Taking the time to stop and communicate with current students, instructors and staff members during their personalized tour will give them a sense of welcoming and desire to be a part of your program. I think that this is one aspet that I should be doing a little more of.
George, thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you have a great passion for what you do. It also looks like you tailor the tour to meet the needs of the student. It sounds like this is working for you. Great job.
Dr. Jean Norris
I am very fortunate to work at a school that provides a very supportive educational environment. Students are our priority from reception to career services. No matter what issues may arise our students know that we are always there to help them work through their challenges.
We go right into the classrooms on our tours so the prospective student can see first-hand how we prepare our students for the career. It is up close and personal.
I don't do this with all prospective students but for the ones that are very nervous about going back to school I encourage them to dialog with a current student during the tour. (Who better to get feedback from than a current student.) Our students have such wonderful things to say about our school. It is so powerful to hear a current student say " This is a great school. You have to come here!" It reinforces the prospective students decision process. In the six years I have been here I have never had a negative experience.
This has worked very well for me. You must be confident with your school environment and overall student rapport. You must also be prepared to answer and address any negative responses from current students.
Bryce,
Thanks for sharing our great ideas on the 100 point tour. Love it!
Dr. Jean Norris
I think I give a good tour however I can still and do look for ways to improve my tours. I created a 100 point tour that I use that I feel has really helped change my tours over the years. I also adapted what we learned to look at anything that could be seen as a negative and how I could turn it into a positive which has really helped me over the years.
johnny,
Great insight! I'm guessing those who "learn by doing" would really value this experience, too!
Dr. Jean Norris
Many students have experience with the computer software that we use at our educational facility. It might be interesting to demonstrate an operation and then ask them to try it for themselves. With me being in the room with them, I can coach them so that it could be a fun hands on experience rather than a hands off demonstration.
Kimber, great point. Tours can be a great way for potential students to feel engaged and envision themselves at the school. Keep us posted as to how your next tour goes.
Dr. Jean Norris
I think being able to go into the classrooms would be great because they can then see and hear what is going on.
Dr Norris,
Thank you for asking about how the potential students respond to being able to speak with active students and ask questions.
I think that it really makes the potential student feel at ease. They are able to ask questions directly from the students. This helps with any fears the may have. It also shows them that we have nothing to hide and they can see for there selfs how we teach and what to expect.
Sharon, that's a great idea. Allowing the students to see where they will be studying and the technology that they will be using will help the student visualize themselves in school. I also like that you have your potential students meet with active students so that they can get all of their questions answered. I wonder, how have your potential students responded to this on the tour?
Dr. Jean Norris
I believe that asking the potential student if they would like to see the lab. Explain that we have a class in the lab and they can observe how it functions. It also gives them the opportunity to intermingle with the students and ask questions.
Sawami,
That's a great way to help students feel more at ease and get a better understanding of the specific program they're considering. What else do you do that makes your tours memorable?
Shannon Gormley
Viene,
Thank you for sharing some of your best practices on tour. Introducing students to faculty, staff members and other students is a great way to enhance their connection at your school and help them feel more "at home". What are some other things that you do that help make a tour memorable?
Dr. Jean Norris
I introduce a student to teachers and stuff who work at school.
Marie,
Excellent insights on giving a tour! Thank you for sharing your perspective. The tour provides a wonderful way to engage your student in a manner that resonates best with them, which is why it is so unfortunate when it is overlooked. It sounds like you provide a comprehensive tour with key areas and items to address. Keep up the great work!
Shannon Gormley
Having interactions and conversations with the employees and currently enrolled students.
Great awareness, Akiko. Knowing when to "pause" and clear any assumptions about what your students may already know is an important skill that will allow you the opportunity to continue building rapport.
Shannon Gormley
I want to walk more with the prospective students too. When I'm busy I often skip walking tour with the students because my school is not so big I just assume that the student could see the entire place. Not just between the admissions desk, stand next by definitely helps building rapport I think.
The payoff for a proper tour is tremendous. A huge percentage of prospective students have been won on a good tour. And lost on a bad tour. It’s the tie-breaker, the thing that separates educational institutions from each other. It’s a living, breathing demonstration of how it feels like to study and become a part of your school.You should give emphasis to key elements that include school attributes, impact areas, interest points, sight gags, range-of-service spots, and more. And throughout the tour, your chemistry has to sparkle through.
