Excellent observations, Lori. You're right, when a rep can successfully address a student's challenges in the moment, he or she will typically experience increased success. It's so much easier to discuss the challenge and generate options for addressing it when the student is in front of you rather than after they've left! It sounds like there are a number of resources available to help the rep address those challenges already. Are there any others that you'd suggest to your reps and if so, what might those be?
It's true, Lori, while meant to be helpful and used as a guide, at times the questionnaire can become a "crutch" to many reps. It sounds like you encourage you team to go beyond, "just the facts" with their students. When this happens, the rep has so much more information regarding what the student wants/needs and how to customize what your school offers to those wants and needs. And when there is a fit, it helps students make their own best decision regarding their education.
hmmm....that's interesting - I experience a different problem as I observe and coach the admissions staff - some use the questionnaire only and they do not tailor more probing ( and necessary) questions along the way. Fact finding is very important, but I want to see admissions people use their heads - use their intuitive skills and tailor special clarifying questions to really undertstand and appreciate the student's concerns, need, etc.
I coach the admissions staff on how to do more effective quality interviews and I am finding that those representatives who successfuly remove the risks that are discovered, tend to be most successful in helping students make sound decisions. Removing risks can be done during the tour ( visual triggers are very powerful - it helps the stduent visualize themselves there), during conversation and during any success story - telling.
If transportation is a challenge for our students, we give them reources on alternate means of transportation if they are interested. We have brochures from the county illustrating the times and routes for the bus schedule.
Department of Labor stats can be helpful indeed, Jason. In light of the program integrity rules regarding job placement by program/campus - it might be helpful to discuss with your supervisor the best resources to use in providing information to your students too.
I find that Department of Labor statistics always are a good visual for the prospective student.
It shows validity in our programs being in High Demand. It also shows that combined with our Career Services finding a job is very possible.
It's great that you have resources to offer those having financial challenges, Duy. More importantly, it looks like you work to be proactive in your approach to these situations. Keep up the good work.
yes, everyone seems to have some type of financial situation now that I can see. It really helps them get a head start. also, some people have jobs and others don't so I understand how hard it is to not make any money and trying to get certified.
It sounds like you have a number of resources available to students, that's great! Do these solutions typically work for all of your students with financial challenges? If not, how to work with the student?
Our school has a payment plan for potnetial students to pay as they go, or for students that don't have all of the money up-front.
It sounds like you've turned a " challenge" into an opportunity for your students, Maurice. Way to go!
As of right now, our school is still going through the accredidation process. That being said, we run into many challenges trying to show students how we are still an approved school by the program's governing body. We overcome our challenges by educating the potential student. We show them th facts about accredidation, who approves our program and what it will prepare them for.
We make sure we do not leav any important details out concerning our accredidation.
What great practices, Luz! It's critical that students have the ability they to retrieve the information they need to make their own best decisions. It sounds like your institution is doing its best to support your students decision making process with a variety of tools. That's awesome!
Now our university provides our prospects with the opportunity to prove our technology systems so they can see for themselves the learning potential that they can achieve in our classes. We also share information from the different governmental web pages, so they can access all the tools they need to make the best decision.
This is an excellent tool for providing additional tools for your students to address their challenges, Michael! I imagine that your students, as well as your colleagues, appreciate having all of this information at thier finger tips.
At our campus have a resource guide for our students that covers challenges like child care, financial assistance, support groups, Shelters, anything that can come up as a challenge during the education. We also have a ride share list that can help with transportation to school. They are working well for us.
It sounds like you use the questionnaire as a guide to ensure you have a thorough understanding of your students and their needs while gathering pertinent information, Barry. Really understanding your students needs, wants, and goals are critical elements in your ability to help them make their own best decision. Keep it up!
Here at Newbridge College we have a questionnaire used for information gathering. NOT shortcutting that form. Really understanding the needs of the person I am talking too. Hope that help.
Getting back to basics is so true, Barry! Not sure what you mean by "NOT shortcutting the questionnaire" though. Can you help me understand?
