Thanksgiving With a Side of CRM

Do you have your alumni ambassadors in a dataset? Set them up to conduct interviews and assist at college fairs. Just like those delicious side dishes, these datasets can complement your main events perfectly.

Save yourself and your staff some time by setting up Slate.org so that high school counselors can see the status of their students’ applications and upload any missing items the student might have. If you haven’t already, let the high school counselors in your area know about this helpful feature and encourage them to sign up. Did you know there is a community forum just for Slate.org? And at last year’s Slate Summit, there were some pre-conference sessions!

Check for forms that need updating. Do any other departments, like financial aid or the registrar, own forms in your CRM that should be reviewed for necessary updates? Just like cranberry sauce, these updates might seem small, but they are essential for the complete experience.

Does your team have spreadsheets floating around outside of your CRM? It might be a good time to import that information into your CRM and manage them that way! Just like creamy mashed potatoes, integrating your spreadsheets will make your data management smooth and seamless.

Speaking of spreadsheets, what reports do you need to improve or update with this year’s periods and rounds? Make sure everything is full of the right information. Stuffing your reports with useful data ensures a satisfying outcome.

There are so many different documents students provide to your institution (driver’s license, immunizations, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.). How are you requesting and tracking those documents? How are those documents being securely transferred to the other departments that need them?

Field questions from prospective students and their families about the application process, deadlines, and requirements. Consider posting something to social media related to their concerns. Sweet and engaging, just like pumpkin pie, these campaigns can leave a lasting impression!

While not as busy as other months, many of you are still involved in college fairs or visiting high schools. Compile notes and save information for next year. Contact the students, parents, and counselors you networked with. Have you uploaded the participants from all those fairs your counselors attended in the fall? Are they marked as attended?

Gear up for January deadlines. Make sure automations and rules are running. Do you have some queries in place to audit your system? A good audit is like a post-meal walk, ensuring everything is in order and ready for the next big event.

Get your team’s application readers trained and ready to review applications! Make sure files are moving through the reader the way they should be. Why is it always the President’s second cousin that didn’t get his file read because some rule had it looking like he didn’t have all of his materials in?

Ensure your admitted student portal is up to date. Do you have this year’s events linked on the portal? What about the admissions deposit? Do you have the students’ “next steps” clearly defined on your portal, which would save your counselors time answering the same questions over and over?

By pushing along these crucial projects, you’ll ensure a smoother transition into the new year and a more efficient admissions process. Happy Thanksgiving and happy CRM-ing! 🦃🍂