Simons: KU puts best foot forward in recruiting prospective student

What kind of a job does Kansas University do in telling its story to students considering coming to Mount Oread for their college education?

Based on an experience this writer had last week, KU does a great job. Granted, those who did the “selling” and visiting with this particular potential student were senior members of the university’s administrative staff. However, it is hoped these individuals have made it clear to others throughout the campus how important it is to tell the university’s story in a positive, enthusiastic manner that will leave prospective students fully informed and giving serious consideration to enrolling at KU.

The young woman who came to visit lives outside of Kansas and is an excellent student. In fact, she already has earned 70 advanced placement hours of which KU will accept 64 for credit. The young lady hopes to become a nurse, so the first person she visited with was a senior member of the KU School of Nursing. It was an excellent visit. The KU person noted that although the student had made excellent grades at her high school, it would be the grades she earned at KU that would be key to her admission to the nursing school.

She cautioned the student about the first semester or two at KU, or any university, when young people often are distracted. They may be away from home for the first time or don’t get along well with their roommates. Maybe they don’t get good advice about what courses to take. For a variety of reasons their grades may suffer, and it takes a long time to raise their grade-point average to the level required for admission to the School of Nursing or other similar programs.

The high school senior was told that about 500 people applied to the KU School of Nursing last year, and only about 120 were admitted. The grade-point average of the entering class was 3.7 on a 4-point scale.

However, grades are not the sole factor in gaining admission. She was advised to participate in student activities and make sure she had strong communication skills.

It was a great visit in every respect, and the KU nursing school official did an excellent job of outlining the challenges and opportunities for those wishing to become a nurse.

The student also visited with a senior member of the KU administration in Strong Hall. Again, she received excellent advice. The KU spokesman didn’t pull any punches, repeating much of the advice offered at the nursing school but also making other suggestions. For example, the student was advised to consider shadowing or working in some capacity in a doctor’s office, health clinic or even a hospital emergency room. This shows interest and commitment to a career in a health-related field or it might result in the student deciding she really doesn’t want to pursue a career in that field.

Both KU officials recommended the student remain at KU for two years before moving to Kansas City and the nursing school even if she could gain admission after her first year. The Strong Hall individual also stressed the many benefits of taking advantage of KU’s study abroad programs.

The young woman is visiting many universities throughout the country, but before leaving the KU campus, she stopped by the KU football office to meet coach Mark Mangino. She wanted to let the coach know about her brother, a top-flight football player.

Mangino explained NCAA rules and what he could and could not do concerning visiting with family members about a possible football recruit. He could not have been more positive about the university.

It is interesting that the first thing KU representatives asked the student was, “How are your grades?” All three did a first-class job of representing the university and explaining what is important for the girl to know about applying to KU and what would be expected.

It would be great to have been able to record what the three KU people said because it was excellent advice from which any prospective university student could benefit.

It is terribly important for all prospective students to hear straight talk, but particularly those who have the option of being admitted to many top universities around the country.

The young woman told this writer that officials and representatives of some schools she visited acted as if it were a heavy, unwanted burden to have to visit with a prospective student, while other schools, such as KU, made a major effort to display their interest.

First impressions are terribly important, and, in this case, KU came off as a winner. It’s too early to know whether this visitor will enroll at KU, but if she decides to go elsewhere, it would not be because she was disappointed by the manner in which KU officials made their case and told the KU story.

Granted, she met and visited with three extremely knowledgeable, experienced and talented KU representatives. It is hoped many of those at KU who meet and visit with prospective students and their parents are as enthusiastic and knowledgeable in representing the school. The competition is tough for the best and brightest high school graduates, and the manner in which three KU officials presented the KU story indicates the university is doing its utmost to attract the cream of the crop.