SUSAN C. CARLSON
Beverly,USA
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
43
43
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Senior Strategist
Crimson Education
04.2024 - Current
- 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.
- Conduct workshops on college application procedures, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities.
- Collaborate with faculty to enhance student resources and improve counseling services effectiveness.
- Monitor student progress, providing ongoing feedback and resources to promote academic success.
- Implement outreach initiatives to engage student populations in college counseling programs.
- Assist with admissions process, financial aid process and obstacles that arise.
- Evaluate transcripts and standardized test scores to recommend appropriate course placements and accommodations for incoming students.
- Enhance college application success rates by providing comprehensive guidance on admissions processes and requirements.
- Spearhead workshops on various topics, including choosing a college list, financial aid applications, resume building, interview skills, and stress management techniques during the college application process.
- Create a supportive environment for students to discuss personal challenges, such as family issues or mental health concerns, that may impact their academic performance or college readiness.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge on current trends in higher education by attending professional conferences, webinars, and workshops regularly.
Director of College Counseling/Online French Teacher
The Waring School
04.2022 - 06.2024
- Hired to revamp a full service college counseling program at a very small independent school (30 seniors) with no letter grades, only written evaluations.
- Working to materialize the duties as listed below as Director of College Counseling at The Newman School and APIS, Seoul, Korea – like raising the profile of the Waring School with the most 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.
- Chose and implement SCOIR from Kickstarter which has been very successful
- 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 workshops on college readiness, equipping students with essential skills for success.
- 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.
- Maintained a comprehensive library of print and electronic resources for students to utilize in researching potential college destinations, academic programs, and career paths.
- Collaborated with classroom teachers to identify curricular alignment opportunities that would better prepare students for post-secondary success.
- 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.
- Coordinated and supervised academic advising activities.
Director of College Counseling/IB French Teacher
The Newman School
06.2019 - 04.2022
- Hired to implement a full service college counseling program at a 75 year old college prep school with IB program for grade 9-12.
- Instituted after school educational programming about the college process for all Newman parents, with special focus on grades 11-12.
- Working to materialize the duties as listed below as Director of College Counseling at APIS, Seoul, Korea – like raising the profile of the Newman School with the most highly selective colleges through college visits and networking with admissions representatives.
- Led strategic initiatives to improve college placement rates through personalized advising and support services.
- 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 a new college counselor, supervising her work with students, parents, college contacts, and in writing college recommendation writing.
- 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%.
- Organized and executed standardized test prep class on campus.
- Increased scholarship offers to our Korean nationals to almost $300,000 renewable per annum.
- Oversaw matriculation to small highly selective liberal arts colleges double from prior years.
- Advocated on behalf of high-need students with American citizenship to earn full scholarships to elite institutions, a first for our school.
- Coordinated and conducted monthly coffee meetings for grades 9-12 parents to educate about all aspects of the college-going process.
- Conceived and constructed programs for various grade-level-appropriate activities along with our Director of Advisory programs for our new Advisory curriculum.
- 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
- Created upper school schedules for all students and classroom assignments for teachers.
- Counseled all upper school students on course choices, making recommendations that best support individual goals and learning styles, conferring with academic deans and the Director of Upper School, as needed.
- Advised Academic Learning Group on best practices for college outcome and athletic recruitment practices.
- Oversaw placement exams for all new students in mathematics, foreign languages and English.
- Managed all changes to students’ schedules and classroom in partnership with administrators.
Senior Associate Director of College Counseling
Worcester Academy
08.2001 - 12.2016
- Responsible for all correspondence including regular e-blasts to students and parents, and marketing mailings to parents for college counseling events.
- Assisted and counseled Worcester Academy deans, advisors, teachers and coaches in support of students’ college admission processes.
- Recruited and oversaw an office intern annually.
- 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 other French classes and English as a Foreign Language.
- Organized and conducted student travel to France annually.
- Taught English as a Second language to international students
- taught Spanish I
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance student engagement and academic performance.
- Developed and implemented curriculum improvements aligned with institutional goals.
French/Spanish Teacher
Auburn High School
09.1999 - 06.2001
- Taught courses in French I, French III, French IV Honors and Spanish I.
- Organized, mentored and helped run the French Club.
- Developed engaging lesson plans to enhance language acquisition and cultural understanding.
- Facilitated interactive classroom activities promoting student participation and collaboration.
- Organized French language clubs and cultural events to foster community engagement.
Teaching Fellow/Graduate Assistant
Boston College
09.1995 - 12.1998
- Taught and graded two sections of French I.
English teacher
Lycée Hélène Boucher
09.1982 - 05.1983
- Taught English to students preparing for Hautes Écoles exams
- Supported English teachers from middle to high school in the classroom
Education
MA - French Literature and Culture
Boston College
BA - French/English/German
Regis College
Skills
- Guidance in essay development
- 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.
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
BA - French/English/German
Regis College
MA - French Literature and Culture
Boston College