Use the following advice to improve your recruitment efforts.
A Complete Guide for Parents on Public vs. Private Schools
One of the most significant choices a parent must make is where to send their kids to school. This discussion often involves the decision of whether to send their children to a public or private school. Masterclass Space is a private admissions advisor situated in Los Angeles. It's obvious that both kinds of schools have benefits and drawbacks, so how can you choose the best one for you?
In actuality, a student's decision to attend a private school as opposed to a public school is primarily influenced by their family. Therefore, the most crucial thing you can do while making this choice is to thoroughly consider your child's requirements and aspirations in order to determine which educational option is ideal for them.
Finding a school where your child can flourish intellectually and socially is ultimately the greatest option for them, both now and in the future. Here are some ideas for how your family might benefit from the main distinctions between public and private education:
Classroom Setting and Educational Experience
The size of the student body, which influences many facets of students' experiences, is one of the main distinctions between public and private schools. Smaller class sizes and more individualized attention are the biggest benefits mentioned by proponents of private education.
In 2021, the average student-teacher ratio in public schools was 15.4, while in private schools it was 12.5. Additionally, compared to public schools, which have an average class size of 25 students, schools have roughly 19 pupils per class, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This distinction results in more individualized education, early detection of learning difficulties, and modified teaching strategies.
In terms of academics, larger student bodies result in larger class sizes and greater student-to-faculty ratios, which some students in traditional public schools find appealing but others find difficult. Public schools typically have leveled classrooms because of the diverse student body, which helps some students but not others.
Extracurricular activities differ significantly depending on the type of school. Due to their size and financial resources, larger public schools frequently provide a wider range of activities, such as specialized programs and competitive sports. With an average of 166 students per school, private schools are smaller, which may restrict the range of activities but permits higher rates of student participation.
Some kids do well socially in big, diverse settings where they may meet new people and explore new things. In these situations, others feel disoriented and overpowered. Knowing what kind of student your child is is essential when deciding between public and private schools.
Academic Achievement and Results
Naturally, the quality of your child's education is probably already at the top of your list of worries. You should look at both the broad picture and the specifics in order to properly compare the academic programs at public and private institutions.
In general, a lot of private schools promote specific educational ideologies, such as a distinctive method of instruction or a more comprehensive approach to education. You can discover a program that seems to be the perfect fit for your child's interests and learning objectives while you conduct your investigation. Alternatively, you may discover that the public school in your area satisfies your academic standards just as well.
There is an advantage in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also referred to as "the nation's report card," which assesses pupils from both public and private schools in core disciplines like science, arithmetic, reading, and writing. The results of the most recent NAEP study support earlier research showing that students attending private schools perform better in nearly every subject.
Check out the course guides for more information about each institution you're considering! Are Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or appropriate alternatives offered by the schools? Are there any opportunities to conduct research or enroll in classes at a nearby university? What about engaging electives? You can make a better choice after you have a clear idea of what your child's daily course schedule will include.
The question then becomes: would learning to advocate for themselves genuinely boost your child's self-confidence and independence, or does your child require more hand-holding to fulfill their potential? There is no right or wrong answer—just what is most effective for your child at this particular developmental period.
Support for Special Education and Learning
The availability and caliber of special education services become crucial decision factors for families whose children have learning difficulties or variances. Federal law mandates that public schools offer complete special education services, including specialized teaching, personalized education plans, and ancillary services like occupational or speech therapy, at no cost.
Private schools are more adaptable but less reliable; some excel at helping children with particular learning disabilities, while others do not have the means or know-how to offer sufficient assistance. Instead of forming judgments based on school type, carefully consider each school's actual capabilities and track record if your child has special needs. Finding a setting where your child's unique needs will be recognized, supported, and successfully met is crucial.
Extracurricular Activities
When planning a new school, it's crucial to consider how students may study and interact both inside and outside of the classroom. Examine the club directories to find out what extracurricular activities are available while you're selecting a school.
Consider your child's interests as you go through the directories.
Are there competitive math and science teams for youngsters that enjoy science?
How about a club dedicated to robotics?
What kinds of student publications are available for students who have a preference for the humanities?
Can anyone join these groups, or are there prerequisites that must be completed?
What about community service-oriented clubs?
There are typically more clubs available at public schools than at private ones because it is generally easier for students to start clubs there. As a result, public school students frequently find it simpler to assume leadership positions in extracurricular activities. However, private school clubs sometimes offer more supervision and structure, which may suit your child's personality better.
There are typically more clubs available at public schools than at private ones because it is generally easier for students to start clubs there. As a result, public school students frequently find it simpler to assume leadership positions in extracurricular activities. However, private school clubs sometimes offer more supervision and structure, which may suit your child's personality better.
Consider the commuting time carefully if your child does want to attend school during the day. Less time for extracurricular activities and homework results from spending more time in the car. Sending your child to a public school can make life easier because there is less commuting time, which makes it easier for students to hang out with their friends and classmates on the weekends and after school.
Advice for admissions officers on how to boost enrollment
Colleges are investing time in recruiting representatives, but they may not necessarily have the resources necessary to maximize their effectiveness. Masterclass Space is a Fremont-based private admissions counselor. Classes become vacant as a result of this seemingly straightforward deficit.
Admission officers can improve their recruitment efforts by using the following advice.
1. Follow the appropriate KPIs
It is undoubtedly challenging to contact a student, schedule an appointment, and make sure they show up. Additionally, it is the most crucial phase of your registration process.
Taking them on virtual or in-person tours is a fairly easy way to make them enthusiastic once they arrive (especially if they are even remotely interested in your program). You should anticipate a significant rise in enrollments if you can perfect the "lead capture to show up" process.
However, 65% of admissions officers said that the number of starts is the most crucial KPI for your admissions team.
Admission counselors seem to be more concerned with the outcomes than with the KPIs that will lead to those outcomes.
The following KPIs are the focus of career schools and universities that successfully fulfill their admission goals.
Lead contact rate: This is the proportion of questions that admissions personnel respond to via phone or email.
The proportion of student queries that result in appointments is known as the appointment set rate.
The percentage of appointments for counseling, virtual campus tours, etc. that are fulfilled is known as the appointment show rate.
The percentage of students who enrolled in a course is known as the application rate.
The percentage of applicants that enroll is known as the enrollment rate.
Start rate: The proportion of enrolled pupils who begin.
You will be able to pinpoint the specific location of the issue once you begin monitoring these KPIs. For instance, you will come up with ways to improve your poor appointment show rate. You can lower the number of no-shows by reminding the students via SMS or WhatsApp of the appointment schedule.
By keeping an eye on specific KPIs, you may find and fix bottlenecks, which will ultimately result in more admissions. more admissions.
2. Establish and strictly adhere to an internal team enrollment procedure.
Institutions frequently have a disorganized, inconsistent follow-up procedure. They frequently have no idea who is following up with them or where the question is coming from. A low inquiry-to-appointment show rate is also caused by it.
We found that 58% of higher education institutions had inquiry-to-appointment show rates below 30%.
The majority of admissions representatives want to increase their "Appointment Set" rates. However, not all of them are adept at scheduling appointments. It's not that they're not working hard. Their lack of training for these kinds of tasks is the reason for the disparity. Additionally, they don't have enough time each day to schedule appointments because they are working on everything else, including interacting with prospects, completing paperwork, starting enrolled students, and 100 other duties.
Solution: Divide your admissions team into the following responsibilities so that employees can concentrate on a specific task. This strategy is essential for improving your admission counselors' output and productivity.
Appointment/Enrollment Coordinators: Assign specialized personnel to schedule counselors' and representatives' appointments. Higher appointment rates translate into higher show rates.
Admission Representatives: These are the individuals who enjoy in-person or online conversations, showcasing your school's values, establishing a strong rapport, and securing enrollments.
Student coordinators are in charge of all paperwork, make sure that everyone may receive the necessary financial help, and lead sessions such as orientation. These individuals are the ones who initiate those begins. Your appointment setters and admissions representatives shouldn't be pursuing these positions.
You will therefore see greater outcomes when your employees or team members are able to do their jobs proactively.
3. Make your neighborhood a champion for enrollment
The community at your school is your secret weapon for attracting more students. Teachers, parents, alumni, and students may all naturally become advocates—no fancy marketing budget is needed! The people who attend your school on a daily basis are the best people to convey its story, after all.
You can use that community influence in the following ways:
Start a program for referrals: Provide existing families with an easy way to welcome neighbors and friends. Make it simple and satisfying, whether it's a "Bring a Friend" open house or a brief online form.
Facilitate simple sharing: Give families shareable materials so they may organically spread the news in their networks. Some examples are social visuals created by Canva, ready-to-use email templates, and buzzworthy event invites.
Honor your ambassadors: You may encourage your cheerleaders to continue sharing by giving them tiny gestures of appreciation, such as a Starbucks gift card, a thank-you note, or a feature in the school newsletter.
When individuals are truly enthusiastic, word gets out quickly. In actuality, prospective families are more likely to believe genuine accounts from real individuals than they are to believe flashy brochures. Make use of your school's living network, and you'll see that enrollment talks start in the community, where they are most important.
4. Establish a contact plan
According to our poll, 40% of schools lack a set contact cadence.
You won't be able to determine what works best if you allow your representatives to always employ their own strategies. Your communications will be inconsistent and unclear if your team is unsure of what to say.
Therefore, before the enrollment season, come up with a plan that includes scripts, responses, and resources. Distribute all the materials to all those participating in the admissions process.
In conclusion:
Create a contact plan: Your team needs to be aware of when to email and when to call or text. Don't overdo or underdo these.
Write a script for everything: Describe all of the conversations that must adhere to a standard format. Try to have inquisitive conversations. What makes you want to become a cosmetologist, for example? What motivates you to pursue a career in cosmetology?
Create a system for follow-up: Describe every potential course of action. How to follow up with no shows, with someone who shows up and doesn’t apply, and for every possible drop-off point.
5. Persuade students to sign up for your course
The appointment-to-enrollment ratio is less than 30% in 42% of schools.
Campus tours are designed to showcase the college's appearance and atmosphere to prospective students. Schools may experience dropouts from their admissions funnel in the absence of this.
You may still reproduce a similar experience, though, by concentrating on virtual presentations and campus tours. The lead-to-show and lead-to-application rates have increased by 29% and 19%, respectively, as a result of virtual presentations. Compared to face-to-face encounters, virtual presentations are far simpler. They are considerably quicker, more obedient, and enjoyable. The best methods for conducting virtual presentations are as follows:
Oversee your set: Make use of green screens, high-quality microphones, lighting, video cameras, etc.
Focus on your audience: Instead of merely reading the sentences aloud, make the presentation captivating and captivating. It will motivate far greater action.
Take charge of yourself: Develop the presentation skills of your admissions representatives. Don't merely give them a Zoom room and a camera.
You can persuade students to apply and enroll with a persuasive presentation.
6. Concentrate on providing an exceptional experience for parents and students.
Creating a memorable experience for potential families is more important to admissions than merely numbers. Every stage, from making the first inquiry to signing the enrollment form, creates a lasting impression of the culture and values of your school.
Here's how to guarantee a satisfying encounter each and every time:
Speed is important: Answer questions as soon as you can. A prompt, cordial response might make your school stand out in the eyes of families. For this, use automation.
Take down obstacles: Make the application procedure simple. To avoid leaving parents and children unsure of what to do next, use straightforward, jargon-free forms and give plain directions.
Individual touches: Even if automation solutions like DocuSign and FloStack can make repetitive operations more efficient, remember to maintain the human factor. Families might feel really appreciated by receiving handwritten cards, personalized emails, or thank-you calls following campus tours.
Regular communication Keep parents and students informed at every stage; let them know when forms are received, let them know what comes next, and remind them of appointments or deadlines.
Recall that a seamless admissions process fosters positive word-of-mouth and lays the groundwork for enduring partnerships in addition to helping to fill seats.
7. Assume responsibility
Admission officers typically don't have total control over leads due to the absence of a streamlined procedure. The instances of missed follow-ups and lower enrollments are crucial because of this.
Monitoring your team's performance on a regular basis is an easy approach to hold them accountable for their work. But not every institution does that. We discovered that about 40% of universities produce reports by hand (using Excel sheets).
However, as you can see, systems such as a CRM for higher education offer automatic reports that can reduce the amount of time spent exploring Excel sheets. Many well-known institutions also use it as their motto for success. These resources are crucial for improving your admission counselors' output and productivity.
Conclusion
To find out more about Sunnyvale private admissions counselors, visit www.masterclassspace.com. Masterclass Space is a Los Angeles-based private admissions counselor.
