sleepyone
all-singing, all-dancing, cr*p of the world
New member
Posts: 24
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« on: June 21, 2011, 09:05:07 PM » |
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Pls pardon if this is the wrong place to post. I am in a semi-admin and mostly prof position. I love my school, but it's small and I don't have a lot of help recruiting grad students. I worked very hard last year and my numbers were up, but mostly from those that applied and confirmed in the summer. This year, I did even more, and am hoping for a lot to happen in July and August, but I only have a few students registered at the moment. Can I get any tips or general recruiting advice? Or can you talk me down from flipping-out mode? Here's what I've done so far:
*contacted admissions, publicity, and other faculty for ideas
*emailed and phoned depts and career services at related but not overlapping schools to announce open houses
*emailed related undergrad alums from my school to come back
*personally met, emailed, and mailed potential applicants from admissions inquiry lists
*reached out to local professionals for referrals
*posted open house in related community boards
*worried a lot!
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*****
Lisa: Look at the "wonders" of the computer age now.
Homer: Wonders Lisa? Or blunders?
Lisa: I think that was implied by what I said.
Homer: Implied... Or implode?
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zharkov
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« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2011, 10:56:47 PM » |
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Do many prospective students find out about your program by google (etc.) searches? (If you don't know, then ask them when you do the admissions interview, and ask a few current students.) If students find your program using google searches, then talk to your admissions or marketing group about setting up a way to capture searches using keyword or adword searching, perhaps with a click through.
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__________ Zharkov's Razor: Adapting Zharkov a bit to this situation, ignorance and confusion can explain a lot.
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brixton
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« Reply #2 on: June 22, 2011, 06:30:09 PM » |
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I'd also reach out to schools/depts that have sent students to you in the past. Talk to the students who chose you and find out what they were attracted to. Send them back to their schools to talk up your program. This is especially helpful if they are employed. Past relationships are pretty key to future enrollments.
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chronanon
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« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2011, 09:19:00 PM » |
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*smh*
Recruiting tips are not going to help you at this point. Best that can be done is talking you down, and the best I can do on that note is this: July and August are almost done. There's not much you can do about them now other than work the phones. It's time to start focusing on the next cycle.
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2011, 11:04:55 PM » |
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Brixton makes an excellent point. It is important to maintain relationships with people at your program's "feeder schools." It is also sometimes necessary to beat the bushes to find the right folks. That starts with calling up or emailing your colleagues at your feeder schools.
Zharkov is right that these days, many students (perhaps even the majority) start their grad school search online. Check out gradschool.com, princetonreview.com, and petersons.com. Put your program into their search engines and see what happens. Talk to the folks at your Graduate School office (not the admissions office), and see if they have a relationship with any of these three businesses. If they don't, and you have a budget, then look into subscribing to the services of one of these companies. (This is not a necessity, but it can help.)
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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systeme_d_
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« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2011, 11:05:40 PM » |
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*smh*
What the heck is that supposed to mean? |
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Systeme_D is right. <rah rah RESEARCH!> |
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tinyzombie
She of the Ass-Kicking Socks, and a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,449
elevate from this point on - chuck d
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« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2011, 10:43:01 AM » |
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*smh*
What the heck is that supposed to mean? I'm guessing Shaking/Scratching My Head. |
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Correct, as usual, TZ. That's because you are not Dude. TZ, however, is Dude. TZ is my favorite. I wish YOU began with A. |
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cj405
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« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2011, 02:29:13 PM » |
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*smh*
What the heck is that supposed to mean? I'm guessing Shaking/Scratching My Head. This. I am really terrible at figuring these things out. For example, FTW means “for the win,” but I thought it was something considerably more vulgar. Hint: the last two words in my head were “the world.” You can leave the first letter as is. So, people would post things on facebook that seemed like good things such as “3 day weekend,” followed by FTW. And I thought, “wow, that person must really love his job.” Finally, I figured it out, or someone told me what it meant. I still don't know how much sense it makes in that context, but it certainly makes more sense than my original guesstimation. |
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"These things sneak up on him for no reason, these flashes of irrational happiness. It's probably a vitamin deficiency." -Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake
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sleepyone
all-singing, all-dancing, cr*p of the world
New member
Posts: 24
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« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2011, 04:27:46 PM » |
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OP here... thanks for the replies. Without outing myself or my school, I am pleased to report a few more students registered and a few more apps. I worked my butt off on some social networking and have some nibbles too. There's not a ton of support/response from admissions, alums, or feeder schools recently (or in the spring). And unfortunately we don't have a graduate office to consult. At least everyone has been very nice and tells me not to worry too much. WCS (worst case scenario - thought I'd use some acronyms too!) we can try to get some non-majors into major classes...
Any other suggestions? I know it's hard to believe people are still applying to grad school now, but I'm very grateful of any other ways to reach more latecomers...
Many thanks!
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*****
Lisa: Look at the "wonders" of the computer age now.
Homer: Wonders Lisa? Or blunders?
Lisa: I think that was implied by what I said.
Homer: Implied... Or implode?
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dale1
Eventually, if you hang around long enough, they'll make you a
Senior member
Posts: 405
My mother-in-law would point out God's gray hairs.
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« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2011, 08:48:48 PM » |
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Is there a way your institution can create a graduate non-degree option, if not already available? This way students can "try out" a graduate course or two and test the waters, and many or most of them will stay on for the graduate degree (particularly MA/MS). This you can advertise at community centers, local media, etc., without too much effort. It will help fill your classes and create a pipeline. Because non-degree students can apply later and still get in usually (and admission = ability to pay and a bachelor's degree), you can gain some short term revenue and get more "fish" on the hook.
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Dale (original)
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