Admissions Counselor Cover Letter and Resume Examples

Parents and son talking with financial advisor
Ariel Skelley / Getty Images

Admissions counselors help colleges recruit, screen, and approve prospective students for admission to colleges, universities, and private secondary schools. If you’re seeking a job as an admissions counselor, your goal is to show hiring managers that you have the skills, experience, and qualifications for the role.

Here’s how to write an admissions counselor cover letter and resume that will impress the hiring team and help you land the job.

People skills are important in this job because these counselors typically interview students as part of the admissions process. Make sure that your cover letter and resume demonstrate that you are adept at communicating, listening, and collaborating with team members.

Tips for Writing an Admissions Counselor Cover Letter and Resume

To make your application materials stand out from the competition:

Follow Instructions

Job listings typically include specifics about how to apply for the position, including how to submit your materials and what file types to use. Pay attention to these details. If the employer wants to receive your cover letter and resume as attachments and you cut and paste them into a message, for example, you’re unlikely to receive an invitation to interview.

Use the Right Keywords

Analyze the job listing to look for keywords that describe the skills, abilities, and experience the employer is seeking. Then, match your qualifications to the job by using the same keywords in your application materials.

Review Sample Cover Letters

Look at cover letter samples before writing your own. These templates can help you compose a message that’s easy to read and persuasive to hiring teams.

Remember to customize your cover letter for each job. Hiring managers want candidates who are enthusiastic about this position, not just any job in the field.

Use the Right Format for an Email Cover Letter

If you're sending your cover letter via email, list your name and the job title in the subject line of the email message:

Subject: Admissions Counselor Position - Your Name

Include your contact information in your email signature, and don't list the employer’s contact information. Start your email message with the salutation.

Admissions Counselor Sample Cover Letter Example

Here's an example of a cover letter for an admissions counselor position to help you stand out from the crowd. You can download the cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online).

Screenshot of a cover letter for an admissions counselor position

Admissions Counselor Sample Cover Letter (Text Version)

Louis Applicant
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
louis.applicant@email.com

Decenber 6, 2021

Laura Lau
Director, Human Resources
Acme Medical
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321

Dear Ms. Lau,

I would like to express my strong interest in the admissions counselor position at ABC University’s School of Business, as listed on highereducationjobs.com. I am confident that my experience as an admissions counselor and my abilities as a project manager make me an ideal candidate for the position.

I have been working in admissions for the past five years and am therefore extremely confident in my ability to meet your requirements. As an admissions counselor for XYZ College, I recruit, process, and evaluate over 8,500 applicants each year. By thoroughly analyzing candidates and conducting dozens of informational sessions and seminars, I successfully contributed to the rise in student retention by over 15% this past year. I am also particularly familiar with MBA admissions and recruiting, having worked as a graduate assistant in the Greenfield University Business School. I am thus a skilled admissions counselor who is familiar with your particular needs.

I also have the project management experience that you request in your job application. For example, I am currently responsible for organizing and overseeing XYZ College’s annual Welcome Accepted Candidates Day. This job involves selecting and managing caterers, event spaces, professors, and student volunteers. I have successfully run this event for the past two years, and therefore know I have the attention to detail and commitment to quality that you require in an admissions counselor.

I am confident that my years of experience in admissions (particularly business school admissions) and my skill as a project manager would make me an asset to your fine admissions team at ABC University’s School of Business. I have enclosed my resume and will contact you next week to see if we might find a time to speak together. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Laura Lau

Admissions Counselor Resume Example

This is an example of a resume for an admissions counselor position. Download the admissions counselor resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Screenshot of an admissions counselor resume example

Admissions Counselor Resume Example (Text Version)

Louis Applicant
123 Main Street
Anytown, CA 99999
(123) 456-7890
louis.applicant@email.com

ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR

Increasing retention rates through careful evaluation and selection of student applicants.

Detail-oriented Admissions Counselor with 10+ years’ experience and a record of success in recruiting, evaluating, and accepting applicants for a liberal arts college, seeks a position with a top college.

Key skills include:

  • Strong Oral and Written Communication
  • Experience Developing and Leading Presentations and Information Sessions
  • Helped Increase Student Retention Rates at a Liberal Arts College by 25%
  • Experience Training New Counselors

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ABC COLLEGE, Anytown, Calif.
ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR (February 2016 – Present)

Recognized along with admissions team for increasing retention rates among freshman by 25% over the course of five years due to a thorough analysis of applicant materials and follow-up with accepted candidates; developed and presented seminars about ABC college at over 50 high schools.

Notable accomplishments:

  • Conduct dozens of informational sessions with parents, students, and counselors every month.
  • Plan and implement admissions-process training programs for internal and external staff members.

ABC COLLEGE, Anytown, Calif.
REGISTRAR ASSISTANT (June 2011 – February 2016)

Maintained academic records for more than 4,000 students; managed all OCICU registration.

Notable Accomplishments:

  • Resolved student and faculty issues regarding admissions records and registration.
  • Recruited, hired, and trained 10 college interns annually; named “Top College Assistant” twice.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

BOSTON UNIVERSITY, Boston, MA

Bachelor of Arts (Major: Spanish; Minor: Business; 3.70 GPA; Graduated Cum Laude), May 2011

Certifications and Organizations

National Certified Counselor (NCC) • National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)  

Related Skills

Fluent in Spanish • Experience with SIS and Campus View • Proficient in Microsoft Office

Key Takeaways

  • Use your cover letter and resume to show hiring managers that you have the skills, experience, and qualifications for the role.
  • Match your qualifications to the job by using keywords from the job listing in your application materials.
  • Use sample admissions counselor cover letters and resumes as a template for your documents but remember to customize them for each job.