University/ Career Counsellor

Being a member of VAS University Prep and Career Counselling Team, the University/Career Counsellor serves VAS students and families of grades 8-12 by providing a programme which focuses on the major aspects of the college planning/placement process. The University/Career Counsellor works in coordination with the school central administration and campuses to assist students in discovering their strengths and interests, exploring career alternatives, and finding institutions of higher learning which will meet these interests, strengths and values.
The University/Career Counsellor is to assist the development of a university preparation curriculum that supports students in their exploration of career alternatives and helps them understand and undertake the college planning and application process in the most effective manner. This includes academic preparation for college, meeting both graduation and college acceptance requirements, college searches, school and financial aid application, scholarship searches, testing, recommendations, and transition to college.
I. Job Description
Specific responsibilities include the followings:
A/ University Prep and Career Counseling
1. Assist in developing and providing an annual calendar of support for parents and pupils of grade 8-12 across all VAS campuses focusing on important milestones, timelines and events pertaining to their university preparation and career planning.
2. Assist in developing and updating the VAS University Preparation Curriculum / Manual. This includes maintaining an up-to-date resource library of print & electronic information of college catalogues, college guides, scholarship information, and financial aid application, newsletters, etc. This will also include additional non-academic programmes (such as Duke Edinburgh, Community Programmes, etc.) to support the holistic development and profile enhancement of VAS students, enabling them to reach the higher education destinations of their choice.
3. Provide administrative support to the University Prep / Career Counselling Team in matters pertaining to the development of university partnerships and maintaining / expanding such partnerships
4. Provide direct counselling services to students and families to help them understand the career alternatives available to them, as well as the educational alternatives that are accessible. This would include interpreting university websites for parents and offering alternative pathway guidance, if needed.
5. Organise university preparation activities for students and families, including individual conferences, group presentations, university fair, etc.
6. Coordinate university entrance exam testing and interpretation (wherever applicable)
7. Facilitate university entrance exam preparation courses for interested students offered by outside providers.
8. Support students in their preparation of personal statements, personal essays, and application forms; proactively organize meetings with individual parents and students to follow through their application process and transition to university.
B/ Other duties
1. Participate in both VAS-wide and individual campus marketing & promotional events / activities to actively promote this value-added service to students and parents as an important part of student retention and recruitment plan
2. Attend professional conferences, seminars, and workshops; deliver presentations on behalf of the school as and when required.
3. Other duties as assigned from time to time by the Line Manager and Academic Leadership Team.