Name

Mei

...

Efficient and focused

Motivations: 

Very capable and self-motivated. Wants to use her time at university well and make sure she's setting herself up to succeed - she's applying for scholarships and internships as well as building relationships with key lecturers/tutors. Ran into a few bumps in her first couple of years but found help easily. She's busy enough so won't go looking around for more to do, but occasionally wonders if there are valuable opportunities she is missing. Curates her communication channels carefully and will unfollow anything that doesn't offer good value.

Persona based on

Current student interviews: L, C and Sc

'Ladder climber' type from Colmar Brunton tribes.

'Natalie' profile in SAS personas.

Scenario

...

• Female.
• 22 years old.From China
• Chinese-born, raised and educated in Auckland, New Zealand.
• Studying Bachelor of Commerce. Is in her final year. Intends to do Masters .Flatting-tossing up staying at Victoria or going back to Auckland.
• Was initially doing a music double major but dropped it to a minor so she could be more focused. 
• Lives in a big flat on the Terrace.
• Social, enjoys going out with friends - but when assignment work or study needs to be done, always puts that first.
• Enjoys shopping - but has to make financial sacrifices while she's a student.
• IndependentIndependent and confident, but was still a little nervous about coming to university.
• Influenced by her peers. 
• Self-motivated, is achieving well at uni.
• Extremely confident - an extrovert.
Financial decision maker.

"I’m really enjoying university. I know what is expected of me and can apply the right balance to student life and my social life. I’m really happy about what I’ve achieved so far and feel confident my exams will go well."

"I can be open with my lecturers, who give me a lot of feedback and clarification to help me do well in assignments."

"I found the learning support services and mentoring were really great in my first couple of years and my English wasn't so good."

"I work hard and achieve great results from it, which keeps me motivated. I am reassured about my future after university. If I do my postgrad study, that should definitely help."

Challenges

• Worries about missing things so checks everything. Appreciates when it's clear where she should find information.
• Is decisive. Hard to get her to consider alternate options. Also prone to message fatigue.
• Wishes she had more time for social activities and joining groups. Wants to make the most of her time in NZ. 

Technology and internet

Happy to browse around to find the information she needs.  

Communications preferences: Checks emails frequently. Also gets face-to-face updates at lectures. Uses Blackboard, MyVic, the Library website and the (main) VUW website. Receives event updates through FB, but doesn't have time to take part.

• Went to a private school with a strong academic focus.
• Makes a little money tutoring music.

"It's hard balancing everything, and I'm not really a 'schedule' person, but I'm never one to not get something done." 

"Coming to Victoria, I thought I was going to be a little fish in a big pond." 

"I like using websites if they are beautiful and well designed. If the website is easy enough then you use the website, but if it’s complex then its quicker to just email.”

Challenges

• There are opportunities at Victoria that would match her goals, but it's hard to reach her when she's so focused. 
• Puts a lot of pressure on herself and hates to feel confused or like shes made a misstep.

Technology and internet

Social media: Loves social media and spends a lot of time on it - but never when in company. Doesn't want to be one of those people who is always buried in their phone. Has several profiles -  Facebook, Instagram, LinkdIn. Cultivates her personal image online. 

Communication: Curates her email carefully and checks it frequently. Signs up for updates on the things she's interested in, unsubscribes if she's not getting much out of it. Same goes for university Facebook pages. Uses Blackboard efficiently.

Behaviour: Prefers to search from google using keyword strings. Will check different sources. Easily loses trust in information online. If something looks off, she'd rather not waste time - it's just safer to email someone. 

Devices: Tablet and iPhone. Accesses Vic WIFI. Uses computers in Library.WiFi

Tertiary education and career goals

• Driven to complete her degree well. Will definitely do postgrad. 
• Has a clear, high-achieving career path in mind.
• Doesn't intend to stay in Considering leaving New Zealand after finishing her study. 

Information needs from Victoria

• Any time we can save her by making information clear and easy to use/find is helpful. 
• She's too busy to spend time exploring options, so prefers direct and uncluttered paths to information.

...

• when she finishes her studies - or maybe even during. Overseas exchange?