Sharing Expertise with your Prospective Student
How will you "share expertise" with your students? What will you do to let them know that they are the expert when it comes to their life?
That's great, Annette Lilly! I'll bet your prospective students appreciate you sharing your first-hand knowledge of the program!
Elizabeth Wheeler
I am lucky because I was once in there shoes when I was pursuing the same degree that we offer at our college. So I can be honest about how hard the program is and the time needed to study for it.
Great, Charlene! Guiding the prospective student to their own best decision is key! Thank you for your post!
Dr. Jean Norris
By giving them all the information they need to make a good decision that works best for them. Also reminding them that it is their decision.
As Director of Education, I share my expertise during the student orientation. I encourage students by telling them how proud I am with them when they master a new skill or technique. We are a very small school and I have the opportunity to know most of students who attend. I also tutor students who need help. This is a service we offer free at our school.
Our financial aid officers are available to help address tuition and financial aid concerns. We try to address each challenge directly and work with the student to find options.
Angela,
Wonderful! Besides success stories, what other forms of proof do you use to address challenges?
Elizabeth Wheeler
In order to share expertise, I believe it is important to learn what the student's goals include. After determining goals, we should also determine any obstacles that may prevent the student from achieving those goals. Once you learn what obstacles and challenges they are facing, helping them work out solutions is important. Sharing success stories of others is a great way to help some students find the path to best meets their needs.
Giovanna,
Exactly! It's important that the prospective student understands that the relationship is a partnership. Thank you for posting!
Elizabeth Wheeler
David,
Excellent! Helping the student to discover information about themselves is key! After all, the prospective student is the expert on his own life. This is a great way to establish a partnership. Thank you for your post!
Elizabeth Wheeler
Letting the student know that they are not alone in the process is the most important part. We are here to help guide them in the right path.
I believe asking probing questions about a student's goals & challenges can help them to become experts about themselves. My role can be to periodically summarize/paraphrase their responses (without leading) so the picture becomes even clear to them. Then, by knowing where they are & where they want to be, I can share my expertise about our programs, logistics, etc., to see if we can help them achieve their goals.
their are plenty schools,out their as an admission rep.i try to gather as much information from my prospective students demostrating to them that trust and respect can happen when people talk openly.
this helps me to build a better relation with them and more prospective students.
Belinda, Shared expertise is a nice way to build rapport. What is the general reaction from your students when you do this?
Dr. Jean Norris
AS AN ADMISSION REPRESENTIVE I SHARE MY PERSONAL ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES AND OTHER PEOPLES ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES TO BUILD A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS.
Toni Ann, That sounds like a genuine approach. What response do you get from your students?
Elizabeth Wheeler
I speak to my students honestly and communicate openly with them regarding their life and their situations
Theodore, Great rapport building!! Keep it up.
Elizabeth Wheeler
I always use the saying, "you are the CEO of you." They will 9/10 times laugh at this. In rapport building, I identify ways that their story and mine overlap. At that point, I like to share some personal experiences with struggles and how I overcame them. This helps give them more confidence in their background, no matter how battered, shattered, or tattered it is. I am happy just letting them talk, because they really like sharing their history with me. I learn a lot about them and it helps them build confidence in my abilities to help them during this important part in their life.
