Recruiting Intelligence

I have heard quite a few U.S. colleagues asking me about the secondary schools in Vietnam and where they would find the most number of potential candidates for their programs. Where will you find students with strong academic performance, best English skills, and high propensity to seek a college education in the U.S.?

We couldn't help it, but the University of Chicago's recent letter to prospective students caught our attention.  We are awarding the University of Chicago's Office of Undergraduate Admission and the leader of the crew, James Nondorf, VP of Enrollment and Financial Aid the Intead Award for Creative Engagement.  

As a former admission counselor I have firsthand experience with the benefits of traveling to recruit prospective students. Having the ability to meet students on the road is priceless. Well, not exactly priceless, as there’s always a fee for travel and incidentals and often a very high cost to taking the show on the road. Determining the best recruitment travel plan is a fundamental part of the admission counselor’s responsibilities.

Admission counselors who are fortunate to travel internationally have many options available through various tour companies. Since travel is one of the key components of recruitment, selecting the right tour company is a critical decision. In determining which travel company is the best fit, admission counselors must consider their institutional needs and goals, travel budget, and fellow travelers. Word of mouth seems to be an essential means of researching tour companies. We hope that our chart will provide a convenient comparison between the major tour companies.