Working in College Admissions for the past 14 years has been incredibly rewarding in so many ways. Yes, we face burnout, spend a lot of time on the road, and put in extra hours—often for less-than-ideal pay. However, I believe in the work we do, I see the impact we have on students, and I never wake up dreading my job. For me, that is a true blessing.

I spent over 11 years at Iowa Central knowing I wanted to elevate my career in college admissions. I began my career as an Admissions Counselor and was fortunate to climb the ladder at Iowa Central and eventually accepted the Associate Dean of Enrollment position at Ellsworth Community College in 2022.

If I were speaking to new admissions professionals looking to advance in their careers within their college or university, these are the five tips I would share based on my experience, which helped me grow professionally and position myself for leadership roles.

1. Hard work sets you apart—embrace the grind!

Admissions can be demanding, stressful, and competitive. But those who love what they do, paired with a strong work ethic, are the ones who end up thriving! Success in Admissions isn’t about one big moment—it’s about showing up every day and doing the little things right.  The people who move up are the ones who meet deadlines without being reminded, exceed expectations of the position, and get things done without needing constant direction. When leadership knows they can count on you, doors start to open. Be the person who gets things done, even when no one is watching. Many Deans, VP’s and College Presidents started their career in Admissions because this position teaches essential leadership skills, data analysis, and so much more. Embrace the grind and the grind will eventually embrace you back!

2. Build strong cross-departmental relationships.

In any career, building connections across departments is key to growing both personally and professionally. Working with other teams helps you expand your skillset and get a better understanding of how the whole organization works. It also boosts your visibility, helps you develop strong relationships, and gives you a glimpse into higher-level decision-making. When other departments see that you're reliable, a team player, and someone they can count on, doors will start to open.

 3. Ask your boss  “how can I help?” and execute quickly.

One of the easiest ways to get noticed in my opinion, is to ask your boss, “How can I help?” This sends a powerful message. It shows that you’re engaged, proactive, and ready to make an impact. Many employees wait to be assigned tasks strictly within their job description. While doing your job well is important, those who actively seek ways to contribute and take initiative set themselves apart.

When you ask how you can help, and your supervisor assigns a task--prioritize it and complete it with precision. I always approach my work with the mindset that when my boss asks me to do something, I tackle it as soon as possible. When my supervisor emails with a question or assigns a task, I complete it almost immediately. This keeps us from falling into the group of people who delay, forget, or fail to follow through. When opportunities for a promotion arise or career advancement arise, your supervisor will remember how you took initiative and proved yourself to be reliable and capable.

4. There is big value in doing the “undesirable.”

It is super easy to yes to the fun high-visibility projects, but the people who move up are often the ones who take on the task the others avoid—late night events, presenting at the event that is two hours away that requires you to wake up at 5:00AM, taking the walk-in campus visit that shows up at 4:00pm on a Friday, etc. Growth happens in our discomfort and leaders notice those who step up to the plate. During my time at Iowa Central, I was nominated to Chair the Curriculum Committee. I 100% had no interest in chairing this committee. I hated the curriculum course I took in grad school and honestly thought I should be the last person chairing this committee. However, I figured if one of the leaders on campus believed in me enough to nominate me to chair this committee, I knew the benefits were far greater than my lack of desire. This forced me outside my comfort zone and expanded my knowledge about the unfamiliar areas and aspects of the college immensely. I gained a better understanding of institutional goal setting, accreditation, articulation agreements, and much more. This knowledge will prove to be valuable as you advance!

5. Get involved in Iowa ACAC

 I cannot begin to express how grateful I am that I got involved with Iowa ACAC. Iowa ACAC has allowed me to grow personally, professionally, and meet some really awesome people along the way. When I was asked to join the executive board 10 or so years ago as Treasurer, it was another opportunity that was hard to pass up.  Admittedly, when thinking of Iowa ACAC, I only associated it with the conference and the college fairs. Getting involved showed me so much more this organization is doing for access, advocacy, collaboration, professional development, and so much more. It provides admissions professionals and high school counselors the opportunity to network with so many great people in our field across the state doing great work and are positively impacting students, high school counselors, and admissions professionals.  Serving as President-Elect this year has granted me the opportunity to get even more involved and gifted me the opportunity to attend NACAC, plan “The Ride”, attend LEAD, and meet with Admissions leaders across the country.

I promise that getting involved in Iowa ACAC will open doors and grant you opportunities that will make a lasting impact on you! Get involved!