The Admissions Admission
January 29, 2013 § 2 Comments
It is with sadness that one truth has come to light. At the last commission meeting, I am told that one question was finally answered with an admission – the budget for Admissions has been 1/3 the national average. And, yet, one point made time and time again during this process is that my dear College is not able to get the numbers we need to survive. I ask you, how can this be so when a true effort to increase admissions has not been supported?
It has further come to my attention, that even with adequate funding, time and again we have heard that no one understands the current incoming student. Students “these days” roll out of bed and go to class in their PJs. Students these days have no social skills as their faces are constantly in something I have heard is called the “internet”. Students these days are told what to do by something called a “helicopter parent”. I am hoping that you know what the internet is and what a helicopter is because I have never heard of such things!
I tell you, though, that ladies in my day knew what to wear when they were in public and I do not believe that we would be caught dead wearing our undergarments out in public! I do know, however, that times change and these “facts” about today’s student do not negate the fact that Admissions should also change and adapt to bring these students into our community. If they cannot do so, or are unwilling to do so, as illustrated over the past several years, then the College will not survive, even with the changes that have been proposed.
Tagged: admissions, barbara k mistick, board of trustees, co-education, college board of trustees, enrollment, faculty, john gibb, students, wilson college, women's college
Dear Sarah,
Thank you for this wonderful, insightful post! I worked at a company that deals with “helicopter parents” and students with their “heads in the internet”. It doesn’t matter what type of college, they are everywhere!
The students are on their “smartphones” constantly. what did we do? we started texting them (sending them messages on their phone).
The parents were helicoptering around, demanding things that were virtually impossible. What did we do? We tried to fix it as best we could by overnighting packages and giving discounts.
You have to adapt everyday of your life, including how to recruit students.
Your daughter,
Erin
My dear Erin,
I too am learning about these smartphones, they have no wires! I have just learned about twitter. Is this named for a bird? It is so exciting a time that we live in. So much technology makes the world smaller than it was in my day. I do hope this helps in getting the word out for my daughters and my beloved institution.
Warmly,
@sarahwilsonsays