Should I Become a Graduate Admissions Coordinator?
A graduate admissions coordinator works to recruit, manage and oversee new students into a school at the graduate level. They may work with financial aid and scholarship representatives to assist students in receiving additional help in paying for tuition. They also work with businesses and community organizations to market their institution and generate applications. Graduate admissions coordinators may also follow up with students after initial admittance into schools. They track the progress of students throughout a particular program and meet with them to improve learning outcomes.
Career Requirements
| Degree Level | Bachelor's degree required, master's degree recommended |
| Degree Field | Education; field-specific degree |
| Key Skills | Admissions coordinators should have excellent communication, analytical, problem-solving, computer, interpersonal, and recruiting skills. |
| Salary | $38,803 (Median annual salary for general admissions officers) |
Source: Payscale.com
Step 1: Earn a Degree
Graduate admissions coordinators typically need a bachelor's degree in order to obtain a position. Several undergraduate majors can adequately prepare students for the career, although some employers will require job candidates to have an educational background in a particular field, such as behavioral science. Other relevant course topics include marketing, business writing, or education. Some employers may require that graduate admissions counselors have a master's degree, although experience may be considered a substitute for a higher degree.
Step 2: Obtain Relevant Work Experience
Some colleges, universities, or other institutions require that their graduate admissions coordinators have a few years of experience, while other positions may be entry-level. Some examples of relevant career experience includes administration, marketing, or education administration positions. Additional requirements of a graduate admissions coordinator include excellent communication, analytical, problem-solving, computer and recruiting skills.
Step 3: Find a Graduate Admissions Coordinator Position
Graduate admissions coordinator positions are available at many institutions across the country. Aside from answering job ads, networking, or seeking a promotion to graduate admissions coordinator from within an organization are two other ways to land such a position.
Admissions coordinator positions may not be entry level, and as such, individuals interested in this career could look into positions in administrative or marketing departments as they work their way up to becoming an admissions coordinator.
