SAM JOUSTRA
Clawson,MI
Summary
I've had a passion for the college search process since I read the Fiske Guide cover-to-cover in eighth grade. After starting my career in college admissions at a variety of institutions, I've honed my mentoring skills more recently to connect what I learned in admissions to the work I do with students every day as a college counselor. I am student-centered, dedicated to helping students navigate the complexities of the college search and application process and ultimately connect them to their best-match college options.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
College Counselor
Collegewise
04.2021 - Current
- Counsel a caseload of 40-45 students in grades 9-12 on course selection, major exploration, extracurricular and summer endeavors, college list-building and application completion
- Play equal roles of cheerleader and task-master, setting deadlines and encouraging students along the way
- Help students set academic, extracurricular, and personal goals in service of discovering their intellectual sparks, then translating those into their application narrative
- Brainstorm, outline, and help edit Personal Statements and supplemental essays
- Maintain strong partnerships with parents and guardians through consistent open communication
- Regularly present for partner and national webinars and local library outreach on topics including highly selective admissions, essay-writing, course selection, and more
- Love my role as "Testimonial Fairy," getting to lift my colleagues up and celebrate their successes
Co-Leader of Inclusion, Equity, & Access Committee
Collegewise
12.2022 - Current
- Assembled a team of cross-departmental colleagues to generate and execute IEA workshops, trainings, and initiatives
- Some of my favorite involvements have been contributing to our IEA Series blog posts; co-hosting the Humans of Collegewise podcast series; and leading the inaugural Conversation on Antisemitism
- Serve as a trusted contact for colleagues to turn to when IEA-related questions, issues, or concerns arise
- As a member of the Collegewise Leadership Team, represent an IEA lens through which to view our internal company culture and best practices with our external audiences, students, and families
- Set strategic Quarterly and Annual committee goals with deliverables
- Contribute to company culture of inclusion and belonging
Admissions Counselor
University of Michigan
06.2019 - 04.2021
- Managed a recruitment territory including central Michigan and parts of California
- Reviewed applications for assigned territories as well as transfer applicants
- Served as liaison to Stamps School of Art and Design and point-person for the Bruce Cook Family Scholarship process
- Active member of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
- Assisted with application workshops for students and high school counselors
- Conducted information sessions for prospective students and families as well as coordinated special group presentations
- Was a friendly face and first contact in the call center, walk-in meetings, and front desk duties
- Planned regional admitted student day program
Admissions Counselor/Asst. Director of Admissions
Vanderbilt University
06.2017 - 06.2019
- Travel and Recruitment: Developed and managed relationships with students, parents, and counselors while in twenty-five territories across nine states. Appointed to Travel Team to assist with office-wide recruitment oversight, coordination, and approval. Led Coast to Coast Consortium Travel Team that coordinates biannual group travel with Dartmouth, Princeton, Northwestern, and UC Berkeley.
- Application Review: Evaluated first-year and transfer student applications, including two consecutive years of record application volumes and selectivity. Rotating voting member on admissions committee. Assigned to Reading Oversight Team to assist with reader training and support. Appointed to signature scholarship review team, collaborating with Director of Admissions on joint file view.
- Programming: Program Lead for PreVU, Vanderbilt’s largest visit program for rising seniors; oversaw $147,000 budget and six team members to execute 12 summer events accommodating over 5,000 total visitors. Member Counselor Conference, annual visit program for 90 domestic and international high school counselors and community-based organization leaders. As Liaison to Peabody College of Education and Human Development, worked with faculty to analyze student retention data aand coordinate scholarship review process and selection.
- Supervisor Experience: Supervised an Admissions Counselor and managed transition during her first year. As member of the Student Worker Team, coordinated hiring paperwork and shift schedules for admissions student workers; built relationships with current students.
Graduate Assistant
Peabody College At Vanderbilt University
08.2013 - 05.2015
- Greeted visitors and directed phone calls in the Peabody Office of Academic Services, serving as first point of contact for students and families
- Prepared applications for review to streamline the electronic review process
- Prepared and shipped boxes of materials for admissions staff to use during college fairs
- Represented Peabody College at local college fairs to inform prospective graduate students of their options
- Monitored the Peabody Admissions e-mail account, addressing prospective and admitted students’ questions regarding the process, applications, and decisions
- Met with prospective students as a Peabody AmbassaDore, serving as a representative of the College and sharing information about academic program and the student experience
Assistant Director of Admissions
Hampshire College
06.2011 - 07.2013
- Managed a broad recruitment territory, including the South, Southeast, Northeast regions and California; attained the highest yield in office during first year
- Represented Hampshire College at over 100 college fairs, high school visits, and student interviews, building relationships with students from prospect, to applicant, and enrolled status
- Conducted hour-long information sessions for prospective students and families to share information about the College
- Collaborated with colleagues to review applicants and select an incoming class according to academic community and financial imperatives
Graduate Intern
College Counseling Office, Montgomery Bell Academy
08.2014 - 11.2014
- Counseled students as they refined their essays and applications for both admissions and scholarships
- Compiled data on freshmen and sophomore college knowledge to support Counseling Staff in their student presentations
- Synthesized academic remarks for students to aid the Director in crafting recommendation letters; also edited letters for grammar and content
- Visited with college admissions reps to both learn more about institutional content and kept notes for interested students
Education
Master of Education - Higher Education Administration
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN05.2015
Bachelor of Arts - French And English
Goucher College
Towson, MD05.2011
Skills
- Excellent project management, ushering students and tasks through to meet (and beat!) deadlines
- Effective, thoughtful communication with students and families
- Sound networker with other professionals on all sides of the desk
- Strong presentation skills and ability to connect with stakeholders
Professional Development
- Member of National Association for College Admission Counseling
- Have presented twice at NACAC Annual Conference (2019: "How to Not Sound like Every Other College in Your High School Visit"; 2022: "'Why Us?': What Colleges are Looking for in Supplemental Essays and What Students Reveal About Themselves")
- Member of Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling
- Current MACAC Secretary, co-lead of the Professional Development Committee, and member of the Conference Planning Committee
- Have attended WACAC and RMACAC conferences during my time in admissions
- Attended College Horizons program in summer 2017, a college application preparatory program for Native students from across the country
Timeline
Co-Leader of Inclusion, Equity, & Access Committee
Collegewise
12.2022 - Current
College Counselor
Collegewise
04.2021 - Current
Admissions Counselor
University of Michigan
06.2019 - 04.2021
Admissions Counselor/Asst. Director of Admissions
Vanderbilt University
06.2017 - 06.2019
Graduate Intern
College Counseling Office, Montgomery Bell Academy
08.2014 - 11.2014
Graduate Assistant
Peabody College At Vanderbilt University
08.2013 - 05.2015
Assistant Director of Admissions
Hampshire College
06.2011 - 07.2013
Master of Education - Higher Education Administration
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Arts - French And English
Goucher College
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