Admissions Counselor & Recruiter

Admissions Counselor & Recruiter

The Admissions Counselor & Recruiter supports the Office of Graduate and Global Admissions through two primary functions: admissions counseling (60–75% of time) and student recruitment (25–40% of time). In the counseling capacity, this position serves as a primary point of contact for prospective students, guiding them through the application and matriculation process, managing an assigned territory, and making admissions decisions based on established criteria.

In the recruitment capacity, this position represents Biola at college fairs, conferences, and on-campus engagement activities, manages recruitment logistics and materials inventory, and supports virtual information sessions. Both functions share a common goal: enrolling well-matched students into Biola's graduate and doctoral programs through proactive, personalized, and student-centered service.

The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola's Articles of Faith and Statement of Biblical Principles and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola.

This position reports to the Associate Director of Graduate Admissions. A Bachelor's degree is required. This position requires personal attendance at Biola's campus in La Mirada, California. Frequent travel to off-campus recruitment events, conferences, and college fairs is required. Some evening and weekend work required during peak recruitment seasons and events.

• Manage an assigned territory of prospective students and applicants, maintaining consistent and personalized outreach from inquiry through enrollment.
• Conduct in-person and virtual appointments, phone calls, emails, and text-based communication to guide students through every stage of the admissions process.
• Proactively follow up with inquiries and incomplete applications to keep prospective students engaged and moving forward.
• Track each student's stage in the admissions funnel and prioritize outreach based on enrollment potential and program fit.
• Serve as a trusted advisor: understand each student's goals, concerns, and circumstances, and match them to the right program.

Maintain a thorough working knowledge of all application requirements, deadlines, and evaluation criteria across assigned programs. Review applications within the assigned territory for completeness, academic qualifications, and fit with program expectations. Make admissions decisions (admits, conditional admits, deferrals, and denials) in alignment with faculty and committee standards. Communicate decisions to applicants with clarity, professionalism, and appropriate next steps. Manage pending and incomplete files proactively, following up with applicants to resolve outstanding requirements.

Develop deep expertise in the programs and schools assigned, serving as the go-to resource for prospective students with specific program questions. Build and maintain strong working relationships with graduate deans, program directors, and coordinators to stay current on curriculum changes, admissions priorities, and enrollment targets. Represent all Biola graduate programs competently in student-facing conversations, referencing the right faculty, outcomes, and student experience for each program.

Act as a bridge between Graduate Admissions and academic departments, escalating complex student situations and relaying relevant program feedback.

Maintain accurate, up-to-date records for all assigned prospects and applicants in Slate, including communication history, application status, and key student information. Use Slate to execute personalized outreach campaigns, schedule follow-ups, and track student engagement at each stage of the funnel. Process application materials, record committee decisions, and update applicant statuses in a timely and accurate manner. Generate and review territory reports to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improving conversion and enrollment…