student representative is more likely to list skills in "student body," "legal research," "westlaw," and "student issues. "
Most student representatives achieve a similar degree level compared to admissions specialists. For example, they're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 4.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Admissions specialist vs. College program internship
A college program intern is responsible for performing actual duties and observations within the industry of choice. Typically, a college program intern works under the supervision of tenured staff, shadowing on the workflow processes, gaining feedback to refine skills, developing work ethics, and building self-confidence. College program interns may also assist in innovating strategic procedures to maximize productivity and improve processes. In some cases, organizations absorb an intern with the highest potential to deliver the best results towards the company's long-term goals and objectives.
Types of admissions specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
