New Admissions Officers WorkshopCase Studies (a.k.a. Sticky Situations)

July 10, 2012

Case 1 (Stickiness: ) You are speaking on the phone with a prospective parent who has applied and been accepted to your school. She is asking about your extended day program because she has heard from a school across town that you do not have a program. She also heard, and observed, that diversity at your school is not as rich as it could be, and you know this is an area in need of improvement. Finally, she also wants to know if it is okay for her to tell the director at the other school how much financial aid you are offering because they told her that they would beat whatever you offered. How would you handle this conversation?

Case 2 (Stickiness: )

Sally comes for an admissions playdate. Following the visit, the feedback from the teacher is negative. The Division Director goes with you to observe Sally at her current school and can see that with time and good teaching this child could be great, but in committee, she’s not willing to stick her neck out in the face of the teacher. Your gut says that this child should come to your school. To complicate matters, a well-respected Board member has provided a letter of recommendation for the child and, in conversations seems very invested in the child’s acceptance. It’s tough for the administrators (you) to reject this child, especially flying in the face of the board member who has done so much for the school. What’s the admissions call?

Case 3 (Stickiness: ) It is re-enrollment time at your school. The admission director holds a meeting with the academic dean, head of school, head of learning support, and dean of students to discuss possible contract holds. At the meeting there is disagreement around re-enrolling Rocky. Rocky has been at the school for 2 years. In those 2 years his academic performance has decreased, he has failed to get involved in school life and the learning support director feels he has a significant learning disability but his parents have not followed through on having diagnostic testing done. Rocky is also the son of an alumnus and is a full paying student. Your school’s enrollment has decreased 15% in two years while you have increased your financial aid budget by 10% in that same time. What is your role in this process? What would you do?

Key Principles• Admissions is all about Mission• Facilitating student/parent/school fit is

key• Protect the process• Keep the Head informed• It is always Admissions Season• Everything is about

Admissions/Retention• You are responsible for 75% of the

budget

We can and have changed the course of a family’s or individual’s life.

ResourcesIndependent Education• Principles of Good Practice• Admissions Committee

Association of Independent School Admission Professionals• Ethical Behavior and Best Practices for Admission

Professionals

Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools