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High school counselor vs admissions counselor

The differences between high school counselors and admissions counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a high school counselor has an average salary of $48,361, which is higher than the $39,298 average annual salary of an admissions counselor.

The top three skills for a high school counselor include mental health, financial aid and community resources. The most important skills for an admissions counselor are customer service, patients, and social work.

High school counselor vs admissions counselor overview

High School CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Yearly salary$48,361$39,298
Hourly rate$23.25$18.89
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs93,67543,413
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a high school counselor do?

High school counselors are professional counselors who assist high school students in developing their academic and social skills as well as serve their social and emotional needs. These counselors are required to have one-on-one sessions with students who are experiencing personal problems. They are required to guide students with their college application process and other avenues such as apprenticeships or training programs. High school counselors must also educate students about issues such as drug abuse, bullying, or other significant problems the students are facing.

What does an admissions counselor do?

An admissions counselor is the primary point of contact between a university or college and their potential students. One of their primary responsibilities is to represent the school during various events for recruitment purposes, discuss the admission procedures to the students and their families through calls or appointments, and facilitate university tours and orientation among prospective students. Furthermore, they must gather applicants' requirements, verify their authenticity, and determine if they are qualified for the institution. They may also decide student admissions, all while adhering to the college's policies and guidelines.

High school counselor vs admissions counselor salary

High school counselors and admissions counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

High School CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Average salary$48,361$39,298
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $65,000Between $30,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CASan Rafael, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Hampshire
Best paying companyThe American Musical and Dramatic AcademySchool of Visual Concepts
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between high school counselor and admissions counselor education

There are a few differences between a high school counselor and an admissions counselor in terms of educational background:

High School CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorSchool CounselingBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

High school counselor vs admissions counselor demographics

Here are the differences between high school counselors' and admissions counselors' demographics:

High School CounselorAdmissions Counselor
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 31.7% Female, 68.3%Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4%
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 high school counselor and admissions counselor duties and responsibilities

High school counselor example responsibilities.

  • Lead small student groups addressing student concerns about divorce, loneliness, social skills, study skills and recovery.
  • Assist students with FAFSA guidelines and scholarship searches.
  • Help students complete FAFSA, and other time-sensitive documents.
  • Coordinate test administration; conduct score interpretation and informal workshops about the PSAT program.
  • Administer standardized tests (Stanford 10 and PSAT) and review the results with students, parents and teaching staff.
  • Facilitate activities ranging from yoga to leadership training.
  • Show more

Admissions counselor example responsibilities.

  • Manage applicant and student files electronically within CampusVue software.
  • Verify insurance HMO, Medicare or Medicaid.
  • Assist in PV's marketing efforts by reaching out to alumni and community.
  • Evaluate transcripts, convert quarterly hours to semester hours as necessary, and calculate the GPA.
  • Receive and execute hundreds of phone calls and e-mails daily from students and parents inquiring about CSU.
  • Give campus tours to prospective students and families; make phone calls to incoming students for CSU events and admissions follow-up.
  • Show more

High school counselor vs admissions counselor skills

Common high school counselor skills
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Financial Aid, 7%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • Social Work, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • at-Risk, 5%
Common admissions counselor skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Admissions Process, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 4%
  • Financial Aid, 4%

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