Admissions Counselor

Admissions Counselor handles technical operations and this page lists 20 real tasks that reveal practical skills and common troubleshooting steps. The tasks reference tools like Microsoft Word and typical error signs. Each one shows where we found it, and comes with an AI prompt you can copy and use straight away.

20evidenced tasks
20ready prompts
5tools of the trade
21-1012.00O*NET-SOC code
353,310hold this job (US, BLS 2025)
$64,330median pay/yr (US)
Open Admissions Counselor in the interactive atlas →

What it pays

Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.

Half of all Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in the U.S. earn more than $64,330 a year — the middle 80% land between $45,020 and $104,770. About 353,310 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$64,330typical pay / year
353,310people in this work
$104,770+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →

The work, task by task

These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.

Get approval2

Refer students to outside counseling services.

+
Identify suitable external counselling providers for students in crisis, check licencing and fees, prepare…
Identify suitable external counselling providers for students in crisis, check licencing and fees, prepare referral letters and informed-consent forms, then send the referral list and the first three letters to Student Services Director Rafael Ortiz by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookESCOjob descriptionsO*NET

Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.

+
Schedule and run a two-week recruitment plan targeting October adult learners: confirm campus open house on…
Schedule and run a two-week recruitment plan targeting October adult learners: confirm campus open house on October 14, book information sessions with Employer Relations and Financial Aid, draft the outreach script, and assign follow-up calls to Jaime and Noor.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookESCOO*NET
Keeping the record2

Maintain accurate student records

+
Audit and correct the student record set for Fall term: reconcile missing transcripts, update contact details…
Audit and correct the student record set for Fall term: reconcile missing transcripts, update contact details from last week's intake forms, close duplicate records, and produce an up-to-date enrollment list for the registrar by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
N

Collaborate with teachers and families on student goals

+
Set up a goal-planning meeting for Sofia Rivera with her math teacher and parents next Tuesday: prepare a…
Set up a goal-planning meeting for Sofia Rivera with her math teacher and parents next Tuesday: prepare a one-page progress summary, propose target competencies for the term, and share the action steps so everyone can sign off on the plan.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
Analysing2

Provide crisis intervention for students

+
Respond to the crisis referral for student Maya Alvarez: contact her emergency designated supporter, schedule…
Respond to the crisis referral for student Maya Alvarez: contact her emergency designated supporter, schedule an urgent counselling appointment today, notify Dean Roberts and Financial Aid of temporary leave options, and log the incident in her file.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET

Evaluate students' abilities and interests

+
Assess incoming applicant Liam Chen: review his placement test, recent transcript, and personal statement,…
Assess incoming applicant Liam Chen: review his placement test, recent transcript, and personal statement, map results to program prerequisites, write a two-paragraph evaluation with recommended course placements, and send it to the admissions committee.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
The daily work14

Monitor educational developments

+
Scan national and state education headlines and policy updates from the last two weeks, flag changes…
Scan national and state education headlines and policy updates from the last two weeks, flag changes affecting certificate program entry or funding, summarise three implications for our admission criteria and one recommended action for outreach by Thursday.
The tools that do the workGoogle DocsESCOsee the evidence ↗

Job market offers

+
Gather current regional employer vacancies and starting salaries for graduates in nursing, IT support, and…
Gather current regional employer vacancies and starting salaries for graduates in nursing, IT support, and business administration, compare to our program outcomes, and draft three talking points for career advising sessions by next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordESCOsee the evidence ↗

Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.

+
Compare Maria Lopez's official high school and transfer college transcripts against our university graduation…
Compare Maria Lopez's official high school and transfer college transcripts against our university graduation and program-specific admission checklists, note any missing credits or GPA shortfalls, and draft a two-paragraph recommendation letter endorsing her for admission by Wednesday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*NET

Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.

+
Identify counselees who meet employer criteria from last quarter, prepare referral packets with resumes,…
Identify counselees who meet employer criteria from last quarter, prepare referral packets with resumes, contact details, and placement notes for HireTech Staffing and the campus career center, and send introductions to the employer contacts by Friday afternoon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordO*NET

Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops, and serve on committees.

+
Block time on the department calendar for the statewide admissions conference, register myself and two…
Block time on the department calendar for the statewide admissions conference, register myself and two colleagues, collect relevant session materials, and write a one-page meeting brief with action items to circulate to the committee before the monthly meeting next Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordO*NET

Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.

+
Assess the assistive technology needs of three incoming students with documented disabilities, arrange device…
Assess the assistive technology needs of three incoming students with documented disabilities, arrange device loans or campus access keys, coordinate restroom access accommodations with facilities, and log the accommodations in each student's support plan today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookO*NET

Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.

+
Create a training schedule for two new admissions staff and one intern covering file review, interview…
Create a training schedule for two new admissions staff and one intern covering file review, interview protocol, and FERPA compliance, run the first training, and submit performance goals and mentoring assignments to HR by next Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NET

Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.

+
Organize the campus debate club kickoff: reserve the student lounge for Tuesday evening, recruit three…
Organize the campus debate club kickoff: reserve the student lounge for Tuesday evening, recruit three faculty judges, prepare contest rules and sign-up forms, and publicize the event to students with posters and a department email by Monday lunchtime.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordO*NET

Analyze data to identify factors affecting performance

+
Analyze the admissions and coursework records for the past three semesters to find which entry metrics,…
Analyze the admissions and coursework records for the past three semesters to find which entry metrics, program choices, and support services most predict first-year GPA and retention, and summarise findings in a three-page memo for the director by next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions

Report cases of neglect or abuse

+
Report suspected neglect of applicant Aaliyah Martinez, age 16, describing observed bruising, missed classes,…
Report suspected neglect of applicant Aaliyah Martinez, age 16, describing observed bruising, missed classes, her guardian's statements, and the dates and times I spoke with her, then send the report to the child protection hotline and to the dean of student affairs today before 5pm.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions

Help identify options for future careers

+
Help Marcus Reed map three realistic career paths from his hospitality diploma, listing typical employers,…
Help Marcus Reed map three realistic career paths from his hospitality diploma, listing typical employers, entry salaries, required additional certificates, and two short courses he can take within six months, then prepare a one-page comparison to review at our meeting on Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO

Assist beneficiaries in the development of their curriculum

+
Work with Sofia Alvarez to draft a semester curriculum that meets her diploma requirements, sequences…
Work with Sofia Alvarez to draft a semester curriculum that meets her diploma requirements, sequences required and elective modules, flags prerequisites, and includes a study plan for completing the portfolio by week ten, then produce the final curriculum sheet for her to sign by Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO

Make suggestions for lifelong learning including study recommendations

+
Recommend a lifelong learning plan for Derek Thompson that includes three short accredited courses, one…
Recommend a lifelong learning plan for Derek Thompson that includes three short accredited courses, one micro-credential, suggested reading, and a study schedule to maintain skills in digital marketing, plus funding options and next steps, deliver as a two-page plan by Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookESCO

Assist the individual in the search for a job

+
Assist Priya Singh in her job search by updating her CV to highlight transferable skills, drafting three…
Assist Priya Singh in her job search by updating her CV to highlight transferable skills, drafting three tailored cover letters for hospitality, customer success, and payroll roles, and compiling five local vacancies with application deadlines by Tuesday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO

Says who?

These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.

The logs, files & records this job keeps

Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.

Related careers

Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.

The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.

The rest of the map

Same library, five ways in.

Copyright © LLOS.ai · 2026 — original pedagogy, voice, and design — all rights reserved.
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses