New Admissions
Officers Workshop
Case 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
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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.
Resources
Independent 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