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Counseling specialist vs admissions specialist

The differences between counseling specialists and admissions specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a counseling specialist has an average salary of $44,061, which is higher than the $36,140 average annual salary of an admissions specialist.

The top three skills for a counseling specialist include social work, mental health and crisis intervention. The most important skills for an admissions specialist are patients, customer service, and social work.

Counseling specialist vs admissions specialist overview

Counseling SpecialistAdmissions Specialist
Yearly salary$44,061$36,140
Hourly rate$21.18$17.38
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs64,40417,384
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a counseling specialist do?

A counseling specialist guides groups, families, or individuals dealing with mental well-being or mental health issues. These professionals approach their duties holistically by implementing a 'wellness' model that identifies and promotes the client's strengths. Besides developing therapeutic processes and encouraging clients to share their experiences and emotions, counseling specialists also refer the clients to professional psychologists and more services. They work with families and examine aging, relationships, suicide, stress, depression, self-image, careers, bullying, substance abuse, anger management, and LGBTQ issues.

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.

Counseling specialist vs admissions specialist salary

Counseling specialists and admissions specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Counseling SpecialistAdmissions Specialist
Average salary$44,061$36,140
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $59,000Between $27,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAFresno, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyChicago Public SchoolsColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industryFinanceHealth Care

Differences between counseling specialist and admissions specialist education

There are a few differences between a counseling specialist and an admissions specialist in terms of educational background:

Counseling SpecialistAdmissions Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeBoston UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Counseling specialist vs admissions specialist demographics

Here are the differences between counseling specialists' and admissions specialists' demographics:

Counseling SpecialistAdmissions Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 36.6% Female, 63.4%Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between counseling specialist and admissions specialist duties and responsibilities

Counseling specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage assignments of paying medical bills limit in depth that include organizing and researching regulations as pertain to veterans eligibility.
  • Follow member verification process, ensuring member's HIPAA rights.
  • Provide HIV pre- and post-test counseling, and conduct confidential HIV testing using rapid OraQuick.
  • Coordinate housing efforts with HUD also, verify yearly rental and income checks with social security.
  • Identify and recruit students, assess academic, motivational, and social needs, and develop individual work plans.
  • Develop social histories and rehabilitation treatment plans.
  • Show more

Admissions specialist example responsibilities.

  • 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.
  • Show more

Counseling specialist vs admissions specialist skills

Common counseling specialist skills
  • Social Work, 25%
  • Mental Health, 20%
  • Crisis Intervention, 10%
  • HIPAA, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
Common admissions specialist skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Social Work, 9%
  • Admissions Process, 7%
  • Data Entry, 4%
  • Mental Health, 4%

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