“Effective Communication Techniques: Making Your Message Count” Mary Hall, Roncalli High School Alexis Wolf, University of Notre Dame Martin Kirkwood, St. Theodore Guerin High School 1

Noel-Levitz, OmniUpdate, CollegeWeekLive, and NRCCUA (National Research Center for College and University Admissions) conducted a survey of more than 1300 participants about communicating with prospective campuses. 2

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Who do families want to talk to during an on-line presentation, and how do they want to be invited? 5

On-line Conversations --69% of students and 72% of parents said they have had online video conversations using a Webcam… …but WHO do they want to talk to? 6

Wgh Who do they want to talk to? 7

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Roncalli Parent Survey Survey: 1. Senior Parents Only 2. Less than No validity to this survey Why: Compare to published survey Accuracy of published survey in local community 9

Roncalli Senior Parent Survey 10 Before and after applying. 76% NS: B&A: 62% Before: 15% After: 17% NI: 6%

How Influential In Choosing Schools Are the Following? 11

Parent Participation In A Video Conferencing using Webcam 12 NS: Yes: 72% No: 38%

Who To Talk To? 13 NS: 78% 69% 69% 56% 19%

Preferred Type of Invitation to Online Presentation 14 NS:

Recommendations from Survey 1.Create opportunities for communicating. Websites with links and resources Contact information Name address Telephone number (nice to have address on website) Live chats 15

Recommendations 2.Multiple methods of communicating On-line Print In person Telephone CITY UNIV 16

Recommendations 3.In-person visits at high schools (or ‘in-person” via Skype). --Admissions and financial aid rep visits to high schools --Skype contact to answer specific family questions --Follow up by text, telephone, to students’ families after visit to high school 17

Recommendations 4.Maintain or add live chats to your communication strategies. --Has declined in past years but this is of high interest as a method to communicate. --Specific dates publicized on website and sent via to students indicating an interest --Fin aid rep should be available 18

Recommendations 5.Keep social media in perspective. --Do not make SM the focus of your communication strategy. --Remember that not everyone has internet access or prefers it as a communication tool 19

What Works for Us? 1.“Go to” person in financial aid --Presents at our Financial aid night --Will answer questions about FAFSA --Will answer financial aid questions of parents via --Updates me re: new programs and changes in financial aid --Resource for parents 2.Financial aid night by fin aid specialist 3.Who to contact about stackable/non-stackable scholarships 20

What Works for Us? 4.College Goal Sunday 5.Name of fin aid rep to share with parents who have financial aid questions 6.Financial advisor evening program (might not work for everyone) separate from FAFSA 7.Attendance at fall financial aid update meetings (counselor) 8.Encourage families to establish relationship with a fin aid rep 21

Other thoughts 1.Adopt a local high school and be their ‘go to’ person 2.Offer financial literacy program/session in high school classes (economics, business, consumer/family science, etc.) as a guest speaker 3.Specific handout for HS visits --Timeline--Dates --Forms--Hints for fin aid process 22

Other thoughts 4. Programs for families and counselors re: financial aid --On campus --On-line live --Video library on website --Summer --Encourage as part of visit program 23

Other Thoughts Website --Is it easy to use? --Specific section: “Important Info for Incoming Freshmen” --Deadlines --Needed forms --Does it have FAQ? --Are deadline and Indiana state edit dates clearly explained? --Federal code number easy to find? 24

More Thoughts Website --Is the Net Price Calculator obvious? --Does it talk about Satisfactory Academic Progress? --Who can counselors/parents contact— name, , or phone number --Dates of evening/week-end live chats or webinars --FAFSA link* and hotline contact --What will it really cost? Payment options? --Average graduation debt? 25

Some More Thoughts Scholarships Are they stackable? Are they renewable? Clear deadlines? Do you super-score test results? Are there additional scholarship resources on the website? Are there links to departmental, service, etc. scholarships? 26

Even More Thoughts Website/Office --Do you have someone with “other” languages in your office based on your “community”? --Information for families regarding disability services programs and contacts? Voc Rehab re: aids/services --Standardized financial aid award letters --Presentations to middle school parents on understanding affording college 27

Yours Is A Global Market 1.Can other individuals with different world languages easily access your website? 2.Can international students access financial aid and/or scholarship information? 3.Do you skype to international schools in recruitment areas? 28

This may be how you feel! 29

Characteristics of A Good Financial Aid Representative 1.Knowledgeable 2.Professional 3.Good listener 4.Patient 5.Honest 6.Respectful 7.Returns calls/ s in a timely fashion 30

Ways to Connect IACAC and ISFAA 1. Present to new IACAC counselors on federal and institutional methodology. 2. Add a financial aid info site to IACAC website a. Fin aid updates and changes b. FAFSA info (ISMcollegeplanning.org) c. 21st CS update and changes d. Post links to fall fin aid info meeting e. Link to individuals willing to do FA nite 31

Ways to Connect IACAC and ISFAA 3. Continue presenting the high school financial aid presentations 4. Make HS Counselor section of ISFAA a link on IACAC website 5. Continue to present topics at IACAC Congress 6. Is dual membership possible? 32

Time to Communicate! Thank you for listening to us and now………your Thoughts Questions Comments 33