College Counselor Department: Academics - College Counseling Reports To: Principal and Director of College Counseling

Job Title: College Counselor Department: Academics - College Counseling Reports to: Principal and Director of College Counseling

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, a Jesuit, college-preparatory, co-educational school for grades 9-12 seeks a full-time College Counselor. Reporting to the Principal and Director of College Counseling, this individual is responsible for providing a college-going culture at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and administering all aspects of the college search, college admissions and financial aid process.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

 Educate students and parents about colleges, the college admissions process, procedures, and supporting students and families as they go through the process; helping students and families aspire realistically and choose college options wisely.  Coordinate all aspects of the annual College Fair in the fall.  Coordinate all aspects of the Career Conference in the spring.  Co-coordinate the Fall Parent Conference with the Director of College Counseling.  Work directly with a group of ~60 seniors on the college search and admission application, including college essay revision.  Compose an official school recommendation for each senior; complete Common Application school report and mid-year report forms requested by colleges, including evaluations of students.  Monitor students’ college application progress and keep track of admission outcomes in Naviance.  Meet with college admissions representatives who visit Cristo Rey and facilitate meetings between college representatives and students. The College Counselor also serves as a liaison with college admissions offices. (Last year ~60 colleges visited Cristo Rey)  Assist seniors and parents with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile, as well as help students/parents understand award letters and student loan process/parent plus loan.  Oversee Explore, Pre-ACT, and PSAT, including pre/post administration and administering exam to students.  Meet with ~65 juniors individually to talk about college plans in the spring semester. The College Counselor also advises all grade levels in a group setting throughout the school year.  Oversee the nomination process for college fly-out programs.  Assist 60-100 students with the summer enrichment application process, including promoting summer programs, tracking student progress and overseeing the financial aid fund process.  Serve as the liaison for our Community Based Organizations (CBO) partners, including Minds Matter, Bottom Line, Chicago Scholars, QuestBridge, and The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund.  Work with Registrar to maintain records on seniors, including GPAs and transcripts.  Present at the school’s College Information Day and Grupo de Apoyo Para Padres (GAPE) event.  Be aware of issues and trends in college admission, higher education, testing, as well as keeping up-to-date about specific colleges.

 Assist the Director of College Counseling with the ACT in fall/spring and AP exams, including administering exams and preparing students for the AP Spanish Language (Verbal) exam.

Qualifications:

 Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; familiarity with the goals, objectives, and mission of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School; the ability to respond effectively to the needs of students; knowledge of colleges, their academic programs, admission and financial aid policies and procedures.  Necessary skills include excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and in Spanish as well as the ability to meet deadlines. Two to three years of experience in college admissions or high school college counseling is preferred.  Experience working with first-generation college applicants is preferred.  The College Counselor will work several Saturdays and Sundays.  Education: A minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume to: www.cristorey.net/careers

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Founded by the Jesuits in 1996, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School provides a Catholic, college preparatory education and professional work experience to students from Spanish-speaking families across the southwest side of Chicago who, because of limited financial means, would otherwise be unable to afford it. To make the school both affordable and sustainable, Cristo Rey pioneered the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) model for inner-city education that has inspired a national network of 32 schools serving low-income communities across the country. The CWSP enables all students to earn a majority of their annual tuition by working one school day a week in an entry-level position for a corporation in the Chicago area.

Jesuit Schools Network and Cristo Rey Network Cristo Rey is sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), the largest religious order in the Roman Catholic Church, and is well- known in the United States with over 50 high school and 28 colleges and universities. Cristo Rey is a member of the Jesuit Schools Network, the national association of Jesuit schools in the United States and Canada. Additionally, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a member of the Cristo Rey Network, the national association of schools operating on the Cristo Rey model. Currently, there are 32 high schools serving 10,000 students throughout the country that are associated through the Cristo Rey Network and operate using the educational model named for the first school in Chicago.