OpenApply Admissions Conference Milan

There is a defining opportunity at international schools to create the culture of the future through each admission application, admitted student and family, as well as the cultural experiences and competencies each applicant and family bring to a school.  While the common understanding is that a school’s culture is defined by its Mission Statement, academic programs, demographics, and/or extracurricular offerings, we would be remiss to forget that schools are populated by individuals and groups who will ultimately determine the course and culture of the school through their active or inactive participation.
 
This leaves Admissions Directors and their staffs at the crossroads of competing interests, both internally and externally, as families jockey for admission to international schools, while addressing the internal interests of admitting the “right” student(s). Admissions Directors and their staffs are so often caught in the middle between competing interests of applicants while balancing the fundamental interests of the school in academics, finance, culture, philosophy and advancement, just to name a few. This discussion will focus on why Admissions Directors and staff are so critical to the futures and cultures of their respective schools, the balancing acts they face and why defining the culture of admissions should be a part of any strategic conversation at international schools.