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Advise NC at UNCW

Student Engagement, Enrollment and Retention (SEER)

Advise NC at UNCW works to increase the number of students who enter and complete post-secondary education. This is achieved through an in-school model that places recent college graduates to serve as full-time college advisers in North Carolina high schools.

Advise NC at UNCW

The first cohort of advisers were placed in four partner schools to serve during 2021-2022 academic year. Advise NC recruits and trains recent college graduates to serve as advisers in partner schools throughout Eastern North Carolina. Advisers participate in an intensive 4-week summer training program to gain the college advising skills needed to effectively serve. Advisers gain valuable professional, leadership, and advocacy experience as they work to support students on their path to post-secondary education.

Advise NC is committed to ensuring higher education opportunities for all students.

Mission

The mission of Advise NC is to empower high school students in Eastern, NC to identify and pursue post-secondary education opportunities.

Vision

We envision a world where North Carolina students fulfill their college aspirations.

The Need

Nationally, the student-to-counselor ratio is over 482:1, leaving many students with as little as 20 minutes a year with a college counselor. Students often lack the guidance and support they need to prepare for college, apply to best-fit schools and for financial aid, enroll, and graduate from their post-secondary institutions.

Our Advising Model

Advise NC uses a near-peer advising model by hiring and training recent college graduates to serve in partner high schools. This near-peer approach allows our advisers to share current college knowledge with the students they serve. Advisers report to their assigned high school daily and use a whole school approach, educating students and their families on a variety of college topics. This is accomplished through 1-on-1 advising, presentations, and workshops. College advisers work closely with students and families as well as school staff and administrators to implement a college-going culture in their schools.

What We Do

We understand that the college application and financial aid process can be a challenge. That’s why our college advisers assist their students with the entire college application process, from start to finish.

The services that College Advisers provide include:

  • One-on-one advising sessions with students and their parents/guardians
  • Comprehensive college application support, including assistance with the RDS (Residency Determination Service)
  • Assistance with FAFSA, CSS Profile, and scholarship completion
  • Admissions and financial aid award comparison and best-fit decision-making
  • Host college-themed workshops to educate students and families on the college application process
  • Present in-class presentations on various college topics
  • Assist students with obtaining fee waivers for college applications and standardized tests
  • Register students for standardized tests and connect them to preparation resources
  • Promote community-based resources
  • Assist with college-enrollment steps

Want to learn more about serving as an adviser? Complete an interest form for more information!

Meet our Team

Portrait of Hannah Chandler

 

 

 

 

 

Hannah Chandler

Craven County | West Craven High School

2600 Streets Ferry Road | Vanceboro, NC 28586

Portrait of Arianne Murray 

 

 

 

 

Arianne Murray

Jones County | Jones Senior High School

1378 Highway 58 | South Trenton, NC 28585 

 Portrait of Haley Soto

 

 

 

 

Haley Soto

Cumberland County | Southview High School

4184 Elk Road | Hope Mills, NC 28348

Photo Unavailable. Portrait of Mascot Sammy C. Seahawk

 

 

 

 

 

Rebekah Stout

Columbus County | West Columbus High School

7294 Andrew Jackson Highway SW | Cerro Gordo, NC 28430

Portrait of Raechelle Eller

 

 

 

 

 

Raechelle Eller

Beaufort County | Washington High School

400 Slatestone Road | Washington, NC 27889

Portrait of Tristan Kalos

 

 

 

 

 

Tristan Kalos

Columbus County | South Columbus High School

40 Stallion Drive | Tabor City, NC 28463

Who can become a College Adviser?

College Adviser applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree. Given our near-peer advising approach, applicants who graduated with their bachelor’s degree between 2023-2025 are granted priority consideration. UNCW graduates are also given priority consideration, though alumni from any institution are welcome to apply.

Preferred qualifications include exceptional organization and communication skills, volunteer or mentor experience, campus or community involvement, a genuine passion for helping others, and fluency in English and Spanish.

Please note that advisers are expected to relocate to their assigned service area. Advisers report to their assigned high school daily from August to June. See our current school partners section for school placements and service areas.

Adviser Benefits

  • 11-month full-time salary/Living Allowance
  • AmeriCorps Education Award, currently set at $7,395 for each year of service
  • Free medical, vision, and dental insurance (not deducted from living allowance)
  • AmeriCorps membership and benefits
  • Extensive professional development and paid travel. This includes 1:1 graduate school assistance, quarterly training, and a 3-4 week pre-service Summer training.
  • The opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of high school students!

 

APPLY TODAY

The Hiring Process

Advise NC at UNCW hires and trains new College Advisers each year to serve in our partner schools. The College Adviser job posting opens during the spring semester on the UNCW job portal and remains active until all positions are filled. Advisers begin their 4-week summer training in July at UNC Wilmington, where on-campus housing is provided. After training is completed in August, advisers relocate to their service areas and adhere to the staff work schedule at their assigned high school for the remainder of the academic year. Advisers serve for an 11-month service term (July-June) and have the option to return for a second year of service.

SUBMIT AN INTEREST FORM

Contact Us

Portrait of Veronica Tapia

Veronica Tapia, M.Ed. | Program Director | Advise NC at UNCW

Tel: 910.836.0680

Photo Unavailable. Portrait of Mascot Sammy C. Seahawk

Arianna Johnson | Program Coordinator | Advise NC at UNCW