The Role of Questions in Admissions Conversations | Origin: AC107
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Strategic Questioning Skills for Admissions Engagement --> The Role of Questions in Admissions Conversations
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
This first module showed me why I was feeling some tension during admissions interviews. Our questions are good ones, but not all the applicants are comfortable with them. Those who are comfortable do really well, while others flounder, and I'm now realizing this is not necessarily because they are not a good fit for the program.
It makes perfect sense that we need to find more questions that will help students open up and express themselves. I plan to keep most of the questions we are using, but not to be as strict about using the same ones in the same order every time. I also plan to add a few more open-ended questions I can try if a candidate seems stuck.
Also, although I have been listening quite carefully to what the candidate says, and their body language too, I think I have not been flexible enough to change my questions so as to pick up on their lead, and make them feel more comfortable.
I learned the importance of curiosity in this field. Notice lapses of quiet, vague responses, redirecting answers to avoid specific topics, etc and to pause and inquire further to fully understand a student's situation. Each student is unique.
Really interesting to learning about the types of questions and how each type has a right time to be used.
