Higher Ed Pulse

The Mad Dash for Deposits: Marketing & Making Your Fall

Episode Summary

Hosts Mallory and Seth dive into the complexities surrounding the 2024 FAFSA fiasco and its impact on enrollment. They discuss how institutions can adapt their strategies to support students during this chaotic time and share practical tips for enrollment marketing professionals. Tune in for insights on personalizing communication, extending deadlines, and leveraging marketing techniques to navigate these unprecedented challenges.

Episode Notes

Key Takeaways:

Understanding the Issue: The FAFSA redesign has caused significant delays in financial aid processing, creating widespread confusion and uncertainty for students and institutions.
Education and Engagement: Institutions need to provide clear, constant communication about the situation and any deadline extensions to keep students informed.
Personalized Outreach: One-on-one communication is crucial. Plain text emails from heads of admissions and direct phone calls can make a significant impact.
Flexible Deadlines and Support: Schools should consider extending deadlines and offering additional resources, such as financial aid webinars and workshops, to assist students.
Strategic Marketing: Boosting organic social content and leveraging paid social ads can help maintain visibility and engagement with prospective students.
Collaborative Efforts: Engaging various campus stakeholders, including coaches and professors, in outreach efforts can enhance the personalization and effectiveness of communication.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2024/03/04/how-ambitious-plans-new-fafsa-ended-fiasco

https://www.chronicle.com/article/stuck-in-limbo