Lakeside School, an independent 5-12 coeducational day school located in North Seattle is currently recruiting for a full-time College Counselor for an extended year position (in most years, beginning roughly in mid-August and ending roughly in early July). The start date could be as early as January and as late as summer, depending on the needs of the successful candidate and the institution. 

Responsibilities
The ideal candidate will join a diverse team of colleagues who are energetic, creative, collaborative, and constantly exploring new ways of effectively serving students. The candidate will support students through the college search and application process; help keep the team abreast of trends and issues in the field; and present to students and families on the college application and selection process and on the landscape of highly selective college admissions and financial aid.  The specific responsibilities of the position include: 

1. Counsel, support, and mentor a diverse group of students and families through the college selection and application process each year, including building college lists, writing individualized and unbiased recommendations for all counselees, and providing feedback to students on their college essays; 
2. Create a level of rapport, comfort, and an environment of trust with all students and families, including adapting their counseling practice, when necessary, to students’ and families’ varying cultural, financial and personal needs;
3. Present, sometimes on evenings and weekends, to students, families, teachers, and advisors about current trends, match, fit, and institutional priorities in the college application process;
4. Advise students and families on what makes college applications stand out;
5. Visit and expand Lakeside’s network with colleges and universities to learn about options for students and to further educate these institutions about Lakeside;
6. Build a culture of inclusivity in the college process, including setting expectations for students and families on acting inclusively and equitably; 
7. Create dynamic communications and presentations for Lakeside families.

In addition, the ideal candidate will be someone who embraces change and who will be eager to engage in three multi-year initiatives that are currently underway in the college counseling office. First, the team is redesigning all facets of the office and program (i.e. policies, procedures, mindsets) to create greater equity in the college process. Second, the team is reframing the entire college process as an experience that builds important competencies, skills, and mindsets. Third, because of the increasing needs of students and families and the continual compression of work into the fall season, the team is exploring new models for the college counseling office.