Ensure that prospective students can find you.
Review your college/department/program information, websites, and social media platforms:
- Include program specific admission requirements (GRE, language tests, portfolios), current examples of your curriculum and access to your graduate program student handbook. Please note, if your program requires applicants to submit supplemental materials, these should be added to the GradSlate application. Maintaining materials outside of Slate results in shadow systems and is prohibited by the University. Contact Graduate Admissions for further information.
Ensure that prospective students (inquiries and applicants) hear from you often.
Develop an email campaign:
- Send emails to prospects who contact you or your faculty directly or via the GS Request for Information form. Information provided on the RFI form is automatically captured by GradSlate. Ask direct contacts to fill out the RFI form so that their information is also captured in GradSlate and can be tracked.
- How responsive are you to inquiries? The most effective initial response time is within 1-2 days. Follow up regularly with additional information pertinent to your program.
- Consider automating the process to reduce strain on program staff.
- Review/update your email content regularly. Make sure included links are not broken/dead.
- Include information regarding recruitment resources for underrepresented and international populations.
- Utilize current graduate students or alumni as program ambassadors for email outreach.
Ensure completed applications are reviewed in a timely manner.
- Set admission targets early based on recent data trend analyses and growth goals.
- If an admissions/review committee is utilized, recruit and train faculty reviewers early.
- Consider using rolling review and admissions to cultivate top applicants whom competitors will also be recruiting.
- Set reasonable, timely deadlines for review completion and adhere closely to them.
- Submit decisions to Graduate School quickly so that they may complete the admissions process.
