The online admissions application is often a prospective student's first real interaction with your institution. If it's confusing, inaccessible, or poorly designed, some students won't make it through. Here are four practice implications for improving that experience without significant investment.
Post-Session Notes: Today’s Lightning Talk — ‘Before They Even Log In’
🎙️🎓Today I had the pleasure of reuniting with one of my tribes, the UMGC First Year Experience Faculty, for Day 2 of the FYE Faculty Symposium.A part of the day's focus was the student experience, including the front door digital experience. After a rich opening conversation about how our PACE courses shape how we teach …
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👩🏽Jasmine: The Student Who Thought She Did Something Wrong — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Jasmine was a first-generation student who worked part-time at a grocery store. She sat down at her kitchen table with her phone and a cup of coffee, determined to finally start her application. The application began by asking her to create an …
👨🏽🦱Miguel: The Mobile-Only Applicant — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Miguel relied entirely on his smartphone. He did not own a computer, and the one at his local library had a one-hour time limit and a weeks-long reservation queue. He opened the admissions application during his lunch break at his landscaping job. …
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👩🏾🦱Alisha: The Adult Returner Who Felt Talked Down To — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Alisha was returning to college after fifteen years. She was determined to complete her degree this time. She clicked on “Apply Now” and landed on a page filled with terms she did not recognize: matriculation status, residency verification, dependency override. She read …
👨🏼🦰Derek: The Student Who Lost Everything with One Click — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Derek filled out nearly an hour’s worth of information on a multi-page application. He had entered his high school history, emergency contacts, and demographic information. At the bottom of the page was a link that said, “Review before submitting.” When he clicked …
👩🏾💻Tiana: The Student Who Completed the Wrong Application — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Tiana navigated to her local community college’s website and clicked “Admissions”. She found three different links that looked like the application. One said, “Apply Here.” Another said, “Start Your Journey.” Another said, “Enrollment Services.” She chose the first one and filled it …
👱🏻♂️Ryan: The Rural Student With Limited Internet — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Ryan lived in a rural area with a slow, sometimes unpredictable internet connection. He started the application early in the evening. After he finished page four and pressed Continue, the screen timed out. The system logged him out with a message stating …
👩🏼Denise: The Student Who Felt Invisible — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Denise was a caregiver for her mother. She applied to the community college, hoping to enroll in a program that would eventually allow her to work from home. When asked whether she planned to attend full-time or part-time, she hesitated. Her caregiving …
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👨🏻Carl: The Student Who Was Told to Call an Office That Was Closed — A Story from Before They Even Apply
Numbers can tell us what happened. Stories help us understand why it matters. Carl reached a section asking for his Social Security Number. He did not have one. He was legally allowed to attend college and had an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), but the form did not give him that option. Below the field, …