Admissions building next class out of state
Recruitment season for the Admissions Counselors of Waynesburg University is now in full swing.
High school students interested in a higher education are looking for schools with the values and education they desire.
Jessica Sumpter, director of admissions, says the traveling season is from now through the beginning of November. There are counselors traveling now to spread the word about Waynesburg University.
“With our counselors out on the road, they are getting the good news about Waynesburg out to perspective students and to ultimately get them to apply and visit campus to see if Waynesburg is going to be a good option for them,” said Sumpter.
Since fall is recruitment season, counselors go to area high schools as well as college fairs.
“We had Dave Floyd cover a college fair, and he’s actually heading out to Texas for the next week,” said Sumpter.
Admissions Counselor Matt McNeil is scheduled to head to the West Coast.
“In a couple weeks, Matt McNeil will be heading out to California and then Chicago,” said Sumpter. “Bob Barnhart mainly covers the Ohio area but also is traveling to North Carolina sometimes.”
The local areas are split between the counselors.
The counselors mainly target Pennsylvania, but they also cover other places including Ohio, West Virginia, Texas, California, New Jersey and New England regions and counties, said Sumpter.
Floyd goes into college fairs and high schools to get students contact information and to get students to apply by Nov. 1.
The counselors are making efforts to a new automated email communication system and are currently focusing on the fall 2015 semester and transfer students.
Sumpter said the elite programs such as Nursing, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Communication are what gravitate students to Waynesburg.
The mission statement also attracts students with some characteristics like service.
“There are some characteristics that are standard, but everyone is unique at the same time,” said Sumpter.
The recruiting arrangements are different this year than in previous years.
“This current year we reorganized our recruiting territories because we actually added an extra counselor,” said Sumpter. “Matt McNeil started with us in July of this past summer. He is originally from the state of California, so kinda being from that area and that market is the reason why we wanted to reorganize the travel territories.”
That being said, Floyd is in Texas.
“This is a big trip that I came down for a week from Sunday, Sept.14 until Friday, Sept. 19,” said Floyd.
Sumpter believes Texas is a growing area, so it is a new target to recruit students.
“This is the first year physically going to Texas. We try to identify new markets and go to them,” said Floyd. “The overall traveling experience is a joyful one.”
Sumpter said she loves traveling season because everyday is different.
“You get to meet new people every single day,” said Sumpter. “There is a lot of variety that you experience out on the road and may be tiring days.”
Sumpter described a typical day during the traveling season.
“The days may start at 7 a.m. and don’t end until 6 p.m. with maybe a couple breaks in between, but it’s exciting because you get to meet people and explore more places,” said Sumpter.
While traveling season is a little over a month long, counselors try to get back for the big admissions events.
“My favorite part is simply having the opportunity to meet so many new people and share with prospective students and families everything that Waynesburg University has to offer,” said Floyd. “My four years as an undergraduate student at Waynesburg meant so much to me, so I really enjoy sharing that with others.”