Ambassadors at Work

As Ambassadors for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University, we have the privilege of being able to go on recruitment trips to high schools in the south.  For these recruitment events, the ambassadors load into a Mississippi State University Van and make our way to many different high school college fairs. Sometimes the high schools are local, such as Starkville High School or Columbus High School, and sometimes the high schools are in more distant cities, such as Jackson or on the coast. At the college fairs, the ambassadors have the opportunity to share their knowledge and love about the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The ambassadors share with prospective students general knowledge about Mississippi State University. Also, the ambassador’s talk to prospective students about certain questions they may have about a major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or an area of interest. At the college fairs, the prospective students have the opportunity to pick up free pens, cozies, and rubber bracelets that will help them to remember their time speaking with a CALS ambassador. Most importantly students are able to fill out a form that includes contact information for them and information about what majors they are interested in. 

Ambassadors use the Mississippi State University vans to go on recruiting trips!

By doing filling out the prospective student forms, the ambassadors are able to follow up with the students by writing postcards and emailing them more about the major of interest, thus forming an important relationship with the prospective student.  The postcards are an easy way to help the future student feel already connected with the university. An ambassador hand writes each postcard, adding their own personal touch.  On the postcards, the prospective student is provided with an ambassadors contact information, and the link to set up an on-campus visit.

School spirited postcards that are sent to prospective students!

Campus visits are an integral part in determining a student's impression and opinion of Mississippi State University and, more specifically, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Upon arrival at the Cullis-Wade Depot, a representative of the Department of Admissions and Scholarships who will give them a guided, driving tour of campus, picks up the prospective student. After seeing the perimeter of campus, usually a walking tour of the Drill Field follows, ending at Montgomery Hall. It is here that a CALS Ambassador can meet the student to show them the CALS building where their major is housed, along with supplemental information requested by the student. In addition, this personable approach to recruiting gives recruits a more relaxed impression of campus, allowing them to see what an actual walk-through to class would be like, how a professor tends to interact with students during advisement, and, perhaps most importantly, why the CALS Ambassador chose Mississippi State to pursue his/her degree within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Prospective students touring the Mississippi State Campus!

Contributing Ambassadors: Blair Cain, Daniel Fisher, Tippy Adams, and Summer Walton