Get Your Students Hired
Marlin,
Perhaps it is not about not being sure about what they want but about being able to see where their education will take them.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I think our admission process can be improved by exposing prospective students to the program they're interested in on a deeper level, perhaps by having them spend some time listening in on classes in progress or in the lab.
I think we have opportunity for improvement. Most of the students are not sure of what they really want. We need to spend more time helping them to figure it out and give them the right tools and orientation to make the right choices.
Robert,
Then they go back and rework some of the leads. Of course, if students in school are satisfied and learning they can refer friends. Referrals are always a good source of new students.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I feel that every admissions process can be improved- there is always room for improvement. I feel that the processes are made more difficult for admissions reps as they work through their "buckets" of leads or potential students. When the bucket dries up, and budgets need to be met, then what?
sheila,
It is great that you were able to help. The student will hopefully have success.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Bibi,
Is this a problem at your campus? Or is honesty practiced?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Being honest with students from the moment they sit down to talk to an admissions counselor helps with a positive view of the school and helps with trust.
Sometimes it can be family pressuring the students as well to enroll in a program that they don't want to do. I have a student who does not want to be a dental assistant, her parents are paying for her education and they decided this program for her. Now, the student stopped coming to class and communication with me. I called and spoke to her mother (FERPA on file) and after discussing that there are many other programs to choose from that maybe her child might want to leave the DA program and enroll in another. That is what happened, the student is now in another program, one she really wanted.
Angela,
Have you found your retention improving due to the admission process?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Absolutely we can sharpen our skills in admisions, just like everywhere else!! How?
Admision rep needs to be knowledgeble of all programs they are selling. They need to know instructors and some of the requirenments. Also where is the class on the first day of school!!
A check list is an important tool for qualifying your students.
Our institution has a very thorough admission process. It's admission packet includes program description, mission, and a description of the admissions process. There are multiple check lists to identify potential candidates. I feel this admission process along with the staff are geared to excite the student to reach for success.
Sebastian,
Students should have an interest in their program of choice. Instructors making this early connection with prospects can aide in retention if they enroll.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I have the opportunity to interact with prospective students before course enrollment. The admissions team has students meet with instructors to answer program specific questions. This also allows faculty to assess the students' knowledge about their field of study. I feel this process assists the student in their career choice.
Yahaira,
How does your admissions team make the decision about directing a student to a different program from their original interest?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
The only way to improve student retention in admissions is to let the students enroll in the program they came in for and not a program you think would be a better fit for them. At the end of the day it's their loan and their education.
This is exciting for me because I am in a Massage School. I love the idea of a check list and am going to suggest this to our Campus President and admissions team. For me the more you know about your students, the better you can relate to them, support them and help them succeed. Great questions on the forms.
Cynthia,
What do you think needs to happen to get that checklist together and into practice?
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I know the admissions dept. does not have a checklist, but they do conduct tours and answer all the questions prospect students have. I do think it would be help to them to have a checklist.