In its continuing efforts to support and achieve the goals outlined in The Rensselaer Plan, the admissions office has made changes in its recruitment methods.
Since last May, the admissions office has taken responsibility for graduate, undergraduate, and transfer students’ recruitment.
"Graduate students look for colleges in a different way than undergraduates," said Theresa Duffy, Dean of Enrollment management. Graduate, more than undergraduate, students are generally more concerned about research opportunities, housing, and childcare. The admissions office now plays a major role as the pipeline between prospective graduate students and the departments in the school of their interest.
So far, the admissions office has hosted or attended over 30 student outreach events. "We wanted to get the word out in an active way," said Duffy.
One of these events took place two weeks ago. Minority college students from all disciplines and from all over the country were hosted for a weekend. Some of the students have already applied for graduate school but some did not. "It was a positive experience, some of those students really did not want to leave," said Duffy.
The admissions office is currently working on an enrollment guide. The guide will simplify a process that many students find tedious. "Our students have been most helpful in pointing out things that needed improvements or changing," said Duffy.
The admissions website is also another front that has received a lot of attention. "We are slowly but surely unburying ourselves from the paper associated with the graduate application process," said Duffy.
Now students in the U.S. and overseas can finish and submit their applications online. They can also find extensive information on the different departments and researches of their interest.
The size of incoming classes will be seeing a change as well. While the primary goal is to double the size of the graduate school, the size of the incoming class of ’05 will be eight percent less than the class ’04. This decrease, Duffy said, was made due to housing and academic reasons.
Although the class will be smaller than the preceding years, it is going to be more diverse. In an effort to attract more female students, the admissions office has been involved in some events with the Society of Women Engineers, such as letter-writing campaigns and dinners for accepted students. Current female students have also been very vital in attracting other women to Rensselaer. As a result, more women and minorities from all around the country will be attending next fall.
Plans are already underway for next year’s recruitment activities. Next month, representatives will be traveling to talk to some of the best high school students in the country. "We have designed and implemented some nifty new outreaches this year and lots more to come," said Duffy.
