You bring up some great points. Every student is going to go through the process of making the decision to attend your school or not. Doesn't it make sense to partner with them in that journey? Though they might end up choosing another path, it helps your personal reputation and that of your school to facilitate the process or to partner with your students, so they can make the right decision and so you can enroll the right students.
I am completely open to exploring all of the student's options with those, including those that do not include them attending our school. I feel that it is my job to encourage students to make the best decision for them. I will encourage them to look at other schools if they would like to compare. I have also met with students who didn't seem like they may really like the program they were considering but may have not realized before they visited. I encourage those students to look into the job further to make sure this is what they want to do for their career prior to making a decision.
So true! It doesn't help anyone to enroll a student who might not be ready or who may be more interested in another option. It sounds like you take the time to understand your prospective student's needs and wants and takes everything into consideration. How does identifying the next steps, whether its to attend your school or not, benefit both you and the student?
Sometimes it is not the right time for a student to enroll in school, no matter how much we personally want them to, and it may be better to identify these other options to prevent the student from dropping out later on.
Well said Miriam. What steps do you personally take to discover the goals of your students and to determine fit?
If what is important to us is helping with the education of men and women of our society, it will not matter what school they attend. Yes, I want them to attend my school to accomplish my goals, but it comes second to having an educated society where all of us come a fair shot to success and happiness.
Open and honest discussion is key if you are truly wanting to help the person figure out what is best for them to improve their life. Yes we want students to choose our school but at some point you are there, many times, as someone they look to for reassurance, guidance and support regardless of how long they have known you. Caring enough to call it what it is works out for both of you in the long run.
I agree in exploring all of the student's options with them, including those that don't include attending your school? Our role as an admissions rep is to recommend the best fit for the student according to their needs and wants. In the long run that student will thank the admissions rep for presenting and providing options outside from their school. This will truly help build the relationship and solidify the trust that can ultimately decide if that student may decide to return attend your school.
I feel that when exploring all options honestly with the student you build trust that will help down the road.
Josh, thanks for your honesty here. I'm curious, what specifically do you find difficult about discussing competitors?
Dr. Jean Norris
I hate it. I understand the idea, and agree with it, but I hate talking about competitors!
Roland, it sounds like you are confident in your program and your school. It is important to partner with the student so that they can make the best decision for them even if it may not be your school.
Dr. Jean Norris
I feel very comfortable. Being that the school only offers Recording Arts, I know exactly what they are looking for in other schools.
I feel it is important that the person feels that they are free to express their options and wishes in regards to what they are looking for in a school. Our job is to provide guidance!
Jocelyn, thank you for sharing your experience here. This is why we do what we do - to help students. It sounds like you put their needs first and help them no matter where they end up. Great work!
Dr. Jean Norris
Thanks for sharing this Lynnette. It sounds like you are really focused on helping the student make the best decision for them and by doing so, you are helping them achieve their dream.
Dr. Jean Norris
Lorrie, great answer here. It sounds like you have really taken some time to think about how you can work with your students in an ethical way in order to help the student because ultimately it is their decision. Great job.
Dr. Jean Norris
I think its always in the best interst of the Admin rep to help the student really open up to the other options they list on their intake form. I have been trained that my goal is to do everything in my power to enroll that student. I feel that its my job to peel back the layers of the students passion and see if this school is truly where they want to be and if it turnes out that maybe this isnt the road they are ment to take I truly want them to make the right choice for them.
I truly believe that we must listen to each and every student we speak to. They all come to us for a recommendation about our particular school, thus far some of them will not be open to enrollment for many reasons, think we need to be open to the student and make sure our school is the right one for them.
Previously we had been taught to enroll all but ethically this belief is not correct. We must truly listen to each story we have in front of us. Some come to us for guidance since they are not sure what to do. It's up to us to aide them and help them make the choice about enrolling in our school.
Truly today in the economy we all face - people have not put any kind of funds away for schooling. So its not just to enroll someone and have them fall on their face due to financial circumstances - how does that make them feel but also how does that make you feel. Ethically totally incorrect.
The decision is between the admissions rep and the student trying to obtain info from the rep. If given the info the student has the option to make a decision about the school they are looking into - the final decision is based on the students needs, goals and financial status...
At all times I am holding the intention that I am supporting my student and engaged with their personal and professional goals. Therefore, it's natural to want 'the best' for them even if it means acknowledging that our Program isn't a good fit, for whatever reasons.
I've actually watched the body language shift when the student realizes that I'm 'on their side' and they are being 'heard' and 'seen'.
The flip side is the opportunity to support them as we explore and identify the next steps in another direction.
From time to time, one of these students will call and say 'remember me?, you helped me with 'such and such', well I'm graduating..thank you for believing in me'. Or better yet, having a lead say that a friend of theirs recommended the Program because we had been 'there for them' but the field wasn't a good fit. (Referrals from a prospective who didn't even attend our school..what a complement!)
I have even had a prospective student return to our school four years later saying she knew 'the door was open' from our parting words. Now she was ready to begin with her Associates of Art degree under her belt.
It's my belief you can't go wrong when you are doing the 'right' thing for each of the students. Having the internet to link to different 'marketplaces', having a knowledgeable and accessible Faculty to ask for recommendations for a prospective student, are just a few of the resources that the student and I will explore before they leave my office.
