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How to increase your student enrollment by 30% with the principle of reciprocity

Apr 3, 2024 | EdTech

It’s no surprise that most universities seek to recruit more students, but what does the success or failure of increased student enrollment endeavor depend on?

There are multiple factors at play here – different university departments working on the same goal, campaigns to increase the awareness of study programs, understanding of how students make decisions and subtitles of the admissions process.This can make it challenging for universities to create a process, where the different puzzle beats come together effectively.

To address the issue at its roots, let’s use the “physics approach” – boiling things down to the most fundamental axiomatic truths we can imagine and reason up from there. For example, if universities reflect scientifically ascertained principles of what drives human behavior in all their communication with applicants, this will holistically result in a greater return on investment.

How to increase your student enrollment with the principle of reciprocity

As a resource, let’s consider the principles of influence coined by Dr. Robert Cialdini, the world’s most-cited scientist in the area of social influence and Regents’ Professor at Arizona State University.

Among other reasons, DreamApply’s software helps enroll 30% more students because the features in the system allow universities to scale their influence, ethically and effortlessly.

For example, Dr. Cialdini’s research shows how the effect of reciprocation is magnified when the offered information or service is personalized, a key component in many tools embedded in DreamApply’s software, such as sending reminders to applicants or customized document generation.

Swipe through the images below to discover how reciprocation can be used to recruit more students.

Offer valuable information upfront

Magnify reciprocity with customization

Create an engaging application process

Recognize and reward applicant efforts in your student enrollment

Let applicants do more with less effort

Reciprocity is only one example of how the “physics approach” can be used for more effective student enrollment. The more fundamental truths you reflect in your communication with applicants, the greater the outcome.

Consider scaling your influence in the admissions process by using DreamApply’s admissions software which not only reflects these fundamental principles in a centralized system but also magnifies their impact with technological innovations. This is one of the reasons why, on average, the software leads to a 30% increase in student enrollment.

Continue exploring by requesting your free, personalized demo. 

About DreamApply 

Founded in 2011 in Estonia, DreamApply is an innovation-driven EdTech organization improving access to education around the globe. DreamApply’s application management software helps more than 300 educational institutions across 40 countries to improve admissions, marketing, financial and other internal processes. 

DreamApply’s easy-to-use and customizable software increases student enrollment by 30% and reduces application processing time by 40%. With features designed with and for educational institutions, and integrations with commonly used systems, DreamApply empowers teams to get more done with less effort. 

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DreamApply does not manage admissions or scholarships.  Please get in touch with the respective universities directly if you are a student/applicant.  DreamApply is a software company that provides universities with a student admission management system.  We wish you good luck with your applications!

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