Even in the digital age, finding promising students is a challenge. Administrators need to leverage data to manage the overwhelming number of applications coming into even middle-sized schools—but when data is used as a replacement for personal, one-on-one connections, the pursuit of an “ideal student” can leave potentially successful applicants out in the cold. Admissions teams need to factor in both hard data such as test scores and transcripts as well as soft data such as extracurriculars, background, and passions to identify the full spectrum of students that might excel within their institution. Luckily, digital tools such as Salesforce can centralize student data and automate the process, allowing admissions teams to focus on the real priority: helping students succeed.

On this episode of Transformation @ Work, we challenge the idea that there’s an “ideal student” for a given institution and instead dig into how digitalized, easily accessible data can help administrators recognize high-potential candidates.

Key Ideas
3:30 - What we mean when we say “there’s no ideal student for an institution”
05:07 - Shifting the focus in admissions from “ideal students” to “students that might excel at our institution”
07:04 - The importance of relationship-building in admissions, and using the application process to kickstart that relationship
11:09 - How digital tools such as Salesforce can allow administrators to “meet students where they are” in the relationship-building process
13:48 - The challenges in building personal relationships with students at scale
17:24 - How admissions officers can leverage data to get a clearer picture of students that might be successful in an institution
20:22 - Using data to facilitate the relationship-building process with students at scale
22:33 - Transforming student data into personalized messaging and meaningful, real relationships
25:29 - How admissions officers can use data to connect students with the resources they need to thrive

Guest Bios

Jim Crawley
Director of Global Recruitment, Hope College

Jim brings over 25 years of higher education experience to his current role at Hope College, including time spent at small and medium-sized institutions in Michigan as well as experience working as a consultant at third-party institutions. There, he plays a key role in driving international recruitment and diversifying the whole of student recruitment across the institution. He has a passion for working with schools to identify the right students and help them succeed.

Richard Carter
Director of K-12 Education, Gerent

Richard comes to Gerent with years of educational administration experience across all levels: from his primary experience as a middle school principal, to time spent in higher education institutions such as Rider and Princeton, to a year spent as an elementary school principal. His focus in his current role is helping institutions use digitalized data to give their students the resources and personal connections they need to succeed.

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