University and Career Counsellor

Job Summary

At UWC Dilijan, the goal of Career and University Counselling is to help our very diverse range of students gain access to post-UWC opportunities that will allow them to continue their educational development, find personal fulfillment, and contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable future.
To accomplish this, the Career and University Counsellor needs to work closely with each student to understand their goals and strengths, and to help them understand and navigate the full range of post-UWC opportunities available to them.

In addition to individualized counselling, they should provide group sessions on topics such as the university search process, financial aid and scholarships, the different university systems around the world, the different standardized tests, essay writing and application preparation.
UWC students are fortunate to benefit not only from an excellent and globally recognized educational experience, but also to have access to a number of UWC specific bursaries, scholarships and financial-aid opportunities. The largest of these is the UWC Davis Scholars Program, which provides financial aid opportunities to UWC graduates at more than 90 excellent universities in the United States. Counselling students requires a high degree of awareness about costs and financial-aid availability for foreign students.

Career and University counselling at UWC Dilijan also includes hosting visitors from many universities around the world and building relationships to help promote UWC Dilijan and to be able to effectively represent the merits of our students.
Further, the Counsellor works closely with faculty and external partners to support the holistic educational and personal development of UWC Dilijan students, allowing them to make the most of their UWC experience and their opportunities afterwards.

Responsibilities

  • In large or small groups and individual meetings, educate students about colleges, universities and career opportunities across the world and facilitate their matriculation, including preparation, selection, testing, application, and applying for financial aid;

  •  Educate faculty in the university application process, and provide guidance and feedback in the writing of references and testimonials;

  •  Advise and train staff regarding grading perspectives in different countries

  •  Be an advocate for every student. Work from draft testimonials written by UWCD staff to ensure strong references for all students;

  • Advise students on IB course selection;

  •  Facilitate students’ participation in the ACT, SAT, TOEFL and similar testing as needed;

  • Host college and university visits;

  •  Represent UWC Dilijan to universities and colleges across the world via electronic communication, conferences, and counsellor fly-in programmes;

  • Communicate with students, teachers, university admissions staff and parents whenever needed;

  • Ensure the creation and regular updating of school documents in such things as profiles and transcripts;

  • Develop and maintain a particularly strong relationship with the different scholarship initiatives;

  • Encourage and support students in their search for special scholarship and career programs;

  • Communicate to the UWC Dilijan community about relevant college and university matters;

  • Keep records which will allow us to track the college’s record in university placement;

  • Provide reports, as requested, for the UWC Dilijan Board of Governors, the UWC International Office, the International Baccalaureate and the Council of International Schools amongst others;

  • Maintain memberships and adhere to guidelines created by the National Association for College Admissions Counselling (NACAC), the International Association for College Admissions Counselling, and the informal association of UWC university advisers. Attend professional conferences when possible;

  • Facilitate and liaise with gap year and summer opportunities;

  • Be ready to help students choosing a route other than university, including entrepreneurial paths;

  • Contribute to the UWC Dilijan community in a more general way, including serving as a tutor for a small group of students, supervising CAS groups, and performing residential duties.

  • To become involved in different areas of the School life: academic, activities, outdoor programme, personal and social education, residential life and service.

  • To operate both as an individual and as a member of different functional collaborative teams.

  • To promote a challenging education that uses the student diversity as an asset.