University Business - April 2006 - (Page 37)

ADMISSIONS The Next Real World Are you preparing your students for it? By Howard and Matthew Greene S decision, or avoidance of the reality of not E V E R A L YEARS AGO WHEN knowing what they really want to do. we were doing research for our book, Inside the Top Colleges: Reali- TEACHING MOMENTS ties of Life and Learning in America's Elite At each of these critical stages, advisors and Colleges, we surveyed thousands of under- faculty can play an essential role in what graduates through questionnaires and indi- can become teaching moments for stu- vidual interviews. Our purpose was to get dents. Helping them understand how to to the heart of the college experience at a initiate a search for future opportunities variety of selective colleges and universities. that might suit them based on a self-assess- We found that our data correlated ment of unique strengths, personal values, nicely with the demographics of all of the and goals in their adult lives could and campuses in terms of representation of should be part of the college's educational the four undergraduate classes, men and process and commitment to its students. women, financial aid recipients, and ra- The outcomes: Students are more likely cial background. While we anticipated a to continue in their college studies rather high incidence of concerns over academic Non-traditional students than leave due to a lack of direction and mo- workload, time demands, personal stress, have little frame of tivation; they will become satisfied alumni; finances, social adjustment and loneli- and they will recommend their college to ness, and substance abuse, another theme reference on the multitude prospective students with enthusiasm. Most emerged that cut across all classes, genders, of occupations and careers importantly, they will become positive par- races, and scholarship and non-scholarship ticipants and leaders in their communities. students. The lack of interest on the part of that are available today. We counsel a large number of recent the faculty and advisors in helping students college graduates who are presently work- choose a field of study as part of preparing ward the end of their sophomore year when ing or studying and who have discovered for life after college turned out to be one of they are choosing their field of concentra- to their frustration that they are unhappy the most frequent topics of concern. tion. This decision point raises all sorts of in their situations. Many state that the na- Not knowing what they could and questions: What do I like to study? What ture of the work they are required to han- should do to plan for the future was a am I good at? What will a major in a par- dle is of little interest or does not fit with constant refrain among the undergrads. ticular discipline prepare me for? their skill sets. They often refer to the lack Whether or not college faculties and ad- The second stage follows quickly toward of stimulation due to the job itself and the ministrators are comfortable acknowledg- the end of the junior year, when the final people with whom they work. ing that a majority of students have enrolled year of college looms and many students These young adults are desperate for ad- because of their belief that a college degree decide whether or not to apply to graduate vice on career directions and further educa- will lead to an attractive and secure career, school. If so, they must prepare for entrance tion to meet their new goals. In most cases the fact remains: Some professional level of exams and target appropriate programs and they do not feel they can turn to their advisement is an expectation by virtually all universities. Confusion and anxiety rise to young people on campuses today. the surface rapidly at this time. We experience firsthand the results of Senior year brings excitement at com- Howard and Matthew Greene are independent this issue on a daily basis in our offices. pleting the degree and worry over what's education consultants and the authors of Greenes' Students start calling us at several distinct next. We find many seniors will decide to Guides to Educational Planning. To contact stages in their college life. The first is to- apply to graduate schools as a non-decision them, visit www.greenesguides.com. www.universitybusiness.com April 2006 | 37 Admssns.indd 37 3/24/06 1:28:48 PM http://www.greenesguides.com http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - April 2006

Table of Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Stats Watch
People Watch
Sense of Place
On the Hill
Viewpoint
Future Shock
Financial Aid
Admissions
COVER STORY: Averting Housing Havoc
The Art of Reputation Building
Web Conferencing: Rich Media on the Desktop
All Rights Preserved
Admissions Messages vs. Admissions Realities
Internet Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
Direct Connect
End Note

University Business - April 2006