Admissions AND Student Services
I'm an Admissions Agent AND Student Services Coordinator for my location. Do I have more challenge since I'm both, or will I find it easier since I've been with the student from prospective status to graduation???
Admissions reps don't necessarily forget about students when they start. In most schools, their job is finished and they are re-focused on the next group. There is a hybrid model that keeps the reps tangentially involved, and in some cases their compensation is impacted by persistence. Certainly there will be some professional growth when the reps are better informed about the issues their enrollees encounter.
This is a very interesting situation and it can be good for the Sudent and the School if handled well.I have often seen that admissions forgrt the student as soon as they start and then it is up to the Instructor to take care of the Student.If the admission person is involved longer and will be aware that ther could be some obstacles for a Student there may be something both thr Insructor and admissions person can do to help and in such a case admissions can learn how to spot problem to begin with.
In my experience within my field, I have seen students who have a cursory interest in the subject, only to realize it is not what they want as a profession. They come to the understanding that while the field can be quite lucrative, their interest level, or perhaps the dedication it takes to ascend to that level, requires more effort than they want to commit. As to identifying those issues, accurate career counseling would be a starting point. In that vein, they may see they would be more successful with another career choice, yet at the same time maintain their interest in this field as a hobby. A personal observation included watching a young man enroll for peer support because his best friend enrolled, only to realize this field was not his ambition. This young man lasted two days in school and withdrew.
Steve, do you have any thoughts on how to identify prospective students who may enroll for the wrong reasons? It seems to me that those reasons would have to be pretty strong to get them to make such a major commitment.
I can see where this position is a difficult one indeed. Being an admissions agent requires the highest numbers one can achieve, many times not trained to spot a negative "fit". Some students enroll in school for all the wrong reasons, such as for a friend, income potential, or whatever else when their true desire is something different. Being able to spot these issues can be challenging. I believe being openly honest with potential students is paramount to success of the student as well as the school.
Student services, on the other hand, plays a critical role in retention due to having to deal with whatever issue arises. Many times students are coddled for the bottom line, when in reality, they should be encouraged to make a true decision as to why they enrolled in the first place. When encouraged in this way, the students who want to be there usually dig in and perform well, while students who don't want to be there are free to pursue their passion, leading to a more fulfilled life. The school, then, is freed from having to "deal with" each crisis that comes along in the student's academic career which leads to a better education for those who want to be there, posturing them for greater success and in the long run, building a better school reputation, thereby cementing a firmer financial foundation for the future.
Wow, admissions and student services. I would think that the question is a double edged sword. Because you do meet them in the beginning and you see them through many life challenges. Some may say in education that some of the obstacles may have been identified during the admissions portion but you may have not had any inclinations of any obstacles. I will be looking forward to more comments from you as you learn from your two simutaneous roles.
Great question,Stacee, and I don't know that anyone has the answer. You should have an advantage because you are working with the students as they flow through their academic experience. It's easy to image that you could be overwhelmed by the sometime contradictory expectations of the roles. Also, conventional wisdom has suggested these jobs require very different skill sets.
Please keep us posted how things work for you.
Loren Kroh
