SUSAN C. CARLSON
Beverly,MA
Summary
Highly skilled in all aspects of college counseling including advising and supporting students and parents, writing recommendations, creating, organizing and conducting programs for families and students. Proficient in all aspects of using Naviance and Maia Learning. Seasoned counselor to International students, particularly those from East Asia, from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Proven ability to build significant and effective relationships with college admissions officers. Experienced teacher and public speaker. Strong organizational skills with ability to multi-task with ease. Reputation as a dependable and accountable employee. Solid understanding of both international and independent school cultures.
Overview
44
44
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Senior Strategist
Crimson Education
04.2024 - Current
- Spearheaded workshops on topics such as college list selection, financial aid applications, resume building, interview skills, and stress management techniques, supporting students throughout the college application process.
- Enhance college application success rates by providing comprehensive guidance on admissions processes and requirements.
- Conducted workshops on college application procedures, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities to equip students with essential knowledge for successful applications.
- Implement individualized college planning sessions to address the needs of each student and set achievable goals for their future.
- Develop personalized support strategies to address individual needs and obstacles.
- Monitor student progress, providing ongoing feedback and resources to promote academic success.
- Collaborate with faculty to enhance student resources and improve counseling services effectiveness.
- Implemented outreach initiatives that engaged diverse student populations in college counseling programs, increasing participation and awareness of available resources.
- Evaluated transcripts and standardized test scores to recommend course placements for incoming students.
Director of College Counseling/Online French Teacher
The Waring School
04.2022 - 06.2024
- Revamped full-service college counseling program at independent school (30 seniors) lacking letter grades, enhancing evaluation process.
- Executed duties as Director of College Counseling at The Newman School and APIS, Seoul, Korea, focusing on raising the profile of the Waring School with highly selective colleges through college visits and networking with admissions representatives.
- Added 4 new prestigious colleges to our acceptance list: Rice University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Reed College and Yale University.
- Implemented SCOIR from Kickstarter, significantly improving counseling effectiveness and student engagement.
- Analyzed student data to identify trends, improving counseling strategies and outcomes.
- Implemented strategic initiatives enhancing student engagement in college admissions processes.
- Established partnerships with colleges and universities to expand resources for students.
- Conducted college readiness workshops, equipping students with essential skills for successful college applications.
- Guided families through financial aid processes, ensuring clarity and accessibility of information.
- Evaluated and refined counseling practices based on feedback and changing educational landscape.
- Collaborated with faculty and staff to identify at-risk students and provide targeted interventions to boost academic performance.
- Implemented effective communication strategies to keep parents informed about their child''s progress in the college application process.
- Provided ongoing professional development opportunities for counseling staff members to ensure best practices were consistently utilized throughout all aspects of their work.
- Enhanced student preparedness for the college application process through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one sessions.
- Served as a resource for colleagues seeking assistance with navigating complex scenarios involving student mental health or family dynamics issues impacting their post-secondary planning efforts.
- Spearheaded initiatives that increased student participation in Advanced Placement courses, resulting in a greater number of qualifying scores on AP exams.
- Conducted thorough reviews of student applications, providing constructive feedback on essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.
- Established strong relationships with college admissions representatives to stay informed about program changes and opportunities for students.
- Increased college acceptance rates by implementing comprehensive counseling programs and individualized student support.
- Facilitated engaging workshops that empowered students to effectively communicate their unique experiences and skills throughout the college application process.
- Managed a team of counselors who provided personalized guidance to each high school senior during their college search process.
- Coordinated efforts with school administrators to develop long-term strategic plans for enhancing the overall effectiveness of the College Counseling Department.
- Developed and maintained a robust database of available scholarships, financial aid resources, and other funding options for students.
- Analyzed data trends related to test scores, grade point averages, and course selection patterns in order to inform programmatic improvements within the department.
- Improved efficiency within the department by streamlining processes related to application tracking, document management, and internal reporting systems.
Director of College Counseling/IB French Teacher
The Newman School
06.2019 - 04.2022
- Raised profile of Newman School with highly selective colleges through college visits and strategic networking as Director of College Counseling at APIS, Seoul, Korea.
- Implemented full service college counseling program at 75 year old college prep school with IB program, enhancing student readiness for post-secondary education.
- Led strategic initiatives to improve college placement rates through personalized advising and support services.
- Developed after school educational programming for Newman parents on college process, focusing on grades 11-12 to increase parental engagement and support.
- Analyzed student data trends to inform counseling strategies, ensuring tailored guidance for diverse needs.
- Organized workshops and events connecting students with college representatives, promoting informed decision-making processes.
- Collaborated with faculty to integrate college readiness into curriculum, enhancing overall educational outcomes for students.
Director of College Counseling
Asia Pacific International School
01.2017 - 06.2019
- Implemented a full-service college counseling program at a 10-year old International school for grades 9-12 with graduating class sizes of 45-50 students.
- Advocated for all graduating seniors, whose outcomes included Columbia University (Rabi Scholarship); Yale University; Johns Hopkins University; Cornell University; Dartmouth University; UC Berkeley and UCLA; Emory University; Barnard College; Amherst College (with 64,000 annually merit scholarship); Grinnell College (with $44,000 annually merit scholarship) among many others.
- Hired and mentored new college counselor, supervising her work with students, parents, and college contacts, and guiding her in writing college recommendations.
- Trained our new Hawaii campus staff in how to run a college counseling program, how to best serve students and parents, what makes a strong counselor statement and the process for completing and submitting documents.
- Chose Maia Learning to replace Naviance and oversaw its implementation on both campuses starting fall of 2018.
- Expanded highly selective college visits to campus 150%.
- Secured nearly $300,000 in renewable scholarship offers for Korean nationals, significantly enhancing financial support for students.
- Oversaw matriculation to small, highly selective liberal arts colleges, resulting in a doubling of enrollments compared to prior years.
- Advocated on behalf of high-need students with American citizenship to earn full scholarships to elite institutions, a first for our school.
- Taught weekly 90-minute seminars to graduating and junior classes about the college process.
- Instituted major evening programming with reps from elite institutions such as Dartmouth College, University of Southern California, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Davidson and Vassar Colleges to educate students and families about holistic admissions in the US.
- Advised faculty members on writing effective teacher recommendation in formal presentation and individually
- Integrated these duties in addition to the skills and duties listed below as both Senior Associate Director and Associate Director of College Counseling at Worcester Academy.
Studies Coordinator
Worcester Academy
07.2014 - 06.2017
- Advised upper school students on course selections, tailoring recommendations to align with individual goals and learning styles.
- Developed upper school schedules for students and coordinated classroom assignments for teachers to enhance learning environments.
- Administered placement exams for new students in mathematics, foreign languages, and English to assess readiness and facilitate appropriate course placements.
- Managed all changes to students’ schedules and classroom in partnership with administrators.
- Advised Academic Learning Group on best practices for college outcome and athletic recruitment practices.
Senior Associate Director of College Counseling
Worcester Academy
08.2001 - 12.2016
- Collaborated with Worcester Academy deans, advisors, teachers, and coaches to support students’ college admission processes, enhancing their readiness and success.
- Managed correspondence, including e-blasts to students and parents and marketing mailings for college counseling events, to facilitate effective communication and engagement.
- Recruited and supervised an office intern annually, providing mentorship and contributing to operational support.
- Integrated these duties in addition to the skills and duties listed below as Associate Director of College Counseling at Worcester Academy.
World Language Teacher
Worcester Academy
09.2001 - 05.2016
- Taught AP French Literature and AP French Language, achieving 100% pass rate.
- Taught diverse French classes and English as a Foreign Language, fostering cross-cultural communication skills.
- Taught English as a Second language to international students
- Facilitated Spanish I lessons, enhancing foundational language acquisition for diverse learners.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance student engagement and academic performance.
- Developed and implemented curriculum improvements, aligning with institutional goals to enhance language proficiency.
- Organized and conducted student travel to France annually.
French/Spanish Teacher
Auburn High School
09.1999 - 06.2001
- Created engaging lesson plans that facilitated language acquisition and deepened cultural understanding.
- Taught courses in French I, French III, French IV Honors and Spanish I.
- Facilitated interactive classroom activities promoting student participation and collaboration.
- Mentored students and coordinated activities in French Club to promote language use and cultural exchange.
- Planned and executed French language clubs and cultural events, enhancing community engagement and appreciation for the language.
Teaching Fellow/Graduate Assistant
Boston College
09.1995 - 12.1998
- Delivered instruction and assessed student performance for two sections of French I.
- Designed engaging lesson plans for undergraduate courses in diverse subjects.
- Facilitated discussions and encouraged critical thinking among students during classes.
- Provided academic support and mentorship to students seeking extra help.
English teacher
Lycée Hélène Boucher
09.1982 - 05.1983
- Instructed students in English, focusing on skills for Hautes Écoles exams success
- Partnered with English teachers to improve learning experiences for middle and high school students.
- Developed engaging lesson plans for diverse student groups.
- Facilitated classroom discussions to enhance critical thinking skills.
- Implemented innovative teaching strategies to improve student participation.
Education
Master of Arts - French Literature and Culture
Boston College
Chestnut Hill12-1999
BA - French/English/German
Regis College
Skills
- Guidance in essay development
- College counseling
- Strategic planning
- Data analysis
- Workshop facilitation
- Student advocacy
- Higher education trends
- Program implementation
- Resource development
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Relationship building
- Time management
- Leadership skills
- Coaching strategies
- In-depth knowledge of college admissions process
- Fluent in French
- Ability to tailor guidance based on learning differences and/or cultural insights
HONORS AND AWARDS
Fulbright Scholar/ French Government Teaching Assistantship, Lycée Hélène Boucher, Paris, France, Donald J. White Award for Teaching Excellence, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Boston College., Regis College Alumni Excellence Award for achievement in her profession, education and/or the arts.
Languages
English
Full Professional
French
Full Professional
Spanish
Elementary
German
Elementary
Timeline
Principal Senior Strategist
Crimson Education
04.2024 - Current
Director of College Counseling/Online French Teacher
The Waring School
04.2022 - 06.2024
Director of College Counseling/IB French Teacher
The Newman School
06.2019 - 04.2022
Director of College Counseling
Asia Pacific International School
01.2017 - 06.2019
Studies Coordinator
Worcester Academy
07.2014 - 06.2017
World Language Teacher
Worcester Academy
09.2001 - 05.2016
Senior Associate Director of College Counseling
Worcester Academy
08.2001 - 12.2016
French/Spanish Teacher
Auburn High School
09.1999 - 06.2001
Teaching Fellow/Graduate Assistant
Boston College
09.1995 - 12.1998
English teacher
Lycée Hélène Boucher
09.1982 - 05.1983
Master of Arts - French Literature and Culture
Boston College
BA - French/English/German
Regis College