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Notes from the field
Higher Ed Trends, Strategies, and Solutions
Enrollment Marketing


How to Avoid Sticker Shock: Making your Tuition & Fees Page Affordability-Focused
Students rule out colleges based on sticker price alone. Here’s how to make your Tuition & Fees page an affordability tool—not just a price

Laura Rudolph
Jun 18, 20254 min read


Parents Text Back: Why SMS Is the Secret Weapon in Your Yield Strategy
At my last institution, we had a real challenge: students just weren’t completing their enrollment forms. Counselors were calling, emails were going out daily, and portal reminders were non-stop—but nothing seemed to move the needle.
That’s when I had a moment of clarity—what if the key wasn't reaching out to the student, but their parent?

Laura Rudolph
May 22, 20253 min read


3 Easy Fixes to Improve Your Inquiry Form
Students abandon clunky inquiry forms. Here’s how to fix yours fast and capture more leads—without a major overhaul.

Laura Rudolph
Apr 23, 20253 min read


If You Don’t Have a Parent Communication Plan, This Is Your Sign to Start One
Parents aren’t just influencers in the college search—they’re co-decision makers. Here’s how to build a parent communication plan that works

Laura Rudolph
Apr 9, 20254 min read


How to Market College "Quality" in Ways That Matter
Forget rankings. Show students real value through outcomes, faculty impact, program quality, and student support—what truly defines quality.

Laura Rudolph
Mar 19, 20253 min read


What if Admitted Students Could Curate Their Own Acceptance Packages?
Let admitted students personalize their acceptance packages with custom swag, videos, and tours to boost yield and engagement.

Laura Rudolph
Mar 11, 20253 min read


4 Ways This Financial Aid Offer Email Missed the Mark (And How to Fix It)
Financial aid emails should bring clarity, not confusion. Here’s where one missed the mark—and how colleges can do better.

Laura Rudolph
Feb 26, 20255 min read


Helping Parents Have a Hard College Conversation: The Money Talk
Families often wait too long to discuss college costs. Here’s how admissions and financial aid offices can help parents start The Money Talk

Laura Rudolph
Feb 19, 20253 min read


What If Financial Aid Packages Were as Clear as LEGO Instructions?
Financial aid shouldn’t be a mystery. Here’s how colleges can design award letters like LEGO instructions—clear, visual and easy to follow.

Laura Rudolph
Feb 11, 20255 min read


Making the Value of a College Degree Tangible: From Abstract to Actionable
A college degree is an investment, but its value is not always clear to students. How can colleges make its return on investment more tangib

Laura Rudolph
Feb 4, 20254 min read


What if Admissions Websites Adopted Amazon’s Personalization Tactics?
Higher education websites are often dense and impersonal. What if these websites could work more like Amazon?

Laura Rudolph
Jan 29, 20252 min read


What If You Sent an Email With the Wrong Name—On Purpose?
Could sending an email with the wrong name—on purpose—grab attention and reinforce personalization? A creative risk with potential rewards.

Laura Rudolph
Jan 22, 20253 min read


Gen Z Is Overwhelmed—Here’s How to Actually Motivate Them to Finish Their Apps
For Gen Z, who have higher levels of anxiety than previous ones, this sense of urgency can feel paralyzing rather than motivating.

Laura Rudolph
Jan 3, 20252 min read


Marketing Doesn’t Make Deposits. Relationships Do.
Marketing builds awareness, but admissions and campus connections seal the deal. Higher ed needs all three to turn students into deposits.

Laura Rudolph
Dec 24, 20243 min read


Predicting Yield with a Holiday Gift Guide? 🎙️Listen to How It Worked.
A holiday gift guide email to parents turned into a powerful way to predict yield. Here’s how it worked—and how colleges can do the same.

Laura Rudolph
Dec 24, 20242 min read


Your Homepage Isn’t Your Only Front Door: Why Major Pages Matter More Than You Think
Your homepage isn’t your only first impression. Students land on major pages first—are yours built to convert?

Laura Rudolph
Dec 18, 20243 min read
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