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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here again- just thinking out loud- but recently someone mentioned to me a job as a college admissions advisor, but not someone who is employed by a university, someone who instead works with individuals in high school to help them prepare their applications.  A coach of sorts.  I began to think that this might actually suit me quite well.  After my (seemingly interminable) slog through the PhD, I am quite acquainted with higher ed.  I am also a highly-trained writer and could see myself helping students edit their college personal statements.

I simply have no idea how to even begin something like that, though.  [/quote]

That's me.

Three routes:
Option 1: Get a job at a university in admissions, even as a PT application reader (yes they do this during peak season). The more prestigious the better. Do it for a year or two and join an admissions consultancy.
Option 2: Get an MBA or masters or phd and skip step 1, and approach the firms in question. In parallel go approach h your alma mater and volunteer to assist in their admissions. The point here is to make yourself marketable. "Diane, with a PHD in neurobiology from John Hopkins was an alumni admissions interviewer..." Vs "Diane who did lab work for a few years..."
Option 3: Go to businessweek, gmatclub, topmba, usnews, etc and start posting your ass off. Build a brand and in a few years you'll get there.

Upsides: 
You work whatever hours you want to work. 
It's low stress work
Work from home 
Do 98% of it via email

Downsides: 
It's a spikey business. July to Dec are the busy season, jan to July is dead. 
Some candidates are annoying as fuck and demanding. 
Many many candidates are non US: that means occasional oddly times calls

I can check to see if my firm is hiring. We have a PHD focused arm. [/quote]

Thank you for this- the positives are exactly what I had heard, and the negatives don't surprise me (given that I teach high school, I'm aware of the personality possibilities of potential clientele , and of their parents...).  I REALLY should look into this.

As for the poster who said I should excel at what I'm currently doing rather than try a half-assed job at something else- I fail to see the logical leap that led you to the conclusion that I suck at my current job?   Just because I don't love it doesn't mean I'm not good at it.  I'm actually quite good at it- even the students say so. [/quote]

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