<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I figure it would be better to post this in this forum since there seems to be more activity here than the career forum, and I figure parents know better. </p>
<p>I don't know why exactly, but I increasingly think it would be fulfilling to be an admissions officer for a college for a few years. I like the idea that you get a chunk of time off (or at least less hours) after the hectic admissions season, and I like traveling and speaking. I also think higher education is pretty interesting stuff; this forum has been a habit I haven't broken for 3 years. I also think I might have the ability to extrapolate what a full person seems like from reading essays and an application - I've done it pretty successfully so far in the few opportunities I've had. </p>
<p>While I ultimately want to go to law school, I do want to look into a small career beforehand so I can enter law school when I'm in my mid, as opposed to early, 20's.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how the hiring process works? Or what one would need to do, oir who to talk to? I have experience working with college students as an RA, but I've never worked in the admissions office here (I try to get jobs that involve more than stuffing envelopes).</p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>Some admissions office have volunteer positions, like being a tour guide or volunteering to host applicants overnight. Try to get to know the admissions people at your college and that could lead to a position there or at another school.</p>
<p>I know there's a lot of late night and weekend work involved at the more competitive schools.</p>
<p>If you are in school, you should try to obtain an internship/ work study / volunteer position in your college admissions office as many new admissions officers are graduates of their colleges. Even you think that all interns do is stuff envelopes you are mistaken even though there is a grunt work component in almost every internship job. Eventually you will learn the job.</p>
<p>Admissions officers at average state schools are reasonably competitive positions to get and usually revolve around what the office has a need for. </p>
<p>Highly selective admissions offices (admit rate less than 25%) usually have officers who have attended a similar school, believe in that type of institution and have outstanding personalities and public speaking skills. The positions are extremely tough to get with multiple rounds of interviews. Some schools in fact have up to 100+ applicants per spot so they are very competitive to get. Some positions are for alums, some are not, some schools have no requirements in that regard. </p>
<p>That said, the work is extremely demanding and experienced admissions officers are quite hard to find as the work is exhausting physically and emotionally. Many tend to leave the field after 2-3 years.</p>