Steps to a successful recruitment meeting

Advance Work - (this timeline can help)

• Be sure the meeting is well-advertised (fliers, word of mouth, school newspaper). Here are more tips on marketing your program.
  
  
• Personally invite students who have shown interest in the past. Ask fellow faculty to announce the meetings in their classes. Tell students to bring a friend or family member (invite parents as well).
  
  
• Invite former participants (three to five) if available.
  
  
• Select a room that is easily accessible to the general public and to students on campus. If needed, place directional signs around campus, particularly if the meeting is at night.
  
  
• Find a time when parking problems are minimal. Offer meetings at different times to accommodate a variety of schedules.
  
  
• Include in publicity that refreshments will be served. Offer cookies and juice for evening meetings or coffee and juice for morning meetings.
  
  
• Arrive early to unlock and light the room. Set the mood! Props always help, such as music or posters from the country you plan to visit.
  
  
• Have a sign-in sheet ready for students' name, address, phone number and e-mail addresses (invaluable for future contact). Nametags are great, so that you can begin to call people by their first names.
  
  
• Circulate among the parents and students before the meeting starts.

Meeting Agenda

• Keep the meeting to an hour or less (lengthy explanations are deadly).
  
  
• Introduce yourself.
  
  
• Give a three-sentence description of your background.
  
  
• Emphasize the importance of study abroad and resulting advantages (an intense academic experience, personal growth, career enhancement and favorable addition to other applications).
  
  
• Show slides (20 are more than enough) or video footage about the program. This is best done at the beginning to allow stragglers to hear the critical information.
  
  
• Hand out a program brochure and go over it in detail. Explain the highlights and emphasize what is included in the program. Briefly describe the courses offered and their relationship to the country and field trips. Save detailed academic information until the group is selected.
  
  
• Explain how to apply, where to submit the application, the process for acceptance and other procedural information. Explain financial aid availability and how to apply.
  
  
• Allow time for questions.