(154) Buckeye-Bound: Utilizing Student Ambassadors to Yield a Robust PharmD Class

Objective : While applications to pharmacy schools have been gradually increasing, a submitted application is only half the battle for schools of pharmacy. The true work of recruitment occurs after a student has already applied. Time, budgets, and personnel can often pose barriers to successfully yielding candidates, but student ambassador programs may offer a solution. A pilot program sought to describe the work and outcomes associated with a new student ambassador program.

Methods: A pilot student ambassador program was created to address the needs of a recruitment and admissions office. 29 student ambassadors were recruited for the 2022-2023 academic year, and 34 student ambassadors were recruited for the 2023-2024 academic year. The volunteer ambassadors were trained and overseen by the Office of Recruitment & Admissions staff.

Results: Throughout the admissions cycles, ambassadors regularly called applicants within the admissions pipeline, wrote postcards to prospective students, participated in program visit days, and participated in interview day panels. Throughout the 22-23 and 23-24 admissions cycles, ambassadors wrote a combined total of 507 postcards and made over 1,100 calls. With the help of the ambassador’s yield efforts, OSU’s Doctor of Pharmacy Program recruited a full class for the Autumn 2023 start term and is projected to have a full class again in Autumn 2024. A waitlist was utilized near the end of both the 22-23 and 23-24 admissions cycles. Increased ambassador efforts positively correlate with increased matriculation.

Conclusions: Ambassador programs give schools of pharmacy another tool to engage both current students and prospective candidates. Implementation can be incorporated into existing administrative efforts and benefit recruitment and yield activities.