What questions are most likely to get honest answers from current students?
Questions such as “What was different from what you expected before enrolling?”, “Could you describe your workload and classes using a recent typical week?”, “What have been the good and difficult parts?”, and “If you were choosing again, what would you check?” tend to invite honest answers because they ask for specific experiences and include both positive and negative aspects. Avoid leading questions, and make clear that the student does not have to answer anything they would rather keep private. Since experiences vary, ask several students and verify matters such as rules and fees through official information.
Key points
- Ask about specific events and recent day-to-day experiences.
- Ask about difficulties and surprises as well as positive aspects.
- Ask several students the same questions and compare their responses.
Things to check
- Experiences can differ by faculty, year, course content, and personal circumstances.
- Verify rules, fees, curriculum details, and similar matters through official sources rather than relying only on personal accounts.