This document discusses findings from a survey of 1,300 prospective graduate students conducted by Chegg in 2014. Some key findings include: - Most students (66%) start researching graduate schools by their junior year of undergrad. - Finances are the top influencing factor for students when deciding where to apply, far outweighing other considerations like program reputation. - Students primarily use online search engines rather than graduate fairs to research schools. - Social media has limited influence on where students apply or attend. The document recommends ways for graduate programs to partner with Chegg to increase awareness, engage students during the research process, and ultimately drive more applications through targeted digital outreach and content.

1. New Approaches for Prospective
Student Engagement
2014 TxGAP Conference

2. The leading, students first, connected
learning platform
We currently serve 46% of college
students in America

3. Methodology & Demographics
• 1,300 registered Chegg students
• Surveys fielded in February and April, 2014
• Respondents either intend to apply to
graduate school in the next 12 months or are
enrolled in upper-level courses at their
current 4-year school
• Objective is to identify current preferences
for researching and being contacted by
graduate school programs

4. Intention to Attend Graduate School

5. When does grad school become real?
2%
6%
16%
35%
31%
9%
High
school
1st
year
of
undergrad
2nd
year
of
undergrad
3rd
year
of
undergrad
4th+
year
of
undergrad
A9er
gradua:on
Started
researching
3 in 5 Have started to research schools by junior year
66%

6. Why Grad School?
8%
9%
24%
27%
29%
36%
45%
49%
Other
I
want
to
defer
student
loans
The
economic
climate
is
bad;
it’s
a
good
Ame
to
get
a
graduate
degree
I
want
to
teach
higher
educaAon
I
want
to
stay
in
school/keep
learning
My
career
choice
requires
a
graduate
degree
A
graduate
degree
is
expected
in
my
field
I
am
interested
in
research/
specializaAon
-15% YOY
Factors influencing decision to attend grad school
+19% YOY

7. Full-time or Part-time?
60%
22%
10%
8%
Definitely
Probably
Definitely
Probably
Full Time:
82%
Part Time:
18%
Implies reliance on
sources other than
personal earnings
for tuition & living
expenses during
this time
(Moving home,
downsizing, taking
on loans, etc.)

8. The Application Timeline
4 in 10 students have started their
graduate school application by their
senior year
44%
37%
99%
56%
63%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Junior
Senior
Recent
Grad
When
do
you
expect
to
receive
your
undergraduate
degree?
Planning
to
apply
in
the
next
12
months
Working
on
my
apps
now
Longer “lifetime” to Grad inquiry

9. More focused than their undergrad search
How many grad schools do you think you’ll apply to?
5.4
3.6
4.3
4.2
4.0
3.8
3.7
3.5
3.0
3.0
A smaller consideration set means high stakes for
students and schools alike

10. Key Influencers

11. Factors in Deciding Where to Apply

12. Finances are Top
Influencer
75%
61%
59%
57%
53%
47%
36%
22%
22%
19%
18%
15%
9%
7%
Cost
of
tuiAon
ReputaAon
of
program
overall
LocaAon
&
se[ng
Admission
Requirements
(GMAT,
GPA,
etc.)
Post-­‐grad
employment
and
salary
prospects
ReputaAon
of
the
insAtuAon
overall
Size
of
endowment
&
grants
available
Strength
of
research
program
Living
expenses
Type
of
school
(Public
or
Private)
Size
of
the
program
Specific
notable
faculty
in
the
program
Student
life
Size
of
the
insAtuAon
Cost trumps other factors
by a wide margin.
Program reputation is an
expectedly important
consideration, however,
location is an equally
important factor.
Surprisingly, the presence
of specific notable
faculty is a minor
consideration among this
audience.

13. Financial concerns are top on students’ lists
(admissions is still looming, though)
Tuition/
Financing
22%
Standardized
Tests
15%
Essays/
Statements
10%
When asked “What is the ONE thing about the grad school
search that keeps you up at night?”
Lesson here:
Promote: Affordability, outcomes,
value of degree

14. Research and Information Sources

15. Top Sources of Information
81%Students use search
engines to research
grad schools
VS
< 25%Students use graduate
school fairs to
research schools
• Side by side comparisons
• Ratings
• Reviews
• Rankings
• Good for students
in pipeline

16. Over three-quarters of students use your “.edu” to
research your graduate programs
30% of students use magazines and online publications
What are you doing to
drive students to
your .edu?
What are you doing to
get your literature in
their hands?

17. Use of Social Media
A lot
12%
Some
26%
Not
much/
not at all
62%
Where to apply
Influence of social media
A lot
11%
Some
27%
Not
much/
not at all
62%
+19% increase
YOY +58% increase
YOY
Where
to
aGend

18. Social channels are fragmented, ineffective
Only 20% of students use Facebook to research
graduate schools. (ex. Asking friends and family for
advice)
16% of students used LinkedIn when
researching graduate schools. (ex. Looking
for jobs/qualifications)
However, only 10% of students overall indicated using social
media when researching which graduate school to attend

19. Student behavior is changing
• Are you keeping up?Students are your story
Let their experience and
outcomes “own” social

20. Preview of Chegg Student Tools

21. The Chegg Student Lifecycle
Get matched
to scholarships
Connect to
classmates
Study help
Get matched
to internships
Profs & course
reviews
Rent or buy
[e] textbooks
Schedule
courses
Explore grad
& transfer
schools
Get matched
to schools
Access
materials &
study tools
HIGH SCHOOL" COLLEGE" POST COLLEGE"

22. Finding Grad Schools on Chegg

23. Scholarships to Increase Affordability

24. Degree Pages to Inform Decisions

25. Mobile Engagement
Matching best-fit programs with
major/program of interest while
students are on-the-go!
Show expected career outcomes
alongside your institution’s program
Clear call-to-action for students to
request information from you

27. Recommendations & New Methods

28. Driving Interest and Applications
Awareness
Research/
Evaluate
Apply &
Enroll

29. Build Awareness with Branded Boxes & Inserts
Your institution branding wrapped
around boxes of textbooks rented
by Chegg students in your target
markets
Institutional literature and
information inserted in boxes on
top of their required course
materials

30. Inbound student inquiries drive applications

31. Be Present as Students Research and Evaluate

32. Drive Applications with Co-Branded Email
Continued engagement throughout
the academic year, driving
applicants and ultimately
enrollments
Additionally, the Chegg team can
manage your online recruitment of
students on sites like
Gradschools.com, Degreed, and
more!

33. Save Time
Be there every step of the
way, engaging students with
your institution throughout
their college search.
Introduce your institution to
students who may not have
heard of you, and pay only for
the responders.
Connect with students
researching your institution
at the height of their
interest, across the web via
the Chegg Cloud.
Save Money Recruit Smarter