Beyond Borders: Supporting International Students on Your Campus

International students bring rich cultural diversity and fresh perspectives to campuses worldwide. However, adjusting to a new country’s academic, social, and logistical demands can be overwhelming. To help international students succeed, institutions must implement innovative and comprehensive support systems. Here are some impactful ways to empower global learners.

1. Launch Interactive Welcome Experiences

In order to help students feel more comfortable with an entirely new campus, city, and country, it is important to create opportunities where they can become accustomed to the environment. Design experiences that serve as informational and fun, such as campus scavenger hunts, museum visits, and guided city tours. 

2. Create Life Hack and Wellness Bootcamps

Help students manage stress and tackle the practical challenges of living abroad with interactive workshops. Topics could range from personal finance to cooking affordable, nutritious meals. Sharing information on local stores, public transportation, and wellness resources (like pharmacies and parks) will help students build confidence to address everyday hurdles.

3. Leverage Digital Platforms for Connection

Platforms like TruLeague provide a seamless way to connect international students with mentors, peers, and ambassadors before their first day on campus. By fostering authentic connections, TruLeague ensures students feel supported as they prepare to navigate their new environment, enhancing their overall experience.

Empowering international students goes beyond providing basic resources. By offering innovative and culturally sensitive support, institutions can create a thriving environment where all students feel seen, valued, and equipped to achieve their goals. Let’s commit to building a global community where everyone succeeds together.

Applications Are In—Here’s How to Maximize Enrollment Yield

With applications in, now’s the time to turn admits into enrolled students. Yield season is a powerful chance to connect, create value, and drive commitment. Here are key strategies to boost yield this cycle:

1. Make Outreach Personal

Students want to feel valued. Assign admissions counselors, faculty, or ambassadors to connect with them individually. Personalized messages from different contacts—like a professor or peer—build a support network that establishes a sense of belonging.

2. Host Engaging Admitted Student Events

From campus events to virtual meet-ups, admitted student events offer a glimpse of your community. For distant students, a “Day in the Life” experience—complete with live panels and tours—can help them visualize being part of your campus.

3. Facilitate Peer Connections

Peers play a major role in final decisions. Encourage authentic connections with current students through ambassadors or “admitted student groups” online. These informal spaces allow future students to ask questions and feel a sense of belonging.

4. Engage Families

Families are part of the decision, so keep them informed. Webinars and Q&A sessions addressing safety, support services, and finances can increase their confidence in your school.

5. Leverage/showcase your alumni network

Showcase real student journeys and outcomes. Social media “Student Spotlights” or email stories of internships and alumni successes illustrate the value of a degree from your institution.

6. Maintain Consistent Follow-Up

Thoughtful, regular touchpoints help keep the excitement alive. Consider welcome packages or “Countdown to College” kits with school swag to make admitted students feel part of the community.

These strategies build connections that drive commitment, turning accepted students into proud members of your campus. Yield season isn’t just about enrollment numbers—it’s about welcoming students who’ll thrive at your institution.

Empowering Your College Journey with TruLeague: Connect, Empower, Succeed!

At TruLeague, we understand that navigating the college application process can be daunting. That’s why we’re dedicated to more than just guiding you through it – we’re committed to connecting you with supportive student ambassadors at the colleges of your choice, empowering you to make informed decisions, and ultimately, ensuring your success.

1. Connect:

Have you ever felt lost in the maze of college applications? We’ve been there, and we’re here to help. TruLeague bridges the gap between excited prospects and experienced student ambassadors who serve as guides, mentors, and friends throughout your journey. Our platform facilitates meaningful connections, ensuring that you’re never alone in this process.

2. Empower [Prospects]:

At TruLeague, we believe in empowering you to take control of your future. You’re not just another application to us. Through our platform and services, you gain access to a supportive community even before committing to a specific institution. Our insights help you understand your needs and opportunities, giving you the confidence to make informed decisions about your future. With TruLeague, you’re equipped to navigate the college landscape with clarity and purpose.

3. Succeed:

Your success is our success. At TruLeague, we are dedicated to helping you find your community – not just your college. Our authentic digital ambassador community is here to help you realize your full potential, boost your confidence, and set you up for success from day one. Because when you succeed, we succeed – and together, we’ll celebrate every milestone along your journey.

If you’re ready to connect, empower yourself, and succeed, TruLeague is here for you every step of the way! Whether you’re just starting your college search or navigating the final stages of the application process, let TruLeague be your trusted partner to finding community fit in this exciting chapter of your life. With us by your side, the possibilities are endless.

Welcome Aboard! Communications for Admitted Students (Spring ’24 Edition)

Congratulations, you’ve just welcomed your newest class! But the work isn’t quite done yet. Now comes the most important step of nurturing excited interest and turning “admitted” into “enrolled.” That’s where unique communication comes in. 

Forget about the generic acceptance letter; today’s admitted students seek out engagement, authenticity, and a glimpse into their future campus life. This Spring ‘24, let’s get rid of the traditional and dive into fresh ideas for connecting with your future students:

1. Beyond the Welcome Wagon: Personalize It!:

Instead of sending out a mass email, consider sending handwritten postcards with welcome messages from faculty or current students. This adds a personal touch and showcases the friendly faces they’ll encounter.

2. Show, Don’t Tell:

Offer interactive virtual tours beyond static 360° views. Include videos from students ambassadors, spotlighting their favorite spots and campus life activities. Make it immersive and engaging!

3. Get Social with Q&A Sessions:

Host live Q&A sessions with current students, professors, and admissions staff on Instagram and Facebook. Let admitted students ask their burning questions directly and create a sense of community.

4. Unleash the Power of Peer Connection:

Connect admitted students with each other through online forums or social media groups. This allows them to build friendships, exchange tips, and overcome any pre-enrollment jitters. 

5. Tap into the Power of Data:

Make sure emails are personalized based on students’ interests or major. Include relevant programs, student organizations, or faculty experts, addressing how their unique goals align with what your institution offers. 

Bonus Tip: Make it interactive! Include contests, polls, or scavenger hunts in your communications. Encourage admitted students to explore the campus website, social media, and hidden gems of your town. 

By thinking outside the box and prioritizing your personalized, engaging communications, you can ensure your Spring ‘24 admitted students feel welcome, informed, and excited to join your vibrant community. Start creating those communications and welcome your future students with open arms!

Spring 2024: Activities That Turn “Admitted” Prospects Into “Incoming” Students

The Regular Decision deadline has passed, the applicant pool is mostly settled, and letters of college admission will start rolling into inboxes shortly. But, what happens next? With the final date to accept offer letters being May 1 for many, higher education institutions find themselves competing for students.

In Spring 2024, it is time to create fun opportunities and exciting activities that are bound to sway your admitted students’ hesitant “Maybe” into an enthusiastic “Yes!”. Here’s where you can start:

1. Spring Welcome Week:

Everyone loves a warm welcome! You can designate a week packed with engaging activities that introduce admitted students to your campus culture. Events like scavenger hunts led by student ambassadors, interactive booths showcasing academic departments/clubs, and socials can help jumpstart connections.

2. Professor Spotlight:

Showcase the brilliance of your faculty! Organize panels where admitted students can interact with professors, shadow a class, or attend a quick virtual coffee chat with their faculty of choice. This approach excites students and helps them envision their academic journey, ask burning questions, and learn about opportunities in an informal setting.

3. Hands-On Labs & Workshops:

Instead of giving lectures, give interactive experiences! Host open lab sessions where admitted students can work on research projects, conduct experiments, or apply their creativity to solve challenging design problems in their fields of study. Allow them to feel the excitement of hands-on learning at your campus well before move-in day!

4. “Hidden Gems”:

Every campus has a unique charm far beyond their academic buildings. Organize walking tours led by student ambassadors, highlight hidden cafes, cozy bookstores, and local hotspots. This will help admitted students paint a picture of the vibrant community beyond the classroom. 

5. Social Media:

Create a curated social media campaign targeting admitted students. Share photos of campus life, host live Q&A sessions with current students and faculty, and encourage admitted students to connect with each other (and student ambassadors!) online. This is one of the easiest steps in creating a sense of comfort and community far from the physical premises of your institution’s campus.

6. The Power of “You Belong Here”:

Showcase the unique stories and diverse experiences of your current students through testimonials, videos, and social media posts. Show how your institution empowers individuals and welcomes all. Admitted students will quickly see themselves thriving on your campus!

Admitted students are choosing a future, not just a college. 

By creating an engaging experience that shows your academic excellence, vibrant community, and commitment to their success, you’ll be on your way to transforming those “Maybes” into a resounding “Yes!” So, admissions officers, get ready to welcome the next generation of your institution’s legacy!

Spring 2024 is almost here, and the higher education landscape is continuing to experience the lingering effects of the pandemic and evolving student priorities. While the 2023 cycle saw record application numbers and increased competition, it also started key trends that universities and prospective students need to navigate.

1. Going Virtual: Virtual tours and online events/communication tools are no longer simply temporary fixes. They’ve now become integral parts of the admissions process, catering to student convenience and geographic diversity. 

What can you do? Stay updated on trends and look to refined virtual experiences, augmented reality campus tours, and AI-powered personalized interactions to drive admitted students’ decisions.

2. Beyond the Numbers: Test-optional policies are here to stay, with institutions focusing on holistic review processes. Demonstrated passion, extracurricular involvement, and personal essays hold even greater weight now. 

What can you do? Encourage students to showcase their unique strengths and tell compelling stories. One of the best ways to gently signal this is by sharing original success stories from your current students.

3. Financial Clarity: Student financial concerns are prominent and it’s important to highlight scholarship opportunities, financial aid options, and career-oriented program benefits to demonstrate the return on investment a university education offers.

What can you do? Keep communication lines open, both through emails and virtual events. Consider hosting a Financial Aid 101 workshop or an “Ask Me Anything” session, or sending out an e-blast with information about your institution’s scholarships and aid options to make these topics less daunting.

4. The Human Touch: Technology plays a crucial role and the importance of personalized interactions shouldn’t be overlooked. 

• What can you do? Invest in student ambassadors, offer one-on-one consultations, and prioritize timely communication to build genuine connections with prospective students to keep the process humanized.TruLeague is here to help!

5. Post-Acceptance Help: Converting accepted students into enrolled ones requires targeted engagement. Many struggle to grasp what impact attending your institution will have on their life, let alone trying to understand how they will fit in on campus.

• What can you do? Highlight campus life, student success stories, and unique opportunities to keep them excited and invested in your institution.

The key is to adapt, personalize, and prioritize genuine connections. By offering a seamless, informative, and engaging experience throughout the admissions process, you can turn prospective and/or admitted students into proud members of your university community.