Enhancing the Journey from
Application to Enrollment
Simple strategies to help facilitate the crucial transition.Improving the transition from application to enrollment is about creating a seamless, engaging experience that builds excitement, affirms their decision to pursue private education for their child, and ultimately transforms your prospects into new proud members of your school’s family.
Here are 5 key strategies to enhance the crucial transition from application to enrollment:
1. Simplify the Application Process
- Streamline Online Systems: Ensure your website offers a straightforward, user-friendly application process. A simplified form, clear instructions, and an FAQ section can significantly reduce application abandonment rates.
- Personalized Communication: From the moment a prospect shows interest, personalized communication can make all the difference. Use automated emails to keep them informed about their application status and next steps.
2. Foster a Welcoming Community
- Host Tours and Q&A Sessions: Give potential students and their families a feel for your school's environment and culture through in-person tours and video call Q&A sessions. This approach offers solutions for those ready to come to check out your school and for those who may still have questions before they are ready to meet in person. By offering a video session like FaceTime or Zoom instead of a phone call you can still have the benefit of face-to-face contact and build a connection.
- Engage with Storytelling: Share success stories of current students and alumni. Testimonials and case studies highlight your school's strengths and the value of the education you provide. Include these as written statements you can share with them either printed or email after your video session.
3. Offer Support Throughout
- Create a Mentorship Program: Pairing applicants with current students as mentors can provide them with invaluable insights into school life, easing uncertainties and fostering a sense of belonging even before enrollment. See if your applicant can come meet your mentor student for a peer-to-peer tour during school hours, or choose a mentor that can have the same homeroom or be available on their first day of school to help ease the transition.
- Provide Financial Guidance: Make sure to clearly communicate available scholarships, grants, and financial aid options ahead of time. This can help parents not feel overwhelmed or discouraged by tuition costs. Offer personalized consultations to help families navigate their financial concerns or set up payment plans, making the decision to enroll more accessible to more families.
4. Utilize Feedback to Improve
- Gather Insights: Use surveys and feedback tools at various stages of the application process to gather insights from applicants and their families. This feedback, even from families who showed interest but did not enroll, is valuable for refining your approach and making the experience more engaging and effective. This can be something as simple as a Google survey at the end of enrollment or once you hear from a family that they are not ready to enroll yet.
5. Embrace Digital Marketing
- Showcase Your School Online: Utilize social media, email marketing, and your school's website to showcase your school’s unique offerings. Highlighting extracurriculars, academic excellence, and community events can boost interest and engagement. This is something current parents can get involved with, adding comments and sharing to help give your social media accounts more activity. (Children’s privacy is important, especially on social media. Cover all faces on social posts and get parent permission to showcase photos on your website.)
Conclusion
Turning applications into enrollments is about creating connections, simplifying processes, and providing value every step of the way. By implementing these strategies, you can not only increase your enrollment numbers but also build a strong, vibrant school community that continues to attract and retain students shining brightly for Jesus.
Grow My School offers a wide variety of marketing resources, from social media ads on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram to printed resources like banners and family recruitment packets. If you'd like help increasing your community's awareness of your school, click the link below to connect with our team and get a free estimate and informational board packet to take to your next team meeting.
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