Making the Most of Admissions Phone Calls

Hi everyone and Happy February! I hope 2017 is continuing to prove to be a great year for you. Today I wanted to talk with you about the phone calls that you get/will get from admission offices. Depending on the college, they will most likely be once a month or so. In my experience, a lot of students don't know what to do when they get these phone calls, so I thought I would share my suggestions with you all!

First, I'll give you a little background about my phone calling experience. I have worked in an admissions office making phone calls to students for the past six years. Before then, I was on the receiving end of the phone calls. So I know all about the good, the bad, and the ugliest of phone conversations and how to help you make the most of them!

Confession, these phone calls are to answer your questions and help you make your decision and that is all. They are not meant to annoy you or turn you off from the college. They usually have a purpose behind them: congratulations on your acceptance, file your fafsa, review financial aid package, come to accepted students day, have you made a decision. Right there that is five phone calls that you could get from an admissions counselor. Plus, the conversations you will have with current students so they can answer your questions about their experiences. LOTS OF PHONE CALLS and lots of opportunities to get your questions answered, here are my suggestions:

1. When a question comes up in your head about a school, write it down. Keep all of your questions together so that you can grab that notebook or open the Notes App in your phone to ask the counselor or the student the questions you want to know.
2. Separate those questions into those to ask students and those to ask your admissions counselor. For example, students are a lot better to talk about how often they use the library and what type of events are going on throughout the week, whereas your admissions counselor would be better to talk with about your financial aid package. 
3. If they are calling too much, let them know! It is super okay to tell them, "Hey, I really like your college, but you are calling a little too much and I just need time to really weigh my options." I can't say that this will definitely work, but any self-respecting admissions counselor would lay off the calls for a few weeks. 
4. Do not, do not, DO NOT hang up the phone on someone. That is incredibly rude and should in general just not be done, especially to a professional who is just trying to help you. If you are not interested in a school anymore, then tell them! It might take a few weeks to get out of the system, but telling them sooner rather than hanging up on them will do the trick and will help you out in the long run. 

I have always loved interacting with prospective and accepted students through phone calls. It is a great way to learn more about a college and start building a connection with the people there. Use these phone calls to your advantage to help you make the best decision possible for your future! 

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Day In the Life: College Admissions

Hi everyone! It has been a crazy week ... let me tell you! With work being busier than ever and lots of personal things going on, I am so happy it is Sunday! I hope you all had a great week of strategic goal setting and getting more in-tuned with your resolutions. Remember, they only become a habit if you let them, but let's move on to today's blog post!

Ever since I started my job as an Assistant Director of Admissions, I have wanted to do a day in the life post about what my day looks like as an Admissions Counselor. Every day is different and this past week wasn't typical by any means. We had a switch up in how we were working on students' applications and it was really an all-hands-on-deck type of week before I visited some high schools on Thursday and Friday. Nonetheless, I wanted to share with you all what a typical day in my college admissions office looks like! If you're interested ... keep reading!

Me in my office at the start of a great morning!

8:30am - Arrive and E-mails: My day technically isn't supposed to start until 9:00am, but I like to get into my office 30 to 45 minutes early so that I can get a jump start with planning my day and reading e-mails. In a day I probably send out 100 e-mails and usually when I get in in the morning I have some responses from colleagues, my student workers, and the students with whom I'm working. It can be kind of daunting (especially Monday mornings), so I like to start a little bit earlier to set myself up for a successful day. I'll also use this time to look over my schedule and make a to-do list based on all of the meetings and things I want to accomplish so that I know what's important and what I need to get done!

9:30am - Review Applications: We review applications every day so that there is a shorter wait time for our students to learn their decisions. Because of this, I like to review right away in the morning so that if I need to contact a school counselor about a student or request current grades, there is plenty of time to do that. This usually takes up the majority of my morning because I read through EVERYTHING that is in a student's file. I like to read each letter of recommendation, essay, and any other supplemental pieces a student provides, so it takes quite a bit of time to read each file. It's great though because I'm really able to learn a lot about my students!

11:30 - Interview: Lately a lot of my students have been visiting for the 10:00 tour, so after their tour I will interview them and answer any questions that they or their family have. I really enjoy meeting with students when they visit because it helps me learn even more about that, but also it helps them get to know me and understand my work style.

12:00pm - Lunch: Typically I will stay in the office during my lunch or I will go visit my grandma for a little bit. This is just my time to catch up with my colleagues, but also de-stress and check out social media. I am on twitter and then I also have a personal Instagram that you can follow me on. All the info is above in my Contact Me page. If I'm really busy or wasn't able to read all of my applications then I will work while I eat too.

12:30pm - More E-mails: I will use the time after lunch to follow up on my e-mails and voicemails from the morning so that I can call back any schools or plan on following up with the appropriate people while they are still working.

1:00pm - Office Tasks: So, I will use about an hour and a half working on other tasks and responsibilities within the office. So, not only do I work with students and review their applications, but I am also in charge of our Ambassador program (the tour guides) and I am also on the Events Committee. So, I may have to work on scheduling, on hiring or just troubleshooting any issues or concerns that come up throughout the week and day that need to be dealt with. Besides working with the students and their families, helping to plan out events is something that I really enjoy about my job!

2:30pm - Phone Calls: From about 2:30pm until I leave at about 5:30pm, I am doing phone calls and e-mailing students directly about their applications, events coming up, or exciting news. I like to call students when I have an update about the status of their application because I think it helps reduce anxiety about the college search process. I know when I went through the process, the waiting and not-knowing where I was in the stage was the hardest part, so I don't want any of my students to feel that way!

5:30pm - Check-In/Review: At the end of my day, I really like to check and see what all I got accomplished and what all I need to focus on for the next day. Knowing the night before what I will be walking into tomorrow helps me better prepare. For example, if I know it's not going to be too busy then I might go in at 9:00am, instead of 8:30am. This is my personal plan and it has really worked well for me and staying on track throughout the day.

So there you have it folks ... a day in my life as a college admissions counselor! All days are different and I never know what is truly waiting for me until the day unfolds, but ultimately I love what I do and I really enjoy working with the students, families, and schools that I do, which makes it all worth it!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Tips for the Admissions Interview

Hi everyone! Today I want to talk to you all about the Admissions Interview ... a vital part of your college visit and your plans to apply to college. Most often these happen on the college campus that you are visiting in the Admissions Office, but sometimes when Admissions Counselors are traveling they may do them at a coffee shop. Since I feel that there's a HUGE mystery behind the Admissions Interview, I wanted to give you some tips to ease the anxiety going into one!

Don't be nervous! If you're interviewing for a prestigious scholarship, I get it, but in all honesty the Admissions Interview is really just a chance for you and your Admissions Counselor to connect and for them to answer your questions about the college. A big part of it is to see if the college is going to be the right fit for you, rather than if you meet the standards.

Talk! This may seem silly, but there are students who go into interviews and don't want to talk at all. Admissions Interviews are rarely ever mandatory, so if you feel that you are not ready for it, that is perfectly fine - don't request one, just go on your campus tour. But, if you do choose to do one, you will genuinely want to do your best to talk and answer questions.

Ask for an Off-Campus Interview! If you know that you are not going to make it to campus this fall, then talk with your Admissions Counselor about setting up an Off-Campus Interview. Oftentimes (unless you're across the country from the institution) they will be travelling in your area to visit high schools, so the chances of being able to meet for an Interview are pretty high. If you're normally shy, this may help you more since you will be in an area where you feel comfortable.

Be Honest! If you want to major in something, tell them. If you want to play a sport, tell them. No matter what, do not lie about the activities you are involved in or that you want to pursue in college just to make the Admissions Counselor happy. We want more than anything for you to see yourself at our institution, but it isn't meant for everyone and we recognize that. If football is a mandatory thing, then tell us that; don't just stop responding to e-mails or hang up on phone calls in the future. It will save everyone involved, including yourself, a lot of time.

Admissions Counselors are people too! Truly and honestly, our words don't always come out the way we want, we can't always think of the name of that club you'd be perfect for, and we can't always answer your questions. Please know though, the Admissions Counselor does care about your Admissions Interview and wants you to get as much out of it as you need to help make your decisions come a little easier.

Ask any Questions you have! Whether they seem silly or redundant, ask those questions that you have. It opens up the conversation and you let your interests and background show through. Ask about students leaving campus on the weekend or about accepting AP scores. These are all good things to ask and Admissions Counselor want to know where you need more information. Even if they don't know, they will always do their best to find the answer for you or point you in the direction of where to find it.

As summer is winding down and you are planning your last few college visits before school starts, make sure you plan on doing an Admissions Interview to learn more about the college and how it will fit your needs and expectations for college. I hope these tips help you plan your day and ease you into that Interview just a little bit better!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Using your Admissions Counselor to your Advantage

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a restful and relaxing break from school and if you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you had a great day filled with turkey and mashed potatoes! Tonight I want to talk with you all about how you can use your college admissions counselor to your advantage. They are a wealth of knowledge and can provide a lot of wisdom to you!

First things first, a college admissions counselor is someone who works for a specific university to recruit and encourage students to apply and enroll at their college. They spend a lot of time travelling in the Fall and Spring to attend events across the nation to discuss their university. Once they are back in the office, they spend their time meeting with families, reading applications, and answering their students' questions. It is important to recognize what their job is before you start wondering how they can help you in your college search process.  Here are some of my tips:

1. ASK THEM QUESTIONS!!!  I cannot reiterate this enough, if you have a question about the university, about the application process, or about scholarships, then send them an e-mail, call them, or even text them your question. They want the contact with you and want to help you recognize the greatness that their campus can offer to you.  **When I was applying to colleges, whenever I had a question about the university, I would write it on a sheet of paper and keep that in my college folder. When the admissions counselor called throughout the year, I would have my questions ready for them so that I could get all of the answers I needed!

2. GET CONNECTED!!! Ask yourself who they might be able to connect you with at the university. Admissions professionals usually have some power to get things done and to have their students meet with others, so if there is someone you want to meet or talk to, ask your admissions counselor about it. They can usually connect you with athletics coaches, professors, other administrative offices, and students! If you have a specific question and you aren't satisfied with their vague answer, then see if they can hook you up with another resource!  (Admissions counselors know a little about a lot, so if you genuinely want more information than they are giving you, that is completely acceptable. Be up front though and see who else they can get in contact with for you!)

Use your admissions counselor to set up meetings with
coaches and student athletes.

3. CHECK ON APP. MATERIALS!!! So, it wasn't until I started working in the Admissions Department that I realized that students and families can call the office to see if their materials have been submitted to the university appropriately.  Oftentimes students wonder if their recommenders have completed their evaluations or if their guidance counselor sent in their transcript. Now, you don't have to worry because you can ask your admissions counselor. Now, I wouldn't be calling every two days to see if it has been submitted, but have a frank conversation with your admissions counselor to make sure they have the most up-to-date information, including test scores!

4. BUILD YOUR RESOURCES!!! Once you are enrolled at the institution, keep all of the connections that they have helped you make and reach out to those people. If they are students or other professionals, make sure you keep them in mind when you are back on campus at orientation. They may be able to help you make your college transition even more smoothly. These connections may also help you later on down the road in college. (One of the administrators who did my admissions interview, coincidentally, I ended up working really closely with during my years as an Upperclassman RA and as an Orientation Leader. You never know where those resources will lead you, so definitely keep them in a safe place!)

I hope this has helped you all as you are beginning to contact your admissions counselors more and more. Just remember each university is different, so their connection and resource flow may take a little longer than at another. Stay patient and remember if you have something you really want to know about a university, then pursue it!!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

When an Admissions Counselor Visits

Hi everyone! Today I am going to talk to you about what you should do when a college admissions counselor visits your high school. This typically happens in the fall and your guidance department may only advertise this for Seniors, but essentially if you are thinking about college and a university interests you, then why not stop by!

So, the set-up of the high school visit varies between each high school and each college that visits. At my high school, all of our visitors used a conference room in the guidance office, whereas at some other schools, a counselor may have a table in a common area or in the lunch room for a lunch-time visit. No matter the set-up, go and visit these counselors if you think you have an interest in their college; trust me, they want you to talk to them!

Typically your high school will announce that an admissions representative will be visiting a few days in advance, so make sure you're prepared. If you need to get a pre-signed pass from the guidance department to go during a class, then do that early enough so that you can also notify your teacher that you'll be missing class. Prepare your questions for them or if there is anything specific you want to discuss with them. Sometimes it is easier to talk with counselors in person, if you have really dynamic and specific questions that you want addressed. Think of thoughtful questions that can help you with your college search process!

In addition, if you know that the visit is happening before the day-of, please dress appropriately. I always say this, but dressing nicely (I'm talking nice jeans and a nice top, not necessarily a dress or a suit) helps make a good impression with the representative and it shows that you take your college search seriously! However, if you have late notice and just see the table the day of their visit, then don't let the state of your outfit deter you from asking the admissions counselor your questions.

My Experiences: 
In the fall of my Senior year of high school, I visited with an alum from a SUNY school in my high school's guidance office. I knew I wanted to apply to a SUNY school, so I researched this specific one and it had all of things I wanted: a Foreign Language and Education department, the opportunity to dance, a hockey team, and scholarship opportunities. So, I prepared my questions and had a great conversation with the alum. The conversation got me really excited about the university and about planning a visit to do a tour of campus!

During my time as an undergraduate, I was able to act as a high school representative and visit my own high school to meet with students who had an interest in the college. I did this twice; my Sophomore and Junior years of college. Being able to meet with the students to discuss my experience as a student and answer their questions about the college was really rewarding. So, whether the representative is an admissions counselor, an alum, or a current student, still visit their table. They can answer all types of questions that you have and may even be able to suggest things for you to do when you tour campus!

enjoy the chase,

skylar

P.S. If you have a twitter account, be sure to follow @Chasing_College to stay up-to-date on all of my posts and articles that I think will be helpful to you in your college search and transition into college life!