“Increase applications!” “Lower the discount rate!” “Improve our GPA and SAT averages!”

Happy “Monday morning after;)”

Thanksgiving can already seem like a distant memory when faced with the challenges of the coming weeks. I remember fondly the hours spent “chained to my desk” reading files through the haze of phone calls, emails, decision letters and appointments with families. For admissions officers, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Amidst the craziness of the office these days, it’s easy to ignore your applicants; spending all day talking about them and forgetting to talk with them.

One of the easiest ways to plummet from someone’s “short list” is to allow them to think you’ve forgotten them. Like a teenage girl with a crush, they just want you to know they exist.

If you haven’t already, try sending a campaign to all completed applicants thanking them and letting them know when they should expect a decision. It’s also a good idea to do a weekly email to students with incomplete applications prompting them to submit missing information. Do the best you can to keep everyone posted on their status. (I realize that, just like on Facebook, sometimes “it’s complicated.”

This time of year, it’s the little things that can make all of the difference. When it comes to your applicant pool, it truly is the thought that counts.

Have your own XpertTip? Email me!

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