College Recruitment Video Tips

With the fall semester already halfway over, the college recruitment cycle for next year’s class is well underway. New National Student Clearinghouse data shows that fall enrollment continued its decline for institutions at a 1.1% rate. Recruiters and admission counselors are on the road. Enrollment staffs are processing incoming applications. Student ambassadors are providing campus tours to visiting families.

But what about the families who can’t visit or that your road warrior admission counselors don’t get to the hometown of? Creating a high level of rapport and connection is still vital for these populations. This is where video can play a crucial role. Here are three ways to inject enthusiasm into the recruitment cycle for those students you can’t see in person:

Traditions

One of the greatest aspects of college life are the traditions which have occurred around campus for generations. For your prospects who can’t visit, bring this experience to them as part of the college recruitment process. Sure, you probably have some canned footage from these events over the years, but the best way to make those students who can’t experience this for themselves feel special is to personalize the moment.

Using a video platform service like Covideo, you can quickly record direct footage while the tradition is playing out and note the importance to your prospects by name. As Epicosity Commons points out, “By providing a positive user experience through personalization, based on emotional value, a recruitment campaign has a much greater chance of influencing the decision of potential students.”

Students

At first glance, it may seem obvious that current students can play an impactful role in recruiting your next class. However, this doesn’t have to be limited to typical college tours from student ambassadors. Dive deeper. Consider capturing a Covideo of you asking a few students on campus a weekly question. This could be their favorite place on campus, the thing they most wish they’d remembered to pack as an incoming freshman, or even off-menu dining options that exist around campus.

The key is to get your current students engaging with those prospects who can’t get to campus to experience this for themselves. Your college recruitment will blossom with the connectivity. Think about adopting a buddy system where you identify a current student to pair, internally, to a prospect who lives far away and doesn’t have the means to visit. Every couple of weeks, finding a way to have your current student share an insight to your prospect can endear them deeper to campus, and make up for their inability to develop these relationships organically.

Classrooms

While you’re working hard to get your current students connecting with prospects who can’t make it to campus, don’t forget that faculty and classrooms are another key opportunity in the college recruitment process. These are also prime circumstances for personalized videos.

Capture video, in real time, of a lecture or lab. Grab snippet responses from faculty in your prospect’s area of study about what their classes are currently exploring. Show how the classroom can transform to outside the four walls with on-site internship experiences. U.S. News & World Report lists the classroom experience as one of the most important pieces of an impactful college visit.

The Takeaway

There are numerous ways to incorporate video into the college recruitment process. The most important things to consider are how to personalize the video, as well as how to choose opportune moments to engage prospects the most. Making up for in-person visits can be a tall task; however, with the right resources and the right plan, video messaging can make all the difference.

Interested in learning more about how video messaging can supercharge your enrollment goals? Reach out to one of our experts today to learn more!