Kaplan’s Post

🎓 How to Choose the Right College: Focus on Data, Not Hype 🎓 As a professor and academic advisor with 40 years of experience, I've learned that students should ignore traditional advice and instead focus on data when choosing a college. Don't be swayed by prestige or marketing; look at factors like alumni surveys, graduation rates, and academic advising. Seek out colleges with unique learning experiences to invest in your child's future. Make a well-informed choice for a successful college experience. #CollegeAdmissions #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #DataDrivenDecisions

"Working-age adult population with some college but no credential jumps 2.9%, report finds" - Higher Ed Dive The latest report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows a significant trend: U.S. adults under 65 with some college but no credential reached 36.8 million by July 2022, up 2.9% from the previous year. Over 943,000 adults who stopped out of college reenrolled during the 2022-23 academic year, marking a 9.1% increase. Key insights from the Higher Ed Dive article: ♦ The 'some college, no credential' population is growing. ♦ Only 37.2% of reenrolled stopped-out students return to the same institution. ♦ Many opt for different sectors and primarily online institutions. ♦ 30.1% of students who stopped out of a bachelor’s degree program reenrolled in an associate degree. “They’re looking for the quickest route to a credential — anything that will help that prior investment pay off in the workforce,” said Doug Shapiro. Why This Matters: ♦ Higher education marketers need to understand the shift towards non-traditional students. ♦ This growing demographic represents an opportunity to offset the anticipated decline in traditional-age students. Discover More: For strategies on attracting and retaining these learners, check out Hannon Hill's white paper: "Navigating the Demographic Enrollment Cliff: A Shift Towards Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education Marketing." Stay informed and ready to adapt to the evolving educational landscape. 📚✨ P.S. Download the whitepaper by following the link in the comments below. P.P.S. Thank you Carrie Phillips, Ed.D. for sharing your thoughts in this whitepaper. #highereducation #nontraditionalstudent #college #university #higheredmarketing

The r/ChanceMe subreddit and other similar online communities allow prospective college applicants to summarize themselves and allow strangers to weigh in on their admissions chances. However, these forums are often toxic, anxiety-inducing, and counterproductive. #GreatCollegeAdvice #CollegeAdmissions #SocialMedia

The r/ChanceMe subreddit and other similar online communities allow prospective college applicants to summarize themselves and allow strangers to weigh in on their admissions chances. However, these forums are often toxic, anxiety-inducing, and counterproductive. #GreatCollegeAdvice #CollegeAdmissions #SocialMedia

Finding your "best fit" list of colleges is similar to peeling an onion -- removing the layers of characteristics that aren't of interest to you to get to the core of what you're looking for. Visiting the campuses and getting to know the colleges that you are considering is an important part of the college application process. Additionally, "demonstrated interest" can be an influential aspect of the application review process, now that the Common Application has made it so easy to apply to many more schools than you probably actually need to/should. [I recommend 8-10, 12 max.] Make sure to check in with the Admissions Office so that they know that you made the effort to have an official visit to their campus! https://lnkd.in/eMK9pkBX

March brings a whirlwind of emotions for high school seniors – admissions decisions are rolling in! This can be stressful, with acceptances, rejections, and the exciting (but sometimes overwhelming) task of choosing a college. While finances are a major factor, remember – fit matters most! Studies show that a strong sense of belonging on campus leads to higher graduation rates and overall student success. Here are some tips for navigating this exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking) time: Attend admitted student events (if budget allows): Get a feel for the campus culture and see if it aligns with your student's personality. Focus on fit, not just ranking: Rankings don't tell the whole story. Choose a school that feels like a supportive, inspiring community. Trust your gut! Encourage your student to choose the college where they feel most connected. This is a big decision, but with these tips, your student can find the perfect place to thrive! #CollegeDecisions #FutureLeaders #HighSchoolSeniors

Different students seek different things out of their college experience. How do we best communicate the value of our institution to these different, prospective populations? Our latest blog dives in. #higheredmarketing #highered https://bit.ly/4bAkwiT

Good news. Bad news. The bad news is that freshman enrollment declined by 3.6 percent, nearly undoing last year’s gain of 4.6 percent and leaving first-year enrollment less than a percentage point higher than it was in fall 2021, during the thick of the pandemic. Those declines were most pronounced for white students—and, perhaps most surprisingly, at four-year institutions with lower acceptance rates, reversing years of growth trends for the most selective colleges and universities. #linkedinlearning #highereducation #communitycolleges Haven Lin-Kirk Bruno Lemgruber Brian O'Connell

Calling all college applicants! 🎉 I’ve worked part-time in Admissions for the past few years and my involvement with the social media team has given me a very front-facing role. As a result, I frequently get DMs here, on Instagram, or through mutual connections from students who are interested in Barnard or who have general questions about applying to college. I think this is amazing, and shoutout to all of the young women using their resources! I strongly believe that the best way to get to know a college is to speak to current students.  I know that I have some high school students who are connected with me on LinkedIn, so I’d like to add some tips! ✔ If you feel comfortable, try to chat with students on your visit! Students who work for admissions, connections, or maybe even people you run into.  ✔ Especially use your tour guides/student admissions reps as resources! They are usually current students and are so open to answering questions and connect you with other resources ✔ Admissions Counselors aren’t scary, they want to answer your questions and help you out!  ✔ Use your online resources! Like many students, I was not able to visit most campuses before I applied, but there are so many resources to get to know campuses online. Connect and chat with current students who share your interest from Linkedin or Instagram. For information about clubs/student life, look through social media pages of the school. You should be able to find Q&As, day in the life, and insight into specific programs and organizations. This will bring the school to life and hopefully be a more fun element of college research.  ✔ Remember not to compare yourself or your achievements to theirs, and keep the conversation off of stats or “how they got in” – this information won’t be helpful #collegeapps #collegeadvice

This is a solid read and the key is to convey the intrinsic value of college in a way that resonates with each individual.