2. Sending financial aid award letters is a very important first step, but you also should immediately follow-up on any deposited students whose financial aid is still incomplete. Students who have not submitted verification materials, loan documents, or other required paperwork should be considered at risk and are a priority.
3. Be prepared to consider financial aid appeals from deposited students who are still concerned about affordability. The best mechanism to determine satisfaction with the award letter is a follow-up call from an admission counselor to discuss the package and answer any questions or concerns.
4. Identify the last time your admission counselors had a telephone conversation with each of the deposited students. It is beneficial to speak with each deposited student to confirm they still plan to enroll. Text messaging can accomplish this task if telephone contact in not possible.
5. Have you offered housing assignments to each deposited student and do you have a formal mechanism for deposited students to confirm their housing assignment? For colleges and universities offering on-campus housing, room assignments and acceptances are an excellent indicator of enrollment interest. Offer an opportunity for deposited students to contact their future roommate(s).
6. Course scheduling should be completed for each deposited student as early as possible. Such scheduling can occur in person, by telephone, or online. In addition, connecting deposited students to their academic advisors as early as possible can help secure the enrollments.
It’s not too late to ensure your team is doing everything possible to minimize deposit melt with just a couple of months remaining in the cycle!
John W. Dysart is President of The Dysart Group, a higher education consulting firm specializing in recruitment, financial aid, college finance, and retention. Considered a national expert on enrollment management, John has worked with more than 200 colleges and universities in 42 states on issues related to enrollment management, financial strength and enrollment growth.
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