Scanning Students
Issue date: 7/16/09 Section: News
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That is the growing scene at college fairs across the country since the National Association for College Admission Counseling introduced barcode scanners at several of its National College Fairs.
The technology allows applicants to fill out their contact information online and can then print out their own personal barcode to take to the fair.
In turn, colleges attending the fair can rent scanners, allowing students to swipe their barcodes at the colleges they are interested in. Universities can download an applicant's information on the computer within 24 hours after the fair.
Gregory Ferguson, the director of National College Fairs, says the program was designed to simplify the registration process and reduces the time consumed by applicants having to fill out informational cards at booth after booth.
"Applicants can talk with the college representatives about their institution rather than spending time filling out cards," Ferguson said.
Ferguson says the technology also allows students to visit more colleges in a shorter amount of time.
"It's a useful tool and colleges are getting more students in their application pool as a result of the scanner," Ferguson said.
While questions have been raised that the scanners could further reduce the need of personal contact between the applicant and the recruiter, Ferguson said it hasn't been an issue.
"Students are using this as a valuable resource in the college search process," Ferguson said.
Ferguson said the scanners especially benefit the bigger schools that are inundated with students at college fairs.
"Even if a student can't talk to a representative, the school can follow up with a telephone call or send information," Ferguson said.
Martha Byrd, the dean of undergraduate admissions at Arizona State University, said ASU is not currently using the system, but is hoping to participate in it when the college fair circuit starts back up in the fall.
"I think it could be a great benefit," Byrd said.
Byrd says the system could possibly increase the chance of students scanning their information who are not completely committed to ASU, but also acknowledges the many advantages.
Since ASU is such a large university and typically sees numerous students coming up to its booths at college fairs, Byrd says the scanners would help recruiters to have more one on one conversations with students.
Byrd says the technology would also lead to more accurate information, since students often have poor penmanship or leave out information when they are filling out cards by hand.
"We are hoping that by having more accurate information, our contact with the students will be much more beneficial, leading to more applicants, and hopefully higher enrollment," Byrd said.
The National College Fairs is currently using the barcode scanners at 20 of their 50 fairs, but plans to gradually bring the system to all of its fairs by 2012.
"Lead retrieval is the way of the future because it brings technology and ease to the college search process," Ferguson said.
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