When a prospective student lands on your website, what do they really want to find? It might not be what you think. In this episode, Grant De Roo, Founder and Principal at ADV Market Research & Consulting and Jarrett Smith, Senior VP of Strategy at Echo Delta share results from surveying over 1,000 prospective students about the top tasks students want to accomplish online. From cost clarity to course descriptions, modality, and career outcomes, the data challenges some common higher ed marketing assumptions and reveals a handful of universal priorities you can focus on to improve the student experience.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [1:45] The surprising consistency across student segments
• [10:04] What students want on academic program pages
• [20:26] Gaps between higher ed professionals’ assumptions and student needs

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Siena University - Affordability and Aid
• Siena University - Merit Scholarship calculator
• Grant and Jarrett’s research

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Names: 
Grant De Roo, Founder and Principal, ADV Market Research
Jarrett Smith, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Echo Delta

Guest Socials:
Grant De Roo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-de-roo-26062043/
Jarrett Smith - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithjarrett/

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Campus social media is at its best when it feels alive. It should feel like walking the quad, chatting with students, and catching those unexpected moments that make a place unforgettable. In this episode, we talk with Eve Gaciarz, Associate Director of Social Media at Yale School of Management, and Kayla Ooms, Digital and Social Media Specialist at Purdue University Northwest, about keeping feeds fresh, authentic, and impossible to scroll past. From pumpkin toss competitions to students in ghost costumes roaming the quad, Kayla and Eve share stories that prove authenticity draws people in.

Join us as we discuss:

• [3:51] What authenticity looks like in higher ed social media
• [10:04] How to balance raw, unfiltered content with institutional messaging
• [18:00] How to align social media with admissions and enrollment goals

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• EduWeb Summit

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the final installment of The Admissions Travel Season Playbook, Allison Turcio addresses a critical question: what do you do with everything you’ve learned on the road? Too often, valuable insights from conversations with students and counselors stay locked in notebooks, heads, or voice memos. This episode shows you how to use AI to capture those takeaways and turn them into action.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Allison and Dallin Palmer, Co-Founder of HALDA, discuss the shift in enrollment marketing from an institution-centric approach to a relationship-first mindset. Dallin unpacks the SHIFTS Framework, a powerful roadmap for building authentic connections with prospective students. The conversation covers key pillars of the framework, including how to listen effectively (Survey), provide personalized value (Helpful and Individualization), and leverage technology to create a more human, responsive experience (Face, Triggers, and Speed). Learn how to move past outdated tactics and focus on building genuine trust to drive enrollment success.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [3:35] Relationship-first recruiting in a digital-first world
• [7:49] Using the SHIFTS framework to build authentic connections with students
• [19:57] How customer data platforms empower AI to help you individualize at scale
• [28:38] Communication triggers and why speed evokes sophistication

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• HALDA Blog

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Dallin Palmer, Co-Founder, Halda

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallin-palmer-9aa19335/

Guest Bio: Dallin Palmer is a highly experienced entrepreneur with a passion for innovation, hard work, and integrity. He is the Co-Founder of Halda, a company that provides out-of-the-box AI powered personalization for websites. Prior to this, he was the Co-Founder and Advisor at Shift Health, where he worked to improve the patient payment experience with increased transparency and clarity. Dallin has also served in various leadership roles at Podium.com, Chegg Inc., and Zinch China. He has a BA in International Relations, Economics, and Chinese from Brigham Young University and completed the exclusive Bay Area Y Combinator entrepreneur program that accepts less than 1% of applicants. With a proven track record in driving growth and success, Dallin is a knowledgeable, engaging, and energetic speaker and workshop facilitator.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part 3 of The Admissions Travel Season Playbook, host Allison Turcio dives into how admissions counselors and enrollment marketers can stop working in silos and start building a stronger, AI-powered partnership. Fall travel is a team sport, but too often it feels like two separate games. By using AI to bridge the gap, institutions can make their outreach smarter, faster, and more effective.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Admissions Travel Season Playbook, host Allison Turcio tackles the crucial moment that determines whether your travel season efforts pay off: the follow-up. A great high school visit or college fair conversation is only the beginning. Without timely, relevant, and personalized follow-up, your chances of turning interest into applications drop fast.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Part 1 of this mini series — The Admissions Travel Season Playbook. In this episode of The Admissions Travel Season Playbook, host Allison Turcio dives into how admissions counselors can make their high school visits more personal, engaging, and effective — without reinventing the wheel. With a focus on AI in higher education, Allison shares four actionable strategies for using tools like ChatGPT to tailor presentations to different student audiences. Whether you're visiting a STEM-focused school or a service-driven community, these tips will help you show up with relevance and impact. Perfect for enrollment marketers and admissions pros looking to stay sharp this fall travel season.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Application, Allison is joined by Faton Sopa, Cofounder and CEO at Manaferra, to dissect the groundbreaking findings from the State of College Search 2025 report. Based on a survey of over 1,500 recently enrolled students, Faton reveals a seismic shift in student search behavior. He shares surprising insights, from the rise of platforms like Reddit for authentic validation to the fragmentation of the student journey across multiple channels. Learn why marketers need to move beyond traditional SEO, audit their brand's presence on new platforms like AI search, and focus on performance metrics that truly influence the enrollment pipeline.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [1:53] The report’s most surprising finding and unifying behaviors across its participants
• [12:05] Shifting from searchability to helping students in their discovery journey
• [20:58] The role of brand awareness and what SEO “wins” looks like in the Age of AI

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• State of College Search 2025 Report

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Faton Sopa, Co-Founder and CEO, Manaferra

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatonsopa/

Guest Bio: Faton Sopa is the Co-Founder and CEO of Manaferra, a leading higher education marketing agency specialized in Omnichannel SEO. With 15+ years of experience in digital marketing, Faton has pioneered strategies that integrate data-driven insights with AI, Content and Analytics to deliver measurable results for universities and colleges. Under his leadership, Manaferra has become a trusted partner for higher ed institutions looking to get discovered when their future student search for college or university. Passionate about transforming how institutions connect with prospective students in an increasingly competitive higher ed space, he frequently speaks on topics like SEO, AI, Analytics, and digital transformation in higher education

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Allison sits down with Simon Lewis, founder of Binary & Co., to dive deep into his Pillars and Layers framework. This smarter, student-centered approach helps nurture higher-ed leads throughout their long and emotional decision-making journey. We explore why lead capture is only the starting point, not the goal, and how to keep students engaged well beyond the initial form fill. Simon explains how to sync your ads, emails, and CRM so you can meet students where they actually are rather than where you wish they were.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [7:46] Shepherding students with the Pillars and Layers framework
• [15:23] Why ads shouldn’t stop after the form fill
• [23:20] What signals marketers should look for in their data captures

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Russell A. Barkley
• Case Study
• The Application, episode 65 on Progressive Profiling
•  The Application, episode 70 with Jeff Holeman

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Simon Lewis

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonlewismarketing/

Guest Bio: Simon Lewis is a seasoned digital marketer with over two decades of industry experience. He began his career studying cognitive science, a foundation that quickly led him into the dynamic world of digital marketing. Simon has since applied his expertise across diverse sectors, including Education, E-commerce, and Real Estate, working with notable clients such as the Smith School of Business, Stern NYU, and OTM Training College. In 2019, Simon founded Binary & Co with a clear mission: to bring the strategic "marketing" back into digital initiatives. The agency focuses on high-ticket, high-consideration lead generation through paid digital advertising. Under his leadership, Binary & Co has consistently driven qualified leads and interest for clients in education, real estate, and finance. Simon's passion for digital marketing stems from its powerful ability to generate genuinely engaged leads.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your institution stopped playing it safe and started thinking like a startup? DéRecco Lynch, Assistant Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at the University of Cincinnati, asked that question and answered it by launching Our City, one of higher ed’s boldest brand activations. In this episode, DéRecco tells Allison how his team broke down silos, built trust, and aligned four divisions to move fast and make an unforgettable mark on the city. From failing fast to letting go of creative control to creating a student-centered, family-focused experience, he shares what it takes to unify a brand and spark real engagement.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [1:51] How to break down departmental silos and build trust
• [8:29] Why you should embrace a startup mindset and fail fast
• [20:21] The art of the possible: where to start and what not to skip

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• BLINK Cincinnati

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.