Reflecting on CRTC Request for Enrollment

Reflecting on CRTC Request for Enrollment

The CRTC receives 99% of its applications by early March, processes them for a month, and announces admission status in April.  Last week we gave out letters to our returning students, and this Wednesday we will provide letters to new students (available in the student’s commons).   

Applicants (from all nine of the schools we serve) must complete an application and reflective essay to apply.  We also collect transcript, attendance, and reference data on every student.  The process to make our selections takes place over a five week window.

The overall health of the CRTC, given the quality and volume of student applying, is better than ever.  Enrollment request are up.  We now have wait lists in 8 of our 10 programs.  Some very talented, passionate, and committed students are applying (as well as returning).  It is an exciting time.

Last Thursday our teaching staff, after reading over all their new applicant’s dossiers, did some reflection on patterns they are seeing in those students.  Here are the highlights:

• There was a very strong theme of wanting to join a profession this year.  Candidate’s essays emphasized career requirements and considerably less was elaborated on personal “likes” related to the particular program.
• There was elevated evidence of previous relevant experience.  Criminal Justice and Fire Science students especially have done some activities in the field already.
• There was a strong theme of passion to serve especially in the realm of health science.  Students reflected on their own family’s medical history.  Our New Americans in particular have an affinity for health career and they express it beautifully in their essays.
• Students are expressing more defined career planning, more than we’ve ever seen.  They are seeing the CRTC as a step along their pathway.
• Students were more aggressive about selling themselves and specifically their value to the program.  They were much more strongly attuned to persuading the evaluator.

As mentioned, we will be providing status letters for new students on Wednesday.  Our office is available to answer any questions.