Next Step Adviser

Advise NC at Duke University is recruiting recent college graduates to serve as Next Step Adviser in the following NC counties: Lee, Sampson, Richmond. Advise NC at Duke University program seeks recent college graduates to serve as full-time Next Step Advisers and AmeriCorps members in low-income high schools. Advise NC is a statewide post-secondary planning organization that employs Next Step Advisers to help high school students and their families make informed decisions about their post-high school plans. These plans include the three Es: Enrollment, Enlistment, or Employment. Next Step Advisers are expected to tailor programs and activities to meet the specific needs of their assigned schools and perform the following primary essential functions: 

Provide one-on-one admissions and financial aid advice to any student or family seeking assistance. 

Encourage each student to consider a broad range of appropriate college choices. 

Develop for each student a comprehensive college timeline, including application deadlines for admission and financial aid. 

Help each student complete and submit admissions and financial aid applications. 

Assist each student in interpreting correspondence from colleges, including offers of admission and financial aid. 

Organize group events that encourage students and their families to consider, plan for, and apply to colleges and universities. 

Visit classrooms, assemblies, and club meetings to offer advising services and emphasize the importance of college. 

Collaborate with local community groups—churches, boys’ and girls’ clubs, social service providers—to offer group events outside the school setting and hours. 

Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors, and teachers in each assigned high school. 

Assess, in consultation with Advise NC program staff and school personnel, the needs of each school, and adapt programs and activities to meet these needs. 

Actively seek the advice and counsel of the on-site supervisor at each partner high school 

Assist in assessing and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program. 

Assist the program director and evaluation staff in identifying, collecting, and interpreting key progress and outcome variables to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. 

Submit monthly progress reports to the Advise NC program staff, documenting progress, and outcome data. 

Represent Advise NC, as requested by the program director, to potential supporters and to other interested parties. 

Maintain expertise in admissions and financial aid advising. 

Participate fully in training. 

In consultation with the Advise NC program staff, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development.  

Required Qualifications:

U.S. Citizenship or permanent residency status. 

Must be 18 years of age or older. 

Must have a high school diploma or GED. 

Applicants must have earned or will earn a bachelor’s degree by the start of employment in the position. 

Preferred Qualifications:

An interest in equity and access to education. 

Experience working with students through tutoring, volunteering, and/or mentoring. 

Experience with organization and/or planning events. 

Excellent written and oral communication skills. 

The following activities are non-essential functions to assist in the efforts of other AmeriCorps Next Step Advisers within the service area: 

Regularly visit other high schools in their assigned service area during school days 

Help organize, provide support for, and attend evening and weekend events organized by other Advise NC members. 

Required Commitments 

Members must serve at their service site in accordance with the school/district calendar. This includes arrival at and departure from the site at the appointed time, consistent with school staff (teachers/counselors). 

Some evening and/or weekend service may be required. 

The 2026-2027 service term requires 1700 service hours.