College admission season is right around the corner, and because of the pandemic, it may look a little different. We've already seen schools and education institutions adapt by embracing more digital strategies, such as SMS marketing. Is your university team prepared? If you need ideas on how to text with your potential students during the admission process, keep reading!
8 Ways to Use SMS Marketing for College Admissions
Here are eight ways you can use SMS marketing in your college or university admissions process.
Invitations
Plenty of high school students already have an idea about which college they’d like to attend. At some point, they may have already opted into your SMS communication. If so, you could encourage them to apply via a quick text that links them to information, including where to find the application, what’s needed, any deadlines, and how to submit it.
Thank Yous
After a student has submitted their application and confirmed their mobile number, follow up with a thank you text. You could include any relevant information like office hours, locations, or contact information.
Missing Documents
If an applicant has forgotten to upload any part of their application, such as a recommendation letter, for example, a quick SMS with a link to your admissions portal can rectify the situation.
Status Updates
Many high school seniors are anxious about college — particularly knowing if they got into the school of their choice. Ease their minds by texting updates like:
- Whether their application has been received
- When the application will be reviewed
- Who will review it, and if they have it in their possession
- Any other follow-ups the student may need to do
Next Steps
Not all application processes are created equally. Some may require a simple written application. Others may involve interviews, essays, and more. Keep your applicants in the know by building out an SMS campaign with this information.
Reminders
Perhaps the most popular SMS campaign involves texting reminders to your contacts. Universities can tap into this, too! As noted above, if there’s something like an interview or essay needed, make sure that the student doesn’t miss the appointment or deadline by sending a reminder text. Similarly, you can text our reminders to pay any application fees or if that student needs to provide more documents.
Congratulations
You’ll likely send a formal acceptance letter to your new student’s home address, but you could keep the congratulatory train chugging through an SMS campaign. This could also be your first opportunity to start texting them ideas or tips on what to expect as a new college student.
1:1 Communication
Let your future students text you! They probably have a thousand different questions, including ones you couldn’t imagine on your own. So, give them an easy way to ask about what to expect, the process, and anything else on their minds.
Brainstorm More Ideas
Hopefully, these suggestions have made the idea of using SMS during your college admission process more achievable. If you’d like to go over additional ideas related to admissions, or any other aspect of college life, let us know. We’re happy to brainstorm!
