Name

Natalie

Scenario

...

"I’m really enjoying university, the end is in sight. I know what is expected of me and can apply the right balance to student life and 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 and tutors who give me a lot of feedback and clarification to do well on assignments. I found the learning support services and mentoring were really great in my first couple of years. I work hard and achieve great results from it, which keep me motivated in my last year(s) at university. I am reassured about my future after university. I realise it’s tough out there but hopefully with my extra study and volunteer work experience I’ll be fine. If I do my post-grad study this should help. I find I often have to say no to social events with my friends as I put my study first."

Technology and internet

Communications preferences: Checks emails frequently, myVic, VUW website and face to face eg at lectures. Receives event updates through FB but no time to take part.

Social media: Facebook, utilises all course/class rep FB pages for assignments/test and general course info

Online interaction: Browser, Vic search, Google search, Quicklinks – utilises all methods for quickest and easiest results

Technology: Desktop computer and smartphone. Uses Vic WIFI for emails. Also uses Blackboard, Library and VUW website.

Uses (or has used) Vic website to find:

...

Page status: 

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.
• Chinese-born, raised and educated in Auckland, New Zealand.
• Studying Bachelor of Commerce. Is in her final year. Intends to do Masters -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.
• Independent and confident, but was still a little nervous about coming to university.
• Influenced by her peers. 
• Self-motivated, is achieving well at uni.
• 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

Tertiary education and career goals

• Driven to complete her degree well. Contemplating post-grad. Will definitely do postgrad. 
• Has a clear, high-achieving career path in mind.
• Is achieving well at uni.
• Very organised

...

• Considering leaving New Zealand when she finishes her studies - or maybe even during. Overseas exchange?