Want More Impactful Campus Visits? Try This One Simple Fix.

Campus visits are make-or-break moments in the college decision process. You’ve heard it before: “I just knew this was the place for me.” But what’s often left unsaid? The countless missed opportunities when a student walks away feeling meh—because their visit felt generic, disconnected, or, worst of all, forgettable.

Here’s a simple but game-changing way to create a more personalized, intentional campus visit experience—one that makes visitors feel seen and understood the moment they step on campus.

The Problem: Your Visitors Blend In

You’ve got prospective students, admitted students, and their families all walking around campus—yet most faculty, staff, and current students have no idea who’s who.

💭 Is that student just exploring, or are they already admitted?

💭 Should I congratulate them or ask if they have questions about applying?

💭 Are they looking for general information, or do they need help deciding between us and another school?

Without clear visual cues, your campus community misses the chance to engage visitors in ways that actually matter—and those missed connections can mean missed enrollments.

The Color-Coded Lanyard Solution

Here’s an easy fix: color-coded lanyards for different types of visitors.

🔵 Prospective students → Still exploring, considering applying.

🟢 Admitted students → Deciding whether to enroll.

This tiny tweak helps everyone on campus—faculty, staff, student ambassadors—instantly recognize a visitor’s stage in the admissions journey and engage accordingly.

✅ Professors can tailor conversations. Prospective student? Let’s talk about academic opportunities. Admitted student? Let’s discuss next steps and campus culture.

✅ Current students can share relevant stories. First-year dorm life vs. the application process? Different conversations, different impact.

✅ Staff can provide the right resources. Still applying? Here’s info on deadlines. Already admitted? Let’s talk about orientation and financial aid.

Beyond Lanyards: Other Ways to Personalize the Visit

If lanyards aren’t your thing (or you want to level up even further), here are other ways to make visits feel more intentional:

📌 Visitor Profiles for Tour Guides – Give student ambassadors basic details about their group (interests, major, home state) so they can personalize the experience.

📌 Custom Itineraries – Let visitors choose sessions based on their interests—athletics, arts, research opportunities—so they see what matters to them.

📌 Personalized Parking Tag – A simple parking label with their name and “Future [Mascot]?” can spark conversations and make visitors feel like they belong.

Why This Matters

💡 Recruitment is a campus-wide effort—not just the admissions team’s job.

When everyone—from faculty to student workers—knows how to engage visitors meaningfully, you create a campus culture that makes people feel welcome, valued, and excited about enrolling.

And here’s the kicker: small, thoughtful details make a massive difference in yield. When a visitor leaves campus feeling connected, informed, and wanted, they’re far more likely to say yes to your offer.

Final Thoughts

Personalizing the campus visit experience isn’t about flashy gimmicks—it’s about creating real, intentional moments of connection. A color-coded lanyard might seem like a small touch, but it can change the way your entire campus interacts with future students.

Simple. Smart. Effective.