College Advisor

About Scholar Match

Founded in 2010 by author Dave Eggers, Scholar Match began as a scholarship crowdfunding platform and has since evolved into a full-service college access and persistence organization.

At Scholar Match, we are committed to supporting first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds earn a bachelor’s degree within five years. We’re working towards realizing our vision where all students have access to higher education, support to persist to graduation, and opportunities to succeed in fulfilling careers.

Education opens doors to opportunity and social mobility by allowing students a chance to build fulfilling careers. However, the road to higher education is paved with challenges that can be particularly daunting for first-generation college students. We strive to change this scenario for young people from low-income backgrounds by offering them comprehensive support services focusing on individualized college and career advising, targeted scholarships, and ongoing mentorship from high school to college graduation and the launch of their careers.

Our ultimate goal is to nurture a community of young people who can successfully navigate the higher education landscape, confronting its challenges, breaking barriers, and redefining success on their paths to graduation and beyond. Learn more .

Scholar Match is seeking a full-time, non-exempt College Advisor to play an important role in our growing non-profit. The College Advisor will join a dynamic team of virtual advisors based in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. College Advisors work virtually to manage a caseload of college students, support the implementation of student events, and may lead group advising sessions. This position reports to the Advising Manager.

This position is ideal for a candidate who has a passion for our mission, strong relationship-building skills, excellent counseling skills, and an interest in using data to improve effectiveness and advance our mission. Candidates must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area or greater Los Angeles. Occasional travel and in-person event attendance is required.

This is a union position and is contracted until June 2028 with a possible extension based on program needs and funding opportunities.

Your primary responsibilities are to successfully manage and support a caseload of Scholar Match students —providing expertise and mentorship, helping them navigate the often confusing and unfamiliar terrain of college life, and providing documentation, follow-up, and administrative support necessary to the success of our students and the organization.

• Manage a caseload of college students (attending various colleges in California and across the U.S.) to maintain regular contact via phone, text message, and video meetings to deliver personalized and motivational support.
• Establish and build relationships with the assigned caseload of college students to help them navigate the transition into college, during college, and from college to career.
• Advise students on academic strategies, financial aid and money management, engagement on campus and in the community, and career exploration.
• Provide ongoing support around situations commonly faced by first-generation, low-income college students by helping students navigate challenges, focusing on problem-solving techniques, and encouraging them to locate campus resources.
• Hold office hours to allow students to seek additional support.
• In collaboration with the program manager, responsibly navigate significant persistence issues facing our students.
• Record student information and detailed case notes from interactions to provide personalized coaching conversations. Prepare for each meeting by reviewing student pre-meeting forms and casenotes.
• Support the collection of student documentation for the assigned caseload and review submitted documentation as needed.
• As needed, support the relationship with specified scholarship partners by providing updates on specific students on your caseload, and supporting any program modifications for the partner’s students.
• Support implementation and attend student events and programming.
• Su…