This document discusses innovative approaches that universities are taking to boost student enrollment through their admissions processes. It outlines seven key approaches: 1) timing admissions around application deadlines; 2) strategic enrollment management; 3) innovative admissions processes like social media and video essays; 4) creative submission requirements like PowerPoint presentations; 5) ensuring a seamless admissions process; 6) new approaches to admission offers; and 7) using a little creativity which can go a long way, as shown through the University of Guelph's campaign of having their mascot hand-deliver acceptance letters.

1. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 1
Boost Enrolment With New
Approaches to Student Admissions

2. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 2
1) Application Time is Right Around The Corner...
2) Strategic Enrolment Management
3) Innovative Admissions Processes
4) Creative Submission Requirements
5) Ensure a Seamless Admissions Process
6) New Approaches to Admissions Offers
7) A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way
Overview
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

3. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 3
 Some American colleges begin releasing their admissions
decisions before the holidays. They believe that the first
acceptance letter that a student receives will most likely be acted
upon.
 Increasingly, both local and international students are sending out
three or more applications per year, and some schools are taking
innovative approaches to increasing the likelihood that their offers
are accepted.
1. Application Time is Right Around The Corner...
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

4. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 4
 This has become more important as the postsecondary landscape
has gotten more competitive over the last decade.
 Every school aims to attract the right leads and admit the right
students as efficiently and effectively as possible.
 To find the right fit, you must provide and promote an accurate
image of your program and course information, school services
and general campus life, so that admitted students are prepared
to succeed.
2. Strategic Enrolment Management
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

5. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 5
 Example: Dalhousie University aims to attract leads through
positive word-of-mouth, by selling the “Dalhousie experience.”
 “It’s less about a sales pitch and more about listening to
what matters to them and seeing whether there’s a fit,”
explains Asa Kachan, assistant vice-president, enrolment
management, and registrar.
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions
2. Strategic Enrolment Management

6. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 6
 Some universities have been using new approaches in their
admissions processes—like the integration of social media
platforms, or video essay submissions. This places a greater
emphasis on an applicant’s personality and motivation, rather
than only on his or her grades.
 Example: In 2012 University of British Columbia began
requiring applicants to answer questions about personal
characteristics and non-academic strengths in addition to
submitting their high school marks.
3. Innovative Admissions Processes
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

7. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 7
 Schools are becoming more and more creative in finding
alternatives for traditional admissions. Here are some examples:
 Bard College, New York, offers an admission path based on the
submission of four 2,500 word research essays, which reflects actual
college coursework.
 Applicants of Chicago Booth’s MBA program must create a four slide
PowerPoint presentation in the place of a standard essay submission.
 McDonough School of Business in Georgetown asks applicants to
communicate, via social media platforms like Twitter, why they would
like to attend its MBA program.
 Applicants of Yale and Kellogg must answer two pre-recorded questions
in a 90-second video so the admissions department can see the
applicant in action.
4. Creative Submission Requirements
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

8. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 8
 Use analytics tools to control your admissions systems. This will help you
understand the alternate entry and exit points of today’s enrolment
paths, so you can apply these results to get long-term trends.
 Admissions software facilitates the organization of graduate admissions,
while providing access to applicant portfolios, custom reporting and
much more.
5. Ensure a Seamless Admissions Process
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

9. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 9
 It’s important that your school’s
admissions and acceptance
processes are communicated to
the applicants and their parents
in the clearest way possible. The
last thing you want is to lose a
prospective student (local or
international) because your
school’s acceptance process is
too complicated.
 Example: UBC makes
understanding the admissions
process very simple by
providing step-by-step
guidelines for students to
follow once they have been
admitted.
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

10. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 10
 It’s important that all applicants receive an email acknowledging
receipt of their application from your admissions office within a
few weeks.
 Some schools have even taken the opportunity to add creativity to
their admissions offers—like using social media to create
memorable impressions in the minds of incoming students.
6. New Approaches to Admissions Offers
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

11. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 11
 Example: The University of
Guelph got its mascot (the
gryphon) to hand-deliver
admissions offers to the homes
of some of their applicants. The
university captured photos of
these events and used them for
social media marketing. Here is
a Twitter campaign that was
started called
#wherewillGryphshowupnext:
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

12. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 12
 A posting to a popular student Facebook page yielded 2,277 likes
and 21 comments in just 12 hours.
 Angi Roberts, Information Services Manager in Admissions
Services at the University of Guelph, reported on this social media
campaign stating that “the response has been incredible, and it
has brought levity to what can be a nail-biting time for high-school
students awaiting news about their university choices.”
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

13. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 13
 The social media success of the University of Guelph’s campaign
shows that a little creativity and great timing can go a long way—
even during the arguably mundane waiting period of the
admissions process.
 As student expectations continue to evolve, universities must
continue to seek new and creative ways of engaging prospects.
7. A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way
Source: Higher Education Marketing – Innovative Approaches To Student Admissions

14. Boost Enrolment With New Approaches to Student
Admissions
Slide 14
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