The right school

The next few weekends signal the start of a flurry of open houses--attempts to woo those who passed the ACET to come to us for college. These are grand affairs in which prospective students and their parents (and guardians and siblings) are feted and talked up. I love these events, really, because these are perhaps the only days in the year where you (as an institution) have no choice but to be brilliant, witty, radiant, and all-in-all legendary enough to be deserving of the Philippines Most Wanted.

This afternoon, my colleagues and I were talking strategy. How should we approach these students? What should we say? What *shouldn't* we do? There's a temptation to rattle off a laundry list of all our greatness, but it is possible to say too much. God knows I've been guilty of that.

By the end of the conversation, we decided that, before we talk, we should listen. What is it that the students want for themselves? What are their deciding factors? What are their biases, concerns or apprehensions? Some of the people who come to the open house really aren't open to sales talk--they've made up their minds NOT to come to the Ateneo. So why come to the open house at all? They have their reasons: To touch base with friends, to affirm their decision, to please their parents. There are a few who really are on the fence and it's those whose concerns you have to address honestly and unflinchingly.

The most common question: Which school is better, UP (or DLSU) or Ateneo? The standard answer, one that I honestly believe, is that at this bracket there is no better school. There is only the right school for you. Each school has its own culture, its quirks, its hangups. Where do you fit in? Where can you be most productive? Where can you be most happy? For those who are still on the fence, the open houses are our chance to let them get to know us, to be able to answer those questions with more certainty.

Because that's what the open house is supposed to be: a first date, a chance to make an impression. We know that we won't be the right place for many, but how will they know for sure until they've at least listened and seen what we have to say and show? We do our show-and-tell. This is us, we say. We're smart and gorgeous and loony and fun. If you decide that our brand of crazy is not right for you, that's fair. We part as friends. When I used to give the open house talks for DISCS, I used end my spiel with a line from Fr. Joey Cruz: In the end, we really don't care whether you come to the Ateneo or not, but we would hate to have you NOT come simply because you didn't get to know us.

You should at least know what you're missing.