Congratulations on making it through another successful recruitment cycle! Now that May 1 has passed, it’s time to take a deep breath, lean back, and reflect, as you start turning your attention to the class of 2026.

What energized you and your team this season? What drained your batteries the most? Taking time to reflect on how things went will allow you to be intentional about your plans for the fall and give your team an opportunity to share their experiences and feelings — a great way to strengthen team connections.

There’s nothing quite like diving into a new topic, or expanding your understanding of something, to feel re-energized. May is an excellent time for training, especially if you’re planning to attend Slate Summit or Engage Summit this summer. Even if you aren’t able to make it, training staff on these CRM features will enhance efficiency and automation:

• Configurable Joins – Building recipient list queries
• Segments – Exporting valuable information and creating automations
• Portals & Microsites – Expanding engagement strategies

This May, be sure to set aside time to begin planning for fall. We know things are still busy, but trust us when we say a bit of planning and strategizing now will help lay the foundation for a smooth transition to your next recruitment cycle.

If you haven’t yet reviewed April’s Common App release notes, now is the time to do so! Be sure to look them over and attend the webinars they offer, so you have enough time to complete your app changes and testing before August. Head to your member solution center to see a summary of what’s been released so far.

Speaking of application updates… Slate users: check your inbox for a message about your XSLT files being deprecated. If you’re using custom pages with XSLT customization, that functionality has been removed. If you need help with updating your application pages, feel free to reach out and we’ll get you ready for the fall.

This is the time of year most students consider transferring, so make sure their application process is as easy as possible! Here are some ideas to think about:

• If students who have earned a certain number of credits don’t need to submit their high school transcript, set up a rule in your application to remove it as a required item when students meet the criteria.
• Instead of asking for parent information on the application, give transfer students options other than mother and father (think spouse or partner).
• If your student portal/microsite is geared toward traditional first-year students, consider creating a transfer-specific one that places relevant forms (like housing waivers or credit evaluations) and information (like housing/dining options and campus involvement opportunities) at the forefront.

Also, don’t forget about the power of personalization! Everything you’ve created for first-year students will likely work for transfers with just a few changes. Be sure to highlight topics these students care about most, including course information, how they’ll fit in, and career outcomes.

May 1 may be behind us, but we all know the work isn’t done! Keeping new students engaged over the summer is critical to keeping melt at a minimum. If you haven’t already, make sure to set up communications to remind them about important dates and to-dos like advising, registration, housing, and orientation. Consistent communication will help them feel connected and prepared for campus life.

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” and in the world of admissions, those flowers come in the form of deposits. By leveraging your CRM to shower students with the information, support, and encouragement they need to feel connected to your school, you’ll be well-positioned to bring in a full and vibrant fall class.

Here are the seeds you should focus on planting this month:

It’s easy to forget that not everyone knows what an enrollment deposit is or why it’s important, so help make it simple for students by doing the following:

• Use plain language that clearly explains the WHAT and WHY of the deposit. Instead of “submit your enrollment deposit,” consider something more descriptive such as “submit your deposit to secure your spot,” or “let us know you’re coming this fall by submitting your deposit.”
• Provide easy, step-by-step instructions on HOW and WHERE to submit the deposit, and be sure your website, microsite, portal, and emails all include prominently displayed buttons that link directly to the deposit page.

Take an omnichannel approach to May 1 reminders, engaging with students across various platforms and mediums. Send countdown emails and texts, post on social media, make phone calls, and consider hosting a live Q&A session to answer questions and help create a sense of community. Once May 1 has passed, keep the conversation going through regular emails or newsletters, and think about building an incoming student/family portal!

Help students get ready for their arrival by sending detailed welcome packets that include information like important dates, required documents, and a list of next steps. You could also consider hosting workshops or webinars on financial aid, scholarships, budgeting, and payment plans to help ensure families have a thorough understanding of their financial responsibilities.

The more connected students feel to your school, the more likely they are to want to join you! Encourage their sense of belonging by organizing comprehensive orientation programs that introduce campus resources, academic expectations, and social opportunities. Put on events or activities that allow new students to meet each other, schedule 1:1 sessions with academic advisors, or throw an on-campus welcome party! Anything that helps to foster engagement and create a sense of community.

With spring visits, spring break, decision letter prep and releases, and the ever-present pressure of May 1 looming, March is anything but calm in the world of admissions. That’s why it’s so important that your events are properly set up and organized, payments are being collected, academic advisor calendar integrations are functioning, and checklists are being implemented. Whew, that’s a long list.

Thankfully, we know your pain points and are here to help with tips and tricks to set your office up for success in the coming weeks — no special luck required! 🍀

Oh, decision releases… Few things are more stressful or take more time to get right. Whether it’s striking the precise note of empathy in denial or waitlist messages, or putting together a celebratory admit package, it takes a whole lot of work. To help ensure you’re getting the reactions you’re hoping for, leverage personalization at every step! Tailor your messages to reflect each student’s journey and achievements. Little details like including their intended major, calling out their interests, or noting something from their application essay that stood out to you, can go such a long way.

Carry that personalization through customized checklists and utilize segmentation to make sure students are only receiving information relevant to them (events included!).

With spring and summer comes the natural influx of on-campus visitors! Are you ready? Make sure your events are updated and all associated communications (invitations, reminders, instructions, confirmations, etc.) are crafted and automated to perfection.

How? Start with—you guessed it—personalization! Use your CRM to track student interests and tailor their visit experience accordingly. If a student is interested in a particular major, arrange for them to meet with faculty or attend a class. Did they list specific clubs or activities they want to pursue? Show them those meeting spaces and introduce them to current members! Also, don’t overlook the importance of following up with students and families after their visit. Setting up your CRM to automatically send out post-visit surveys not only provides another touch point, but the feedback you’ll gather will also be critical for refining and enhancing future events. Surveys can be built in your CRM or in other platforms like Qualtrics. If you don’t know where to start, ask us how! Remember, the hard work you put in now leads to stellar anti-melt initiatives later.

Last but certainly not least, try rethinking how you and your team interact with students and families. Instead of asking generic questions, inquire about the students’ interests, career goals, or what they’re most looking forward to about college. Doing so not only helps foster more meaningful connections, but it will also help you stand out in their memory.

Let’s be real—getting students to confirm their enrollment and pay their deposits can take some serious work. Help ease the burden on your team by keeping the following in mind:

1. It’s easy to forget that not everyone knows what we mean when we say “enrollment deposit.” Let’s make sure it’s clear from the get-go by using plain language to explain what it is and why it’s important.
2. Make sure you provide easy, step-by-step instructions on how and where to submit deposits and required paperwork.
3. Take an omnichannel approach to May 1 reminders and leverage key dates as the deadline approaches. Think countdown emails and texts, phone calls, or even IG Live Q&A sessions!