Admissions in Transition | Origin: AC101
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Understanding the Admissions Profession --> Admissions in Transition
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Students are coming into Admissions already being armed with research, peer recommendations and information that they found on the school website. Guidance, support, and student advocacy are much better than persuasion, urgency or closing techniques. Enrollment is a decision made BY the student and not FOR the student. Respecting the students pace communicated trust and professionalism. Also understanding general generational preferences and tendencies is greatly helpful in understanding how they like to communicate best. This was all very good information.
Admissions today is less about just providing information or meeting numbers and more about guiding students to make informed, good fit decisions. It requires communication, ethics, and adaptability.
I learned that attitude and continuous learning are just as important as skills and knowledge.
Going forward, I will focus on listening better, asking good questions, and making decisions that truly support students not just enrollment goals.
In this module I learned about how the admissions process and focus has changed over the decades. At one time the position was just transactional, then there was tendency to use sales tactics to get students to enroll. Now the focus is more on service - trying to answer questions, clarify information, and helping students find the right fit. With the internet and social media, students today come armed with lots of information (some accurate and some not). There are also differences between how different generations process information and like to communicate. Being aware of all these changes is importance so that students can have a positive experience.
I've learned that I must continue to support potential students decision not push or persuade. Knowing that this is a huge decision for them and I need to have patience to allow them time to process the information I'm giving them.
I learned that a service-oriented admissions approach is about supporting informed decision-making, not pushing urgency or persuasion. It’s also important to recognize that when prospects pause, it often means they’re reflecting or experiencing decision fatigue—not losing interest.
