5 Recruitment Tips from a Student Perspective

It feels like yesterday that I was a senior in high school trying to figure out what to do after graduation. I was bombarded with mail from colleges across the state asking me to “Be a Bulldog” or “Start My Adventure.” Sifting through all that information to find the school that was best for me seemed intimidating back then.

I was afraid to make the wrong choice. This is a scary time for most high school students. These students are leaving behind what they know, for the promise of something new and exciting. Finding the right school was very important to me. But what is the “right” school?

For each student the “right” school is something different. Some may be searching for a small college that will give them a sense of community, while others may want to play football at a D1 university. Each one of us is seeking a customizable experience.

It is important that colleges and universities recognize this, and give potential students access to the relevant information that each student desires.

During my recruitment process Simpson College offered me just that! Simpson individualized my experience and made it easy for me to acquire the information that I wanted. Their site lead me quickly to academic programs, I was sent fun mailings about greek life, and while visiting I was able to talk to current students about life on campus.

Simpson College provided me with just the right amount of relevant information to help me make my choice and guide me through the recruitment process. The right information in the right place at the right time can have a huge impact on the decision of prospective students.

From a student perspective there are several ways to augment the recruitment process:

1.     Have a visually appealing site.

Most future students’ first encounters with colleges and universities will be through their respective websites.

2.     Have a user friendly site.

Information needs to be easily attainable. Most students do not want to dig deeply for applications or program information. Navigation to information relevant to future students needs to be simple.

3.     Be engaging on social media.

Encourage student to use a designated hashtag to participate in a Twitter contest! Have a fun social media presence, but also provide information about current events and student experiences. This helps students get a sense of what it would be like to attend said college or university.

4.     Encourage students to visit.

The best way to find the “right” school is to get on campus! Students need to experience the culture of a college or university first hand. A tour of campus can make all the difference in the final decision making process. Tour guides have a huge impact on prospective students, so encourage guides to be engaging and provide fun stories about personal experiences.

5.     Don’t overwhelm students with mail.

Students want their acceptance letter, financial aid packets, and maybe a few brochures about relevant programs and involvement opportunities. Avoid the junk mail pile and don’t send too many mailings.

Want more tips on student recruitment communications? Join us for our upcoming webinar on Authentic v. Automated content and ways to incorporate both in your recruitment process. Register here for this free webinar on June 18 at 2PM EST.