Yes, some of my follow up questions include: do you know anyone in the field right now? How are they doing? What feedback have they given you?
Guy, sure, that is one way to get the student talking about their interests and even what they have heard previously. I'm sure you could branch out and ask follow up questions to in order to ensure full understanding.
Shannon Gormley
I like to ask what got them interested in this particular program. This allows them to explain to me why they want to be in this particular field and for me to confirm positive things they may have heard.
Great questions, Janet. I like that you're focusing on the students goals and what it is that they hope to achieve. Keep up the good work!
Shannon Gormley
What are your short term and long term goals? This question allows me to understand the direction students want to go with their career.
Hector, that is a great open-ended question. It sounds like you are using this question in order to best serve the student and meet his or her needs. It's great that then you are able to tailor the experience to that particular student.
Shannon Gormley
Jon, great job. These open-ended questions can really get the student talking. Tell me, what types of conversations branch off when you ask questions like this?
Shannon Gormley
One of the questions that I always like to ask up front is: "what do you hope to gain from this meeting/orientation?" I think this question makes me aware of the prospective student's expectations so that I can act accordingly to meet them. I believe that if I know what the student is expecting, I can make better decisions as to how I can meet the particular student's expecations and even perhaps exceed the expectations.
I always get started by asking the student to tell me about themselves. I usually follow up with questions like "what are your long term goals?"
Carlos,
Great questions! I see that you're using open ended questions that offer you the opportunity to explore what it is that the student sees for the future. After asking these questions, where do you typically go next with your student?
Shannon Gormley
What are your goals? How do you see your self in the near future? What are your expectations from our school?
Julio those are great open-ended questions. The first one in particular, allows you to see where the student wants to go. Hopefully, that will allow you to see how you can partner with the student to get there. I wonder if there is a way to reframe your second question in order to ask it in a more positive tone. What are your thoughts on this?
Shannon Gormley
What are your goals? What challenges you see yourself facing? With these questions you are able to find out exactly what the student wants and are able to assist them to achieve their goals.
Magdali,
Thank you for sharing your approach. It sounds like you encourage your students to share some of their future goals with you and that's great. I imagine your students enjoy having the opportunity to share with you what they hope to achieve. I'm also hearing that you take the time to explore what steps they've considered to getting to those goals. How do you find your students respond to this approach?
After building a rapport with the prospective student, making them at ease with our conversation, I like to ask where do they see themselves a year from now, 5 years from now and ten years from now. After hearing their responses I like to ask what are they doing to reach those goals. The responses almost always opens up to a conversation where I can show them how the educational institution can help them meet and exceed their desired goals.
Well, I have found that a lot of students coming to enroll have jobs. A good thing to ask is: have they talked with their employer about going to school and what did their employer say? Ask if they plan to stay there while they attend school. If yes, then I like to ask: what other shifts are available and if anyone else working there is attending school. This way if objections arise later involving work or schedule, you will have a better opportunity to overcome the objection.
What a great question to help build an initial interest or connection with your students, Keith. Looks like I'll be checking with you for my next movie recommendation! Thanks for sharing your approach.
Since we teach digital film and video here I like to gauge where the potential student might be within that world. My knowing the types of moving image entertainment they like I can see, at least superficially, where their "head in at" so to speak. For example, if someone says "I like Truffaut films" our school might not be a great fit so we explore this more deeply together- he/she might be better off at a school like NYU perhaps. On the other hand, if they say "I like Transformers and the cool effects and action" we might be a good fit, since we teach more technical aspects and not as much "film art". It also helps them open up and feel at ease talking about what is a personal taste as it might relate to a vocational digital film/video program. It can begin the sharing process...
Great questions, Keith. It looks like you use a number of open ended questions with your students to get to know them better. I love the "what is your favorite film" question. I'm curious, how does the information you get from this question assist you?
It's great that you recognize the importance of giving your student the chance to get comfortable with you to eventually let their guard down, Rosa. I imagine your students appreciate this approach.
