Negative Competitors
How should Representative combat negative feedback from other schools?
Negative competitors can actually help in a competitive situation.
I have never recieved negative feedback from a competitor. I have; however, been asked for information about a competitor from a potential student. I always tell them that I am not the right source to provide them with information, nor am I educated on the competitor. The best way to get thier answer is to speak with a representative that is trained and works for that specific institutioin they are wanting information on.
I find it important to emphasize that I won't bad mouth other schools to prospective students, I believe they find that to prove my integrity.
I always tell students to go check out things for themselves people talk and every school is different what may work for one student may not be the right choice for another.
I never say anything negative about any other schools when speaking with a student who has indicated they heard something negative about our college from another school. I give them all of the facts and address each concern.
I would never give negative information about another school as I feel that is unethical. If other schools give negative information to our students I simply give them the facts about our school and let them make up their own mind. Most students who are already enrolled in our programs have a good insight into the school already.
I firmly believe that combating negative feedback from other schools with positive information about your own is the best approach. In admissions we must hold ourselves to a high standard and make sure that even if we hear another school bashing ours we do not do the same in return. Representing yourself and your school in a positive light when presented with negative information will in turn show the prospective student that you are proud of the school that you work for!!!
If a prospective student mentions they heard negative information from anyone else, be it another school or another person, I invite them to come see for themselves. While I trust the opinion of many people in my life, I don't agree with all of their conclusions. What may not have been a good thing for them, may still be good for me. And even if they decide it's not for them, it's a decision they came to after having all the information needed to make that decision.
Currently I have students comparing our faculty credentials with other schools & I simply give the cerdentials of our faculty " Currently 100% of our faculty teaching in this program have a Masters degree." I let them figure it out themselves.
I definitely agree, it makes us look bad to come back with soemthing. I always say that there is good and bad to every school but in the end it is most important where they feel comfortable and where they can feel successful so if they are there with me i go over program information and on a tour and then i revisit what they said about the comment. For example, "I know earlier you said taht you heard ____ but i see that you loved the labs and the smaller class sizes, is that something that you feel will keep you from being successful?" and it usually works really well as a challenge/trial close to see what the student really thinks.
I present the facts as fair and accurate, then let the prospective student make their decision.
I honestly think that it is counter-productive to say anything negative about another learning institution. I pride myself in the organization that I am employed with and I always extend the benefits of attending our school and the various support systems that we have in place to help a student achieve both their academic and career goals. If another school has to use negative tactics against their competitors in order to increase their enrollments then they must not be to secure in what their learning institution has to offer on it's own merits!
I do not acknowledge negative comments made my competitors. It is simple to redirect the conversation and take their focus off of it. Also, if a representative makes negative comments about another school, that is a statement about them, not the school they are commenting about. The bottom line is to simply redirect the conversation.
We are always reminded that no matter what is said, we are always to have no comment or at least no negative comment about another competitor. It only makes us look just as bad.
Yea, my message is generally in the same area as yours. I try to say that I am not sure where they got their information from and that I would be glad to discuss any other concerns that they had. I usually get off the wall stuff about our college that makes no sense. Usually it is just from a former student who failed out or quit coming.
I find it easiest to combat "negative" competitors by comparing them to everyone's annoying relative who always finds fault with something about all other family members.
I never say anything negative about any other schools when faced with a student indicating they heard this and that from another school. I simply use facts to put the student at ease and help them better understand our institution. For instance, while touring the student I may stop by the accreditation documentation and show the student. I may say something such as “now I know accreditation was a concern of yours, so rest assured we are fully accredited through this specific counsel.†I think by using facts to dispel any untruths that are making our school look bad is the best method.
I agree that the way to address negative feedback is to provide the person with facts about the school. They need to hear and see that you are confident and what you are speaking about and how proud you are to represent the school.
Our College does not adress negative with Negative either-We always refer to statistics that proves all.
