Faculty play at crucial role in graduate student recruitment. The most effective recruitment tools at your disposal are 1) responding to emails from prospective students and 2) admitting students in a timely manner.
Identify your prospects
Strengthen your recruitment pipeline.
- Mention your affiliation with your graduate program when you give presentations outside NDSU.
- Visit institutions that are (or could be) good "feeder" schools; present in relevant undergraduate classes or colloquia.
- Maintain communication with your program's graduate alumni, especially those now teaching at other institutions. They are often your best recruiters!
- Send the Graduate School program recruitment materials to distribute at recruitment events that we attend.
Consider utilizing digital advertising (Google ads, social media, etc.) to attract prospective students. Submit an RFP to request recruitment funds from the Graduate School.
Engage Your Prospects
Maximize your website.
- Be sure information is up-to-date and easily accessible.
- Include faculty information with areas of expertise/research and contact information.
- Include program information: a general description, enrollment/size, areas of specialization, research opportunities, course delivery methods, selectivity, any specific admission requirements, application deadline, etc.
- Include information on the availability of funding and how to qualify for it.
Be prompt and thorough in your responses to prospective students.
- Forward questions about the application process or materials directly to the Graduate School, ndsu.grad.school@ndsu.edu.
Enlist the help of the Graduate School recruitment team.
- If you provide us with information on any prospective students with whom you interact, we can enter them into our student database and email communication plan.
- We can assist in the coordination of campus visits for prospects you'd like to bring to campus, including communication, directions, parking permit. We can also meet with them to provide general application and admission info, as well as a campus tour.
- By including us in your communication with prospective students and applicants, we can provide them with valuable supplementary information to be sure their application and admission review process is smooth and efficient.
- We offer one-on-one virtual meetings for domestic prospective students. They can sign up for a meeting here.
We offer virtual info sessions for international prospective students. They can sign up for a meeting here.
Utilize your current graduate students and graduate alumni to further engage prospects; many would be happy to share about their experience in your program.
Convert Your Prospects
Evaluate your application review process to ensure you are capitalizing on promising applicants. Holistic admissions review is the most equitable process and considered a best practice.
- Consider evaluating applications on a rolling basis and making early offers to strong candidates.
- Note that, for international students, the institution that processes their admission decision and immigration documents first is often the one they choose.
- Communicate relevant information to the Graduate School regarding your application review process, so that we can communicate with the applicants accordingly.
Consider sending personalized messages to welcome admitted students to your program.
- Refer admitted students to the Graduate School for any questions regarding processes to confirm their enrollment, sending final transcripts, completing the payroll process for their assistantship, etc.
Connect new admits to current graduate students in your program.
- Offer a welcome session or orientation at the beginning of the semester for new and returning students