Applications increase at MU thanks to enthusiastic recruiters
story and photos by Sara DeBold, posted April 4, 2008
MU has experienced a large increase in applicants this year. In fact, as of March 1, numbers show 2,379 more than last year. There is a 40.2 percent increase in out-of-state applicants and a 12.5 percent increase of in-state applicants.
MU isn’t the only university experiencing this wave of students. Several universities across the country are seeing an increase in applications.
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CeCe Leslie, CAFNR director of recruiting, says campus visits are the key to successful recruiting. |
CeCe Leslie, CAFNR director of student recruitment, attributes the increase in applications to Mizzou’s intensive recruiting efforts, which includes regional recruiters in St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago and Dallas.
Leslie also gives credit to the MU Office of Admissions recruiting staff for their commitment to learning as much as possible about CAFNR majors before they begin their travels each fall.
Mizzou recruiters attend hundreds of college fairs and visit hundreds of high schools each fall. CAFNR staff supports these efforts and reaches out to students, teachers and guidance counselors as well through various events such as Field Days and Preview Mizzou.
“Field Days scheduled throughout the fall at our farms and research centers are an ideal venue to talk to students about CAFNR and Mizzou opportunities,” Leslie said.
The Field Days attract anywhere from 250 students to 2,500 students. The main goal of all of the outreach is to invite students to come visit campus, according to Leslie.
Along with an increase in applications, CAFNR is also experiencing a large increase in campus visitors.
“Our main on-campus recruitment event, Preview Mizzou, is held each fall and attracts 400 to 450 students each year,” Leslie said. “This event allows CAFNR students to provide a glimpse into the daily life of a college student for high school students. Our students provide campus tours, information about clubs and organizations, study abroad, residential life realities, and what the high school to college transition is really like.”
The campus visit is crucial to student recruitment, according to Leslie. The visit offers prospective students the opportunity to interact with faculty, students and staff.
“This is our opportunity to roll out the red carpet for students and let them experience the CAFNR difference,” Leslie said.
Current CAFNR students say the support and care they received when visiting the College played a big part in their decisions to attend.
Rachel Moten, left, sophomore agricultural journalism student, and Jasmine Frieson, freshman agricultural economics student, both found the friendly atmosphere of CAFNR appealing.
Jasmine Frieson, a freshman agricultural economics major, heard about the College from a friend. Frieson visited CAFNR when she was a high school junior.
“I feel like MU really cared,” she said. “They called me personally after I visited and gave me a lot more support. They really do what they can to help.”
Rachel Moten, a sophomore in agricultural journalism, heard about the College through Target Hope, a privately funded group of minority junior and senior high school students. She liked the journalism school for its early hands-on training and CAFNR for its friendly family oriented atmosphere.
Although numbers are up now, Leslie has some concerns about the future. In 2010 the numbers of high school graduates are projected to decrease in the midwest. Leslie says that means new recruiting strategies will be needed in the future.
