It is definitley important to be up front and real with students. Have them talk about their lifestyle now (age, kids, living situation, transportation, etc). Then tell them to think how their lifestyle will be impacted when they have a fulltime career. Will they be able to work a full-time, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri job if they are the only person to take their kids to school or pick them up? Would a career option that possibly has 2nd and 3rd shift positions be a better fit for them? Or just help them realize that they may have to drastically change the way the do and handle things now to be successful in their new careers in the future. Really talking about and helping students understand how this is not just a change for themselves, but those they live with and support is a necessity.
Preforming a good interview allowing the student to express their reasons for entering the program and sharing with them some of the time requirements etc that they will need to be successful. Asking questions allows the prospect to reafirm their committment or rethink it. Make sure all questions are answered for them in addition to the requirements we have before acceptance.
In addition to information required, I believe you should discuss in depth why the student wants to study this subject, what does he/she want to do with, or how will use this education. This I think will try and ensure not only how well the student will do in class, but how satisfied they will be with education.
I tell the Students to also do the research on their Fields of choice by using the Department of Labors website.
We need to know our student's interests, goals and desires so that we can direct them into the best career/program so that they can be successful in life.
I think it is important that the admissions representative fully discusses the learning environment with each prospective student. This conversation will establish expectations for what the career will look like and provide a clear picture on what the student can gain from the teaching environment. As well as, assist the representative to uncover possible challenges the student may face in the learning environment and whether or not this is the right career choice for them. We use a "career profile" to insure this conversation is conducted with each prospective student.
I feel fortunate to work with an institution that has always fully disclosed all information to students helping them make the most informed decision.
Each student comes with a career field in mind, but it most important to challenge and really discuss each student's career choice in detail. We are more concerned that a student is picking the best choice not for the short time they are here, but that they are happy with their long-term career. This has the best benefit for all parties. It seems to help with graduation rate, because they are happy and confident in their decision – not to mention they are more likely to refer a friend or family member to our institution.
Explain the program and curriculum in details to make sure this is what the student wants.
I agree. You have to find the best fit for the student by listening to them and what they need in terms of education.
It is helpful to show not only how our past graduates have been successfully placed, but to reference industry trends according to US Dept of Labor and Statistics. We also update our website to show all accurate information as it pertians to our current and past students.
First and foremost admissions representatives must be 100 percent honest when talking to perspective students. Also, you can help an individutal student tremendously by talking with them about there career goals and helping them to make the best choice for them.
our admission reps will sit down with prospective students and their families to ensure that they understand what their program of interest is all about. They may be thinking about a few different programs and by talking about what each program is has helped students with decisions about majors.
Our school shows a multi-media presentation which accurately covers materials and frequently asked questions.
Asking questions and listening to the student is so important.Also talking to the student about their future and their long term goals and introducing the career services staff to make their transition to the college and building a relationship with their deptartment day one through graduation.
I very much agree a prospective student should be aware of the ins and outs of any career they are wishing to persue.
Some prospects have a thorough understanding of the program they are seeking to enter, while others display a real lack of knowledge.
I feel it's important for prospective students to realize that positives and negatives are normally associated with all careers. It's not wise to overstress the negatives to a prospect, but I feel they must be pointed out.
For example, a person wishing to enter a Veterinary Assistant program needs to be aware that pets are put down due to sickness and infirmity. It is an unenjoyable aspect of that job and a prospective student needs to know that before committing to enrollment.
We offer career nights and industry nights for our programs so that current or potential students have the opportunity to ask questions and be informed about all aspects of their new career from those who are in the industry. I think this is such a great thing and we recommend it to all those who are considering our programs. We want them to make an informed decision that is right for them.
I agree that it is so important to really listen to potential students. It is a priority that we help our students succeed in the classroom and in their new career. We want them to start the program, finish the program and become successful in their career and be happy with their decision.
To make an informed decision sometimes students need information that they do not realize they need. I like to talk with a prospective student about what type of career they see themselves in, if they know anyone who is in that field and if they have talked with that person about HOW they got into the field. We can tell them what our placement rate is but that doesn't tell them what our students have to do to get a position. I like to discuss what we expect from our students when it comes to placement and certification exams. The key to any conversation with a prospective student is to be positive, honest, realistic and always ask for their opinion. I aim to encourage them by giving examples of successful students.
We only offer one program and it is very specific. We do not take financial aid so it is important that the student fully understands the costs related to the course of study.The student has to feel comfortable with the financial obligation. This will make for a happy student.
