INFORMATION FOR ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVES

ATTENDING COLLEGE DAYS AND COLLEGE NIGHTS

If you agree to represent Hampden-Sydney College at a College Day or College Night you will receive a letter similar to what you will find below as well as a list of the material that we have provided for you.  A copy of the invitation to the program will also be enclosed.  You should try to arrive at the school about 15-30 minutes before the starting time in order to set up your display.

THE BOX OF INFORMATION

 We will enclose a box of our publications, which should accommodate the students interested in Hampden-Sydney.  You should use the paper H-SC banner to hang from the front of the table that the high school provides for you.  The paper banner, which is the overhead shot of the campus, can be used to decorate the table.  The other publications can be arranged attractively on the table. 

 The most important item for our purposes is the “yellow card.”  We hope that you will get a card filled out by each student to whom you speak.  The students who fill out the card will be put on our mailing list to receive further mailings and an application.  Please send the Information Request cards back to us as soon as possible.  We have enclosed a self-addressed envelope for your convenience.

WHAT TO EXPECT

 The students you will meet will have different degrees of interest in Hampden-Sydney.  Many students are just “shopping”—they will take information from any college.  Those students may have no interest in H-SC, but are just passing by and taking something from the table.

 At the other end of the spectrum are students who are very familiar with and interested in Hampden-Sydney.  Those students will probably have good questions and are the individuals to whom you want to be of service.  They are likely to look seriously into Hampden-Sydney College and may apply for admission.

 Most likely, the majority of students you will encounter will fall somewhere in between those two extremes.  They will be vaguely familiar with H-SC and may have received information about the College.

WHAT TO DO

 Most of meeting and dealing with students and their parents is feeling out the situation, rather than following a so-called technique.  Common sense and personal judgment will be of more use than any written advice, but a few important things should be remembered. 

When a student approaches your table, greet him, and ask if you can help him in any way.  Answer his questions to the best of your ability and as honestly as you can.  If you don’t understand the question or are unsure of the answer, refer them to the admissions office (or indicate on the yellow card “have coach/admission staff contact”).  Your objective is to foster their interest and assist them however possible.                                                          

 Don’t try to push the College at the student.  Our quality and high standing are persuasive by themselves, and the “hard-sell” approach is usually unconvincing.

 Watch out for questions which ask you to compare Hampden-Sydney to some other college.  Although this kind of question may be asked in all innocence, it is a dangerous one to answer.  No matter what you say, you are likely to be quoted, and usually misquoted.  A safe (and considerate) reply is that you are most familiar with Hampden-Sydney and do not feel qualified to speak about another school. 

You will probably have girls stop by also who do not know that we are all-male.  There is no easy way to tell them.  Some may be offended, but most are just a little embarrassed.  All you can do is be as diplomatic as possible.

 Thank you again.  If you have any questions, call (800) 755-0733, FAX (434) 223-6346.