UMD Admissions looks to leave good first impression, albeit a different looking one
The Office of Admissions, located in the Solon Campus Center, acts as a welcome to prospective students deciding on the University of Minnesota Duluth. Photo by Hunter Dunteman
In the last six months, the University of Minnesota Duluth has implemented many adaptations to campus life in order to properly protect students, faculty and staff from COVID-19, while simultaneously making new students feel welcome and comfortable at UMD. This means that changes and strategies have also been implemented regarding another important group: prospective students considering UMD as their future home.
UMD Admissions has had to reconsider many aspects of engaging with prospective students in order to properly combat COVID-19. Ian Pannkuk, the Director of Marketing and Operations at UMD Admissions said that he is fully aware of this challenge.
“College choice … is a very big and important decision for students,” Pannkuk said. “Making that decision without having that in-person opportunity is a challenge.”
Many people believe that you only make one first impression. Mark Rowh of the American Psychological Association even wrote about this idea.
“A 2009 study in ‘Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin' found that factors ranging from clothing style to posture play a role in how impressions are formed,” Rowh said. “Another study, in the April 2011 issue of ‘Social Influence,’ found that a limp handshake can make you appear overly passive.”
The referenced studies show that first impressions in a general sense are incredibly important, but amidst the pandemic, UMD, along with the rest of the country, has had to shift gears in regards to how they approach this matter.
UMD Admissions tour guides help prospective students learn about campus and ask questions to other real students. Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota Duluth Admissions Facebook page, posted April 5, 2019
“Students and families crave that personal interaction with being on campus and engaging with Admissions staff as well as current students and faculty before making a decision on where to apply or enroll for college,” Pannkuk said.
But, personal interaction is not as easy as it used to be. So, what are the changes that UMD Admissions has implemented in light of COVID-19? Heidi Wedel, the tour guide coordinator in Admissions, said many changes have been made regarding tours.
According to Wedel, only eight students can be a part of one tour, with one guest per student, so 16 people total. The group is then divided into smaller sections for a more personal tour, with each tour guide allowed two students and their two guests. In addition, the tour path has changed in order to decrease interaction with current students, as well as increase self-guided tours.
Pannkuk mentioned that a virtual tour is available as well if prospective students would prefer that option.
“Admissions counselors continue to conduct outreach to students and families and respond as quickly as possible to questions that we receive,” Pannkuk said.
Wedel said she is excited for the opportunities this new format brings.
“Our tour guides see what the prospective student is interested in studying prior to the tour so they can be sure to highlight certain areas of campus,” Wedel said. “Usually with larger tour sizes they cannot do this since they are crunched on time and navigating larger groups is difficult.”
The one potential negative, Wedel acknowledged, is that students won’t be able to gauge what campus life at UMD looks like.
Overall, Pannkuk believes that even though the admissions process may look different, UMD will still do well, particularly with prospective students from Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“I imagine that many Minnesota and Wisconsin residents will be looking to attend universities closer to home,” Pannkuk said. “UMD is an excellent option in that we can provide that away from home experience without students having to travel far from home.”
According to the UMD Admissions website, “[o]n-campus visit programs through October 3 have reached capacity.”
The website also states that a virtual campus preview is set to occur on Oct. 15 and 16, which includes a Zoom presentation with an admissions counselor and a live virtual tour presented by the Bulldog Tour Guides, among other things.
Despite a rapid change with how they operate, the Admissions Office is hopeful and excited for the new year.
“We will continue to work with students with the option, or options, that is best for their goals,” Pannkuk said. “Hopefully, UMD will be a strong contender for that final decision.”