Making an informed decision
As a service provider it is our responsibility to inform the customer in our instance the prospective students the pros and cons about the institution and the program they are about or interested to enroll. I will demand it from any provider if I am the one needing the service. After all it is my precious investment, i.e time and money, and I can't afford to waste them.
Lauren,
Agreed - the more a customer/potential student knows about their options, the better likelihood of finding the right match.
Traci Lee
A student has a right to know how their time and money will be invested. Whether it is through their own research, or through talking with school representatives. If I am a potential customer for a product or service, I will do research as well as discuss my options with a representative of that pruduct or service. In both instances, we are both customers, and both deserve to have truthful and accurate information before a purchase is made.
I have always given the student an idea of what to expect in relation to homework also. This helps them make that well-informed decision everyone wants them to make. Its' one thing to show up in class everyday, but the effort outside the classroom is very important as well!
I know most students are afraid of the unknown. Being informed will give them more confidence and reduce anxiety. Not only is it our responsibility but the more the students knows of the program and schools expectations, the more empowered they will be to succeed.
As an institution providing a service it is our duty to disclose all material facts. As a former insurance underwriter, the onus or responsibility rest with us to disclose all material facts and so it is with academia, in order for our prospective students to make an educated decision we must disclose all the facts.
Often in our type of industry in which the skills we teach are so "hands on" it is very helpful to show the student the Program Overview in which we use that has all of the fundamentals broken down for each program, color coded, hours required and accreditation. This along with the catalog is so applealing quick and easy to show. Text books as an example would also be neat for our presentation before students tour our labs and classrooms. Having all of these materials make the visit so much more of an impact on the prospective student who is out shopping our competitors.
I really like the idea of having visuals for students. This way they can take something home with them.
I agree completely. If full disclosure and clear communication is top priority students will be able to make the best decision possible for their future and an atmosphere of trust and respect will eliminate any issue of non compliance. Its a good format for student, faculty and staff as a whole.
I agree with this statement. My job is to help people, not to hinder!
I feel it is the high point of the prospective student's appointment with admissions to come with questions and be a well informed consumer. However the student may not know initially what questions to ask so as the program director of dental assisting, I make a point of educating the admission reps about all the high points of my program and let them know that I am available to answer questions for the prospective student if they come up with a student that asks a question that they may not know the answer to. I am very proud of my program and I am honest and upfront with all answers.
Jason, Wouldn't that be nice if all the work could be done in the classroom. I know when I started school my rep asked if I would be able to put in up to 20 hours per week outside of the classroom for school related work. I rarely put in that much time but I had that expectation going in so that's where I set the bar.
Its very important to me as a professional Admissions rep. to provide accurate information regarding the program of choice in order for potential student to make a well educated determination whether the program is the right choice for them.
Student's should be made aware of the tremendous responsibility of borrowing federal loans. Take careful consideration how much is borrowed and the potential salary of career they have chosen. They should also be made aware of the consequences of defaulting on a student loan.
Gail - I like your point on individual differences that should not be reflected in generalities.
I agree. We can minimize the distance between reality and perception by being transparent. This in turn could lead to improved satisfaction, increased retention, and a rise in referrals.
Very true Charina. I have seen unethical practices at other schools. It only leads to loss of intergtiy for the school and potential harm to a students career choices. It's a lose lose situation. "Keep it Compliant!" Thats my campaign slogan! :)
I agree. I believe that chosing the right school is one of the most important decisions in a student's life. As an admissions representative it is our responsibility to provide prospective students with accurate information so they can make an informed decision.
I believe it is a good idea to have a sampling of the reading and / or homework assignments available to use in educating the prospective student. A course syllabus or class schedule outline would be nice to have available also.
Factual information is necessary for informed decisions and samples of the types of work help clarify the information. This makes the facts "come alive."
I also believe using the terms pros and cons may mean different things to different people. For instance this is a hard class and you will need to study 4 hours a night is not always correct. Students have different levels of study habits and abilities to absorb material quickly. So what would take one student 4 hours may take another one 2 hours. Make sure this type of information is given in "usually" or " I hear many of our students say." or perhaps leave this subject out all together.
The student has the right to make an informed decision when they are enrolling in school. They must be provided with accurate information in regards to cost, graduation rate, placements rate, etc.
