Testimonials
Why should testimonials for advertising not be solicited from current students?
It like we are using students for marketing
EACH STUDENT MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT STORY AS TO WHY THEY HAVE DECIDED TO GO TO SCHOOL .STUDENTS TESTIMOINALS SHOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL UNLESS THEY HAVE AGREED TO SHARE WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.
Tangela,
Hi! You are correct when you mention that these testimonials should be confidential. Generally schools provide the student with a document that they would like to share their testimonial with the school or media. If a school doesn't have this in place then they could be violating FERPA and the Program Integrity rules.
Cindy Bryant
Lucretia,
Welcome to the forum! I agree that a testimonial can be used as a marketing tool. Testimonials are a great way to share your students positive experiences. The key her is that testimonials are given freely. Many times a graduate student is happy to talk about their successes. Think of a testimonial as a great motivator to current students.
Cindy Bryant
Students sre s gret resource of information however as the saying goes birds of a feather flock together, if studnet want they can give unsolicited testimonials, however it should be done at thier own will and form thier own experiences.
Currents Students has to learn the demands of the career they are pursuing and the challenges to reach graduation. Testimonials from Graduate students will provide there educational field & personal experience as an example of there live they had in the University, this type of testimonials will motivate current students and prospects.
Lourdes,
Hi, student testimonials send a powerful message. It is incredibly motivating to hear how someone overcame their struggle. The key is that testimonials must be given freely and not contingent upon a gift or graduation.
Cindy Bryant
Current students offering testimonials may also assume that by doing so, they may be given special considerations in the classrooms. This can really be dangerous if they believe that and then find that no such special considerations exist. They may take it upon themselves to sabotage any testimonial they gave previously through social media avenues. Yep, better to stick with graduates.
Kenneth,
Thank you for bringing up a good point. We all know that testimonials are very powerful statements. Student testimonials cannot be given in exchange for gifts, goods or favors.
Cindy Bryant
If current students advertise for their college there is a chance that they may feel entitled to help or assistance with school matters that students are not to receive. Also, using graduates helps prospective students see positive outcomes from obtaing a degree.
Andrea,
You have made a great point! It is quite similar to an environment where an employee feels obligated to comply with their supervisors request.
Cindy Bryant
Students might feel pressured to say things that they did not believe to be accurate. School employees and representatives are in a position of power; the students position in the hierarchy needs to be honored.
Mabel,
This is an excellent point to consider. Students could be compelled to give a testimonial because of the levels of authority and power. But more often than not my experience has been that happy students are more than glad to talk about the good things they have experienced.
Cindy Bryant
Current students should not be able to give testimonoials for a few reasons. They may think they should be treated differant for bringing new students. Also they have not finished from start to end so they really don't have a FULL perspective of everything from start to finish, they just have the start part.
Yes only student that have fully finished the school should be giving the testimonials, students that are currently in school still have not seen everything or experienced the full program for them to do so.
Judy,
When we think about it, the testimonial is not complete until they complete school. A student could have a great experience in the beginning but wind up being frustrated toward the end.
Cindy Bryant
Students should have complete all fases of their learning to be able to give any testimonials . I think is even better to get testemimonials and feedbacks from students after their pass licensure board ( if applicable) and after they start a job realted to their field.
