Representing Sage Guidelines

Principles of Good Practice

As a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, Sage adheres to the Associations Principles of Good Practice in College Admission and Recruitment. Alumnae/i Admission Program (AAP) volunteer participation is included.

We agree that we, the staff, will:

Exercise appropriate responsibility for all people whom the institution involves in admission, promotional, and recruitment activities (including alumnae, coaches, students, faculty, and other institutional representatives) and educate them about the principles outlined in this Statement.

We request that, when discussing Sage, our volunteers:

Speak politely, forthrightly, accurately, and comprehensively in presenting the institution to counseling personnel, prospective students, their families and others. They will:

• clearly state the admission requirements of their institutions and inform students and counselors about changed admissions requirements so that candidates will not be adversely affected in the admissions process;
• clearly state all deadlines for application, notification, housing, and candidates' reply requirements for both admission and financial aid;
• furnish data describing the currently enrolled freshman class; and
• not use disparaging comparisons of secondary or post-secondary institutions.

General Information

In all of the activities where alumnae are asked to represent Sage the following guidelines apply.

• Be yourself. Feel free to show your enthusiasm about Sage. Students and parents are more likely to remember that you were open and friendly than the details of the conversation. Talk about your experiences as a student, your feelings for Russell Sage College and the preparation it provided for life.
• Please do not compare Russell Sage to another college. It is important that you speak about Sage's strengths without denigrating another institution.
• Always encourage students to visit the campus. Research has found that the campus visit is crucial to prospective students college decisions.
• Please do not guess an answer to a question. Nobody has all the answers, and students and parents will appreciate your candid I dont know. Some answers will be found in the reference materials, others by contacting the offices of Admission, Financial Aid or Alumnae/i Admission. Obtaining the students contact information will offer you the opportunity for a second conversation or allow staff to make a connection. You can also give the student the Admission phone number and e-mail address.

The following suggestions are provided to facilitate your participation:

• Please review the instructions, travel directions and materials sent to you and this booklet so that you are familiar with the content.
• After the college fair, high school visit, phone/e-mail contact or presentation, we encourage you to send a note to students you met saying you enjoyed your conversation, you would be happy to talk again if they have questions and expressing your hope that they will consider applying to Sage.
• As soon as possible, follow-up with staff by completing an assessment form and summary of student information gleaned. Please highlight any students that seem genuinely interested in Sage, plan to visit, or are particularly compelling.
• And enjoy yourself and know your service is important to Sage.