Recruiters are hard at work |
Brian Wallheimer |
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Thousands of students come to SIUE every semester, but few people know how the students get here. Recruiters spend countless hours traveling to high schools throughout Illinois and Missouri with the hope of bringing students to SIUE. According to Director of Admissions Boyd Bradshaw, personalizing visits to high schools is a key factor in attracting students to SIUE. "It is very important to get a good relationship with high school counselors," Bradshaw said. Recruiters are assigned an area, for instance a county, and they visit the schools in that area. Students at these schools can ask questions about SIUE and receive information on subjects such as financial aid, classes offered and class size. SIUE has several draws for prospective students. SIUE is a medium-sized university with small class sizes and low tuition, Admission Counselor Tracy Nelson said. "The fact that we're our own community but we're still close to everything is a big draw for rural schools and big-city schools," Nelson said. The recruitment office also has a Students Assisting and Recruiting program. The STARs are volunteer students who give tours of the university and answer visitors' questions. Many STARs go to local high schools and recruit prospective students there as well. Boyd said prospective students feel more comfortable getting answers from college students who are near their age and who are experiencing the same situations the high school students are asking about. Visitors taking tours critique faculty, staff and other students when they visit. The impression made on these visitors can result in a prospective student's decision. While many SIUE students come directly from high schools, others transfer from schools such as Lewis and Clark Community College and Southwestern Illinois Community College. SIUE has offices at these schools and in the Chicago area. The STARs program is always looking for help in recruiting new students. Anyone interested can contact Nelson at 650-5699. | |