How To Identify Students Who May No Longer Be Interested

Dealing with unresponsive students who previously showed interest in your school is a common problem every single year. 

As you might imagine, radio silence can mean different things depending on a student’s individual situation.

Besides the obvious factors of cost, your school’s location, and/or its size, here are a few additional indicators that usually mean a high school senior or transfer inquiry is no longer interested.

• If they visited campus more than 30 days ago and still haven’t started their application.

• If they started their application more than 30 days ago and haven’t come back to finish it.

• If they finished their application more than 30 days ago and are still missing materials such as their transcript.

  
  

I’m not saying you immediately abandon these students entirely, but I am saying you probably need to create a very short, direct, and personalized ad hoc or one off email that comes from their admissions counselor.

That email should not include any sort of sales pitch or bullet points about your school, nor should it include any hyperlinks or links to your application or visit homepage. Your goal instead is to see who may still be interested and attempt to restart a conversation with them. Make sure the tone of your message is relaxed and conversational, and be creative with your subject line.

Here’s an example that I’ve had some of my college partners utilize over the past couple of years when dealing with a situation like this. For students who have not visited your campus or have already started or submitted their application but are missing materials, you should edit accordingly.  

Suggested Email Subject Line: One question for you, that’s it 

Hi <Student’s First or Preferred Name>, you’ve seen our campus and I was really hoping to see your application come through because I believe our school has a lot to offer you.  

Can you give me one or two things you would say you need to know more about before you would consider starting your application.

I’m here to listen and support you so please send me your thoughts today or tomorrow.

Thanks,

<Counselor’s Info>

Again, your primary goal should be to create engagement that leads to a back and forth conversation.

Finally, keep in mind that this strategy will also lead to some students telling you that your school isn’t a good fit, and that’s okay.

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