Student Involvement in
Pre-Admission Programs
at Tamagawa University
Atsuo Aoki, Associate Professor, College of Business Administration
Shigeo Sato, Professor, College of Business Administration
Tamagawa University, Japan
July 2007
20th International Conference on The First-Year Experience
Pre-Admission Program at Tamagawa
Program for high school students not
yet officially admitted into the
College of Business Administration
Prospective students are
recommended by high school faculty
and administrators
Held during the ‘spring break’ prior
to the start of the Japanese school
year in April
Pre-admission Program Objectives
To raise student awareness, prior to
admission, regarding university life
To help students prepare for academic
studies at the university level
To help prevent student dropouts in
the first semester
Pre-Admission Programs 2005 & 2006
①
Program Format:
Students receive and submit reading and writin
g assignments via the Blackboard@Tamagawa
(online classroom management system)
Two-month framework
Pre-Admission Programs 2005 & 2006
②
Program Content: Two Assignments
Students wrote a reaction paper after
reading one of two newspaper articles about
entrepreneurs/business leaders
Students wrote an English essay on one of
three topics: My High School Days, My
Family, My Future Dream
Pre-Admission Programs 2005 & 2006 ③
Findings
75% of @120 participants each year able
to complete both assignments
@30 participants each year made no
response, due in part to having trouble
with/no PC or Internet access
Decrease in dropout rates from previous
years
Two-month framework imposed heavy
workload on teachers
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ①
Changes in the 2007 program:
No Blackboard online assignments
New features - more emphasis on
face-to-face communication
One-day framework
Questionnaire
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ②
(1) New feature:
Practice Lectures/Classes
Students grouped into six 70-minute practice lectures/classes
“Experienced” university lectures/classes:
Marketing, Accounting, English
Communication, Human Resources, etc.
67% of 141 students participated in oneday event
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ③
(2) New feature:
Orientation Session and Student Mentors
Session leaders explained how studying in
college is different from high school and what
preparations students should make before
first day of school
Four 2nd-year students served as mentors to
prospective students
Q&A
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ④
(3) New feature:
Parental Participation
Parents invited to attend practice
lectures/classes and orientation
session
Parents of more than 30 students
participated in the one-day event
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ⑤
Finding 1:
Drop in participation rate
75% in 2005 & 2006 programs
67% in 2007 program
Commuting and financial costs
incurred by students living in
areas far from Tokyo campus
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ⑥
Finding 2:
Questionnaire results:
Parents appreciated the
opportunity to see what their
sons/daughters would be going
through in college
Parents satisfied with facilities
and academic standards
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ⑦
Finding 3:
Questionnaire results:
High overall student satisfaction
with the program
Students felt relieved, were less
anxious about college after
meeting peers and talking with
mentors and professors
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ⑧
Finding 4:
Questionnaire results:
Students showed understanding of
what college education is about and
what efforts they need to make
Students showed understanding of
rough roads ahead and what
preparation they need to make
Pre-Admission Program 2007 ⑨
Finding 5:
Questionnaire results:
Participation by 2nd-year students
as mentors effective in the
orientation session
Pre-Admission Program Conclusions
New features in 2007 program
partially successful
New approaches needed to improve
participation rate
New approaches needed to help reach
academic objectives
Atsuo Aoki, Associate Professor,
College of Business Administration,
Tamagawa University
[email protected]
Shigeo Sato, Professor,
College of Business Administration,
Tamagawa University
[email protected]