Welcome to Jewell CARDS!

William Jewell College has a strong tradition of offering an outstanding liberal arts education and attracting students with a history of leadership, service and academic excellence.

Members of the CARDS (Cardinal Alumni Recruiting Distinguished Students) team support the efforts of the Office of Admission in recruiting talented students to the College. The primary role of a CARDS member is to be a positive and credible resource for prospective students trying to make the difficult decision about where to attend college. CARDS get to share their Jewell experience by writing personal emails and notes, mingling at on- and off-campus recruitment events, and referring distinguished high school students to the College.

Looking for a way to stay connected and to continue to make a difference for your alma mater?

As a graduate who is passionate about the experiences and opportunities provided by William Jewell College, you can help us recruit the next generation of Cardinals. Please bookmark this site and refer to it often for helpful information on the College as well as support materials for CARDS members!

So, on behalf of the Offices of Admission and Alumni Relations, I would like to invite you to join the Jewell CARDS team!

Yours for Jewell,

Erin Stein ‘04
Jewell CARDS Coordinator/Admission Counselor

Goals of Jewell CARDS

• To provide opportunities for alumni to stay connected to and make a difference for their alma mater; to connect alumni enthusiastic about William Jewell College with prospective students considering Jewell in order to be a positive and credible resource throughout the college search process
• To increase interest in William Jewell College through alumni referrals and “talent scouting” of distinguished students
• To increase the number of highly qualified students inquiring and applying to the College and to achieve a better yield from application to enrollment
• To increase the recognition of William Jewell College on a regional and national level
• To support the efforts of the Office of Admission and the overall enrollment goals of the College

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CARDS Activities

Refer Distinguished Students to Jewell: As graduates of the College, Jewell CARDS know first-hand what it takes to succeed at Jewell which is why we look to them to refer talented students to us. They consider their own children, family, friends, neighbors, church members, etc. When CARDS refer a student to the College, they are able to follow the student’s progress through the admission process; we inform them as the student moves through the admission process towards enrollment. All alumni of the College, whether or not a CARDS member, are encouraged to refer students to Jewell.

Talent Scouting: Talent scouting takes referring students to a new level. As a “talent scout” for Jewell, CARDS take a proactive approach as they intentionally seek out distinguished high school students within their community for whom they believe Jewell would be a good fit! They identify outstanding and successful students who have been recognized in local newspapers and other media for various achievements (academic, athletic, service learning, art or music performance, leadership, etc.). CARDS send these students special notes of congratulations, introduce themselves as William Jewell graduates, and point out that Jewell is looking for talented students. Finally, CARDS formally refer the students to the College.

Personal Emails or Notes to Students Admitted to the College: Prospective Jewell students need to hear graduates of the College talk about how attending Jewell was the right decision for them. CARDS have the opportunity to share their personal Jewell experiences and begin interacting with prospective students through emails and notes. Each student admitted to the College receives an email or personal note from a CARDS member, congratulating them on their admission and inviting them to contact the CARDS member with any questions they might have.

Participate in On- and Off-Campus Recruitment Events: There are a number of special recruitment events held on- and off-campus during the school year. At these events, CARDS members participate in a variety of ways. They serve on a panel of alumni answering questions about what it was like to attend Jewell, they share personal experiences about athletic and extra-curricular involvement on campus, and they talk about how Jewell prepared them for the “next step.” CARDS have breakfast with high school counselors, mingle at receptions for admitted students, and are involved in “sending off” newly-enrolled students to Jewell during the summer.

Alumni in the Spotlight Letters: “Alumni in the Spotlight” are major-specific, formal letters written by CARDS members currently working in fields related to their undergraduate majors. This provides prospective students an opportunity to hear about the great things Jewell alumni are doing in the field of their intended major. It also illustrates how William Jewell College prepared the alumni to succeed in their particular fields. It provides a personal testimony to the prospective students that Jewell alumni had wonderful experiences as Jewell students. As prospective students declare their majors, they receive the “spotlight” letter so they can get a glimpse of what their experience at Jewell might be like. (CARDS members write these letters on an as-needed basis)

Assist with College Fair Programs: College fair programs are held during the day and in the evenings at area high schools and college campuses during the fall and spring semesters. Admission counselors attend these programs to share information about William Jewell College and the college search process with high school students and their parents. On occasion, CARDS members are asked to assist with these college fair programs to represent Jewell. (CARDS members assist with these programs on an as-needed basis).

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Expectations of CARDS members

• Always respect the confidentiality of information given to you. This includes information given to you by the Office of Admission, students, parents, guidance counselors, coaches, etc.
• Always be professional, positive and enthusiastic; students and parents will view you as a representative of the College. They want to obtain accurate information about the College and hear about your experiences as a Cardinal.
• Always consider the student’s interests. Students have many choices of colleges and universities and William Jewell College may or may not be the right fit for them.
• Never attempt to answer a question for which you do not have accurate information. Inform the student that you do not know the answer and refer him/her to the appropriate admission counselor.
• Never speak negatively of other colleges and universities. Your contact with the student should be that of an advisor or advocate on behalf of William Jewell College. Your goal is to provide the student with the information they need to make an informed decision regarding their college choice.
• Never promise admission to the College or financial assistance.
• Never apologize for any College policies or speak negatively about William Jewell College.

Resources and Materials

Below are links to helpful resources and materials for Jewell CARDS members. Please reference these links to better familiarize yourself with William Jewell College, admission-related practices, policies, opportunities and deadlines, and the college search process.

• December 1, 2007 – Priority Application and Scholarship Deadline
• January 1, 2008 – Competitive Jewell Scholarship Application Deadline
• March 1 – Suggested FAFSA Deadline
• April 1 – FAFSA Deadline for Missouri state funding consideration
• May 1 – National Candidate Reply Date
• April 19, May 9, & June 6 – Cardinal Registration Days

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Why Volunteer?

The effort Jewell CARDS members give does make a difference. Prospective students want to hear from people who have lived the Jewell experience, who can testify to the quality of the liberal arts education Jewell provides, who are out in the world doing great things after college, and who can share what makes Jewell special and unique! 

According to the 2007 National Research Report Why Did They Enroll? The Factors Influencing College Choice, by Noel-Levitz, 66% of students selecting a four-year, private college noted Personalized Attention as an important factor to their decision to enroll; 43% noted a Recommendation from Family or Friends as an important factor to their decision to enroll.

The impact of Jewell CARDS matters. Below are some responses we received from prospective students:

“I have made my decision to attend Jewell in the fall. I'm very excited! I feel that I've made a great choice. I've been corresponding with a 1999 graduate from Jewell who is a kindergarten teacher and she has helped me confirm I am making the right decision. I love that I've had someone to talk to who is out in the real world after experiencing college.”  - Heather

“I am so happy to hear from somebody who went to William Jewell College! I cannot thank you enough for taking your time to send an email and for volunteering to answer to any questions that I might have.”  - Gentry

“Thank you for taking the time to write me, and maybe even to learn a little something about me. That is what I have really been looking for in a college, some place that really personalizes my life and makes me feel like I can make a difference.”  - Andy

“Thank you so much for emailing me, I have been looking forward to talking with someone who has been through the experience! I look forward to emailing with you!”  - Jen

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