College Admissions Counseling. . . Things I Wish I Would Have Known

TACAC ACCI 2015

Mickey Saloma David Pittman

The Golden Rule

Quickly disabuse yourself of the notion that college choice is a

wholly rational decision.

General

• The ethical imperative in admission: help students find great fits, even if it is not your school. Put them first.

• Pack more business cards than you believed possible. Have them in your purse/wallet, all the time. You never know when you bump into someone or you are travelling and your luggage doesn’t make it.

• Every year, determine what skill is missing from your resume and work on acquiring that skill.

Communicating with High School Counselors

• Follow up with schools prior to heading to the planned visit for any last minute school changes.

• Don't be afraid to pick up the phone – call the HS counselor and give them updates – don’t just email.

• If you're meeting with the counselor without students, ask if the counselor wants the overview of your institution or just what's new. And then know what's truly new. I don't mean to be rude, but I know what the characteristics and benefits of liberal arts education and that if there isn't already a club in campus, students can start their own. Please just hit the highlights and let me get back to my 352 recommendation letters.

Communicating with Students/Parents

• Parents are frightened to death of the process and they believe that the college their child attends is a grade on their parenting.

• Relationships matter. Take the time to build them.

• It is ok to say “I don't know--let me check and get back to you.” Just be sure you do get back to them. And it is much better to admit not knowing then to get caught trying to make up an answer.

Network• Everybody knows everybody. Admission counselors frequently

become college counselors, hookup/marry/befriend other counselors, etc.

• Get involved in your ACAC. If I had a dollar for every colleague of mine that got a new job thanks to networking through ACAC, I would have over $500! No lie!

• Find a mentor.• Don't be afraid to make friends with other reps on the road!

Not only will more experienced ones be great sources of knowledge on schools to visit and areas to focus on, it's also nice to have people to socialize with if you're in a place where you don't know anyone.

Style and Profile

• Good quality shoes are worth the extra money. • If you're a girl, flats are your friend and college

fair shoes are a real thing. Sure the heels are cute but you and everyone else who wore them will be barefoot behind that college fair table 15 minutes into the evening. You can set your watch by it!

• No one knows if you wear the same black suit multiple times during your trip.

• Check your tie for toothpaste drool.

Travel Tips

• Sign up for hotel and airline and rental car "rewards" accounts. Try to stick with one brand for hotels, one airline, and one company for rental cars, in order to accumulate points.

• Keep snacks and extra water in your car in case you don't get a chance to grab food before visits.

• Use a roller case for materials. The wear and tear on your body is cumulative and won’t necessarily be evident in your youth.

Presenting 101• Try your best to get to know your audience and modify your

presentation based on that audience. In other words, don't press the play button and give the same presentation to every HS because they are all different!!

• Remember to know your audience at ALL times. Students, parents, colleagues, counselors, alumni, prospects, suspects, applicants... They all need different kinds of information and support. Work to understand the audience in front of you and you will establish some tremendous relationships.

• Students and parents have longer attention spans and are more invested by stories than stats. Be able to tell stories about every aspect of the admission cycle – students on campus, applications that stand out in your mind, and so on.

On the Road – Business

• Definitely stake out the areas you are going to. Try to stay closer to the high schools you'll be visiting - makes it much less stressful then being stuck in traffic.

• The main entrance at a high school is usually by the flagpole!

• If you have a visit right at the start of school get there early. Getting tangled in the bus line, parent lane, and/or student lot is stressful.

• Put the cell phone away at College Fairs. Enough said.

On the Road – Pleasure• Know how to refill your tank while you're in travel season.

Whether it's being a tourist, heading to a local spa, or eating an amazing meal, take time to keep your wits about you. Plan it into your schedule.

• Quick naps in the car can make all the difference!• Learn how to be comfortable doing things alone – eating,

going to the movies, touristy things, etc.• Always have a good book to read. Books can be great dinner

companions and if high school visits go short and you get to the next school early, you can read in the parking lot instead of hovering around the admin staff at the high school.

On your Campus• You don't have to "reinvent the wheel." Utilize the information from the

counselor who travelled your territory most recently and definitely talk to other counselors in the office when scheduling HS visits, etc. Admissions is definitely a field you can always learn from past triumphs or failures.

• Know your institution inside out. You are the public face to counselors, parents, and students. If a HS counselor knows more than you do about your institution, that's not a good start. I want to know the vibe, whether little Johnny or Jill would thrive on your campus.

• Know from your supervisor before the season starts what his/her goals and expectations are for you – specifically the rubric of how you will be evaluated.

• Get involved where you can so you can truly share what the school is like so you connect your students to faculty and staff and become part of the institution. It's easy to just bunker down in admissions meeting families and reading applications.

You never know. . .

I wish I would have known that I would be bitten by the admissions

because here I am, 35 years later!!!!