Interesting approach, Joshua. I'm guessing that you have the opportunity to spend some time getting to know your students on the phone. How do your students typically respond to your suggestion of filling out the application in order to understand the student expeerience?
OUr intention is to get the student to apply if they have not yet done so. Hopefully we have built a positive rapport & gathered enough information to have an idea of their POI. We should then encourage them to apply and then follow up with appropriate e-mails and phone calls to ensure that they move completely through to registration.
For sure it's getting them to fill out the online application and scheduling a time to call back.
I encourage them by either asking if they would like me to help them navigate over the phone how to get there.
Example: "Mr. Bob, I would be happy to show you how to get to the application right now if you are by a computer. Are you by a computer and do you have a few minutes so I can show you?"
At our center, the first action step for our students needs to be the application. It is our goal to get the student to fill out the application right away, including on the inital contact call with the student if possible. Typically, I tell a student that if they would like to take the first step and really get a better understanding of the student experience, they need to go ahead and fill out the applicaton. I make sure to let the student know that we do not automatically register them for classes, so they are not commited fully to the school by filling out an application, but it is how we link them to any transcripts they would like to send our way, and how we link them to their Financial Aid.
