College Counselor

BASIS Independent McLean is seeking qualified candidates for a College Admissions Counselor position for immediate hire!

BASIS Independent McLean opened in 2016 and sits on an 11-acre campus located in Tysons Corner in Northern Virginia, with convenient access to Washington, D.C. less than 15 miles away. We have been named the #1 Private K-12 School in Virginia for the last three years by Niche, the #1 Best High School for STEM in Virginia, and rank in the Top 20 Best Private K-12 Schools in the country. This recognition highlights the strength and expertise of our faculty, as well as the high academic standards we set for students.

What We’re Looking For:

BASIS Independent Schools college counselors provide dedicated and individualized support to our talented and ambitious high school students in navigating the college and career planning process. Working collaboratively with school leaders, parents, and faculty, college counselors provide leadership and guidance regarding all aspects of the college application process. College counselors are also responsible for promoting BASIS to various constituencies, from potential applicants to college admissions officers, and educating them about the strengths and value of a BASIS education.

Primary Job Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing individualized college counseling to eleventh and twelfth-grade students throughout the college application process. Writing comprehensive and personalized letters of recommendation for each twelfth grader in support of their college applications.
• Working closely with each applicant to develop standardized testing plans and an application strategy and providing feedback on their essays and applications.
• Teaching the College Admissions Course to eleventh and twelfth-grade students.
• Presenting on college admissions topics and trends to various audiences, including students, parents, and faculty.
• Providing training and support to faculty on the writing of letters of recommendation.
• Collaborating with other members of the college counseling team, faculty, and school administration to provide leadership and insights regarding trends in the college admissions landscape.
• Traveling to visit colleges and networking with college admissions officers to keep abreast of admissions trends and to help promote BASIS Independent Schools and students.
• Keeping accurate student files and data and maintaining the strictest professional discretion regarding confidential student and school information.
• Partnering with the Director of College Advisory for the Spring Education Group, as well as the college counselors at other schools within the Spring network, to share best practices and promote continuous improvement.
• Supporting the broader mission of BASIS and fulfilling any other responsibilities as assigned.

Position Qualifications:

• Education: A bachelor's degree is required; a master's degree (or higher) is preferred.
• Experience: Qualified candidates will have at least two years of experience in college counseling or college admissions. Because BASIS students apply to many of the top colleges and universities in the country, experience in and an understanding of highly selective college admissions is preferred.
• Skills and Traits: Strong interpersonal and communication skills and comfort with public speaking; superior writing ability; positive attitude and ability to work diplomatically with various constituencies; enthusiasm for building positive and healthy relationships with middle and high school students and supporting their academic, social, and emotional growth; experience with (or ability to learn) the SCOIR college search and application platform; flexibility and comfort being part of a collaborative and innovative team environment.
• All BASIS employees must obtain a fingerprint clearance card.

Benefits:

BASIS Independent Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Competitive salary dependent on education and experience.
• Career growth opportunities focused on continuous learning, mentorship, and professional advancement across our network of schools.
• Retirement options through which eligible participants may receive a 50% company match for the first 10% of employee earnings deferred.
• Three PPO medical plans to choose from, as well as dental and vision insurance.
• An FSA option that allows for pre-tax dollars to cover medical, dependent care, and transit.
• Student tuition remission for your children to attend our schools.