By Jeremy Tiers, Senior Director of Admissions Services
3 minute read
Last week I got an email from an Admissions Counselor that said, “Jeremy what else can I talk about with my admitted students? I feel like they’ve heard it all.”
Part of my response included making the point that even though students hear or read about things multiple times, it has been proven that as humans we need to hear a message 7 or 8 times before it really sticks.
The key is finding ways to add value to your discussion regardless of the topic. One way you can do that is by sharing more of the current student point of view via direct quotes and videos.
Here are five things that most admitted students want more details on. I encourage you to create a conversation around one or more of them by sharing what your current students think.
- The transition to college. What programs and people does your school have in place to help new students both academically and socially? Share stories about those different resources and services (and the people associated with them), how they instill community, and how they helped make the adjustment easier and less stressful for your current students. Don’t just tell your admits they will feel supported, prove it to them.
- Living in the dorms. You don’t need the newest and biggest dorms and residence halls to win over students. Instead, you need to make sure they understand why your current students enjoy where they’re living, as well as the challenges that come with being somewhere new. That can include explaining the role of your RA or RD’s, as well as fun traditions and events that take place throughout the year.
- The food on campus. Every school has a dining facility and other options to grab snacks on the go. What makes yours different and/or better? Have students talk about their favorite options and meals. Is the person who scans id cards or works at one of the meal stations well known around campus? Maybe you bring in celebrity chefs from time to time or your food is locally sourced. Maybe have an eco-friendly dining hall or a unique student choice option where every semester students vote on menu changes. Maybe it’s just the fact that you have a Starbucks on campus.
- Student clubs and organizations. How many of your current students are involved in at least one student organization or club? What are some of the more popular ones and why do students feel that being involved has enhanced their student experience? Is there a student engagement fair each semester? How does the sign up process work? If students are interested in something that’s not yet a club, can they create it?
- How your school will prepare them for life after they graduate. Saying some version of “97% of graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduating” is better than saying nothing, but honestly there needs to be more substance. It’s imperative you prove to admitted students and their parents via real-life examples how your school is effectively preparing current students for life after college. What kinds of projects and internships are students in their intended major doing? What companies do recent graduates work for and what kinds of job titles do they have? If a student comes in undecided, how will your school help them figure out their path? In our ongoing Tudor Collegiate Strategies survey research, graduation outcomes continue to rank as one of the top four most important factors in a student’s college decision – the other three are the “feel” of campus, affordability, and how the admissions staff treated them throughout the process.
If you have questions or a comment about this article, send me an email.
And if you found this article helpful, please forward it to someone else on your campus who could also benefit from reading it.