What does a student success counselor do?
A student success counselor provides academic and career advice to students, typically in high school. They conduct interviews with students to identify and establish their educational goals, developing strategies to attain them. Their responsibilities also include performing research and analysis to find programs and services that fit the students' needs, liaising with internal and external parties, answering student inquiries and concerns, and monitoring the progress of all operations. Moreover, a student success counselor must build positive relationships with students, encouraging them to reach their goals.
Student success counselor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real student success counselor resumes:
- Organize civic reflection discussions, manage tutoring schedules, tutor during mathematics workshops, and mentore for student success.
- Utilize Salesforce to manage advertising programs for business owners.
- Instruct GED classes on math and English classes.
- Obtain CPR training and license.
- Tutor in English, mathematics and social studies.
- Skil in FAFSA, scholarships and grant writing.
- Assist students with FAFSA, scholarships and grants.
- Organize curriculum, teach first aid, CPR.
- Maintain accurate client files for a DUI compliance program.
- Attend peer facilitator training and co-facilitate a small seminar twice a week.
- Analyze and interpret USCIS policies and procedures regarding maintaining student visa status.
- Practice calculus skills by teaching others, learned different ways to reach others
- Complete screening and assessments as well as counseling services for DUI clients.
- Utilize the ASISTS system to document factors which may affect student persistence or success.
- Provide treatment and education to families and staff at rehabilitation centers throughout the country.
Student success counselor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Student Success Counselors are proficient in Social Work, Professional Development, and Financial Aid. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Student Success Counselors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Social Work, 15%
Monitored and tracked participant progress in collaboration with the student social worker.
- Professional Development, 10%
Teach a class of 19 freshman business students in subjects related to business and professional development.
- Financial Aid, 9%
Monitor student compliance in academic probation, financial aid status and in attendance verification.
- Phone Calls, 9%
Maintain a clean office, answer phone calls, and make copies of documents and making appointments for students.
- Student Services, 8%
Participate in outreach initiatives in collaboration with academics and student services.
- Persistence, 5%
Assisted students in analyzing alternatives to overcome issues or problems that may be a barrier to persistence or graduation.
Most student success counselors use their skills in "social work," "professional development," and "financial aid" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential student success counselor responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a student success counselor to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." Student success counselors often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "monitor student progress through regular meetings, communications, interventions, assessments, and data collection. "
Listening skills. Many student success counselor duties rely on listening skills. "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems.," so a student success counselor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways student success counselor responsibilities rely on listening skills: "planned and delivered the training of student leaders on relevant skills related to listening, communication, and conflict resolution. "
Speaking skills. This is an important skill for student success counselors to perform their duties. For an example of how student success counselor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a student success counselor: "presented information regarding career services and orientation to college. ".
Interpersonal skills. student success counselor responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." This resume example shows what student success counselors do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "promoted children's interpersonal skills, social developments, and self-actualization through various activities. "
The three companies that hire the most student success counselors are:
- Americorps7 student success counselors jobs
- Delaware Systems Technology, Inc.4 student success counselors jobs
- Pico de Gallo
3 student success counselors jobs
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Compare different student success counselors
Student success counselor vs. Student advocate
Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a student success counselor are more likely to require skills like "social work," "phone calls," "student services," and "persistence." On the other hand, a job as a student advocate requires skills like "educational programs," "community organizations," "administrative hearings," and "student health." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that student advocates earn slightly differ from student success counselors. In particular, student advocates are 8.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a student success counselor. Additionally, they're 4.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Student success counselor vs. Counselor
The one who shows the track of academic pursuit is student support service. Equipped with a wide range of knowledge themselves, such people provide auxiliary aids and services to the aspirants. They select appropriate and effective accommodations and provide counseling to the students.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that student success counselor responsibilities requires skills like "professional development," "phone calls," "student services," and "persistence." But a counselor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "substance abuse," "cpr," and "family therapy."
On average, counselors earn a lower salary than student success counselors. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, counselors earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $37,750. Whereas student success counselors have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $43,046.In general, counselors achieve similar levels of education than student success counselors. They're 1.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 4.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Student success counselor vs. Student support services
A student advisor is responsible for supporting the students' personal growth and development by guiding them on their learning processes and educational goals. Student advisors provide regular counseling for the students to analyze their career aspirations, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and strategize learning plans to address those difficulties. They also coordinate with the students' parents and guardians to report the students' progress and determine appropriate scholastic solutions. A student advisor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when handling students' different needs and concerns.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a student success counselor is likely to be skilled in "social work," "phone calls," "persistence," and "mental health," while a typical student support services is skilled in "student support," "support services," "math," and "trio sss."
Student support services earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $38,009. Student success counselors earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $43,046.Most student support services achieve a similar degree level compared to student success counselors. For example, they're 4.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Student success counselor vs. Student advisor
Even though a few skill sets overlap between student success counselors and student advisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a student success counselor might have more use for skills like "social work," "phone calls," "persistence," and "mental health." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of student advisors require skills like "customer service," "international student," "support services," and "sevis. "
Student advisors enjoy the best pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $40,721. For comparison, student success counselors earn the highest salary in the education industry.The average resume of student advisors showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to student success counselors. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.Types of student success counselor
Updated January 8, 2025
