Texting
Published on Dec 10, 2016
The benefits of texting prospective students during the college admissions process.
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Texting
- Communication has changed. Texting doesn't clog inboxes or mail boxes.
- Some students prefer to text a counselor.
- Higher response rates!
1. Communication has changed. Most prospective students are inundated with mail, phone calls, and emails from the colleges they inquire to. Texting is more immediate and doesn't clog their mailboxes - both physically and digitally!
2. Some students feel more comfortable asking a counselor questions via text vs on the phone or in person - they can feel more anonymous.
3. Response rates from students are higher via text than other forms of communication.
4. Counselors can send one, large text to all their applicants but respond individually which maximizes their time and minimizes their commitment to having to individually reach out to a student via a phone call, for examples.
5. Incomplete applicants are notoriously hard to contact and convince to complete their applications. With a text to remind students of what they're missing, they can take photos of their rec. letters or essay and send it you instantaneously.
2. Some students feel more comfortable asking a counselor questions via text vs on the phone or in person - they can feel more anonymous.
3. Response rates from students are higher via text than other forms of communication.
4. Counselors can send one, large text to all their applicants but respond individually which maximizes their time and minimizes their commitment to having to individually reach out to a student via a phone call, for examples.
5. Incomplete applicants are notoriously hard to contact and convince to complete their applications. With a text to remind students of what they're missing, they can take photos of their rec. letters or essay and send it you instantaneously.
Photo by afagen
Texting
- Counselors can maximize their time by sending one, large text.
- Incomplete applicants can send photos of missing documents.
Photo by afagen
The old way
- Traditional phone calls, emails, and written cards.
- Students are communicating differently.
- Texting feels more anonymous.
- The best method is a mixture of all these forms of communication.
The more traditional method of communicating with students includes calling, sending emails, and personalized notes.
While there are benefits to the personal approach, for many students, they like the anonymity of texting - it feels less intrusive to them than a phone call from an admissions counselor.
But let's not forget that a diverse array of communication venues is still the best way to handle thousands of applicants.
While there are benefits to the personal approach, for many students, they like the anonymity of texting - it feels less intrusive to them than a phone call from an admissions counselor.
But let's not forget that a diverse array of communication venues is still the best way to handle thousands of applicants.
Photo by splityarn
The new way
- Receive a real phone number.
- For the shy student, texting is a blessing.
- For the busy student, texting is convenient.
- For the first gen. student, texting is a lifeline.
- Counselors can respond individually.
With texting, admissions counselors receive a legitimate phone number from the company they partner with and the ability to respond to students individually.
For the more reserved/shy student, texting is viewed as a blessing.
For the busy student, texting is convenient.
For the first generation college student, texting feels like a life line to their top college and the counselor associated with their area.
Interesting fact:
A large portion of SUNY students applied to college via their mobile phones last year - let's work within the platform that they're working in. They want to communicate with us in a mobile venue, so let's do it!
For the more reserved/shy student, texting is viewed as a blessing.
For the busy student, texting is convenient.
For the first generation college student, texting feels like a life line to their top college and the counselor associated with their area.
Interesting fact:
A large portion of SUNY students applied to college via their mobile phones last year - let's work within the platform that they're working in. They want to communicate with us in a mobile venue, so let's do it!
Photo by Stuck in Customs
benefits
- Deadline reminders
- Reach all students in one moment
- Reduce summer melt with a simple text
- Fill that bus trip from NYC for MCW.
1. The ability to maximize a counselor's time.
2. Deadline reminders to students for EOP, on campus events like open house, and confirm a campus visit.
3. The ability to reach all students, individually but then also the ability to schedule separate times to talk with students who have more in depth questions is a nice feature of texting.
4. During the late spring and early summer, admissions offices are less likely to lose students to summer melt if they continue to text with their deposits. It's easy for a deposited student to feel disconnected from a college, especially one that isn't in contact with them.
5. Fill that bus trip! For me personally, it was easier to confirm attendance for our NYC bus trip with our texting platform than with email confirmations. Most texting platforms have the ability to send and receive photos.
7. Give students the ability to opt-in or out. They have power in their choice to connect with you. We aren't going to force them to text with us.
2. Deadline reminders to students for EOP, on campus events like open house, and confirm a campus visit.
3. The ability to reach all students, individually but then also the ability to schedule separate times to talk with students who have more in depth questions is a nice feature of texting.
4. During the late spring and early summer, admissions offices are less likely to lose students to summer melt if they continue to text with their deposits. It's easy for a deposited student to feel disconnected from a college, especially one that isn't in contact with them.
5. Fill that bus trip! For me personally, it was easier to confirm attendance for our NYC bus trip with our texting platform than with email confirmations. Most texting platforms have the ability to send and receive photos.
7. Give students the ability to opt-in or out. They have power in their choice to connect with you. We aren't going to force them to text with us.
Photo by Toa Heftiba
downfall
- Is texting too intrusive? Are we crossing a line?
- There is a cost for implementing a texting platform.
1. Is it too intrusive? Are we crossing the line of communication with students when we are able to live text? Some students feel that way.
3. There is a cost associated with implementing a texting platform. It costs money for a college to purchase it and you have to dedicate at least two admissions staff members to maintaining the platform, uploading lists, and creating a communication plan.
3. There is a cost associated with implementing a texting platform. It costs money for a college to purchase it and you have to dedicate at least two admissions staff members to maintaining the platform, uploading lists, and creating a communication plan.
Photo by Jon Tyson
the research
what do the professionals say?
Research from:
Mongoose Texting
Ruffalo Noel Levitz
InsideHigherEd
Spoke to other colleges using a texting platform - what were their experiences like?
Mongoose Texting
Ruffalo Noel Levitz
InsideHigherEd
Spoke to other colleges using a texting platform - what were their experiences like?
Photo by Trent Erwin
Research
- RNL: Most students are open to texting, but few receive texts from institutions; specifically from public institutions. Are students open to texting and messaging, including social apps? 62-68 percent of students are open to receiving text messages.
Photo by Marc Wathieu
Research
- Print and email still matter to prospective students but a recent RNL report found that incorporating texting was an effective tool of communication for admissions offices.
- RNL: Also found that strategic texting and a well thought out communication plan was imperative to a successful texting intiaitive.
Photo by Marc Wathieu
