Hosts Mallory and Seth dive into the complexities surrounding the 2024 FAFSA fiasco and its impact on enrollment. They discuss how institutions can adapt their strategies to support students during this chaotic time and share practical tips for enrollment marketing professionals. Tune in for insights on personalizing communication, extending deadlines, and leveraging marketing techniques to navigate these unprecedented challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the Issue: The FAFSA redesign has caused significant delays in financial aid processing, creating widespread confusion and uncertainty for students and institutions.
• Education and Engagement: Institutions need to provide clear, constant communication about the situation and any deadline extensions to keep students informed.
• Personalized Outreach: One-on-one communication is crucial. Plain text emails from heads of admissions and direct phone calls can make a significant impact.
• Flexible Deadlines and Support: Schools should consider extending deadlines and offering additional resources, such as financial aid webinars and workshops, to assist students.
• Strategic Marketing: Boosting organic social content and leveraging paid social ads can help maintain visibility and engagement with prospective students.
• Collaborative Efforts: Engaging various campus stakeholders, including coaches and professors, in outreach efforts can enhance the personalization and effectiveness of communication.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2024/03/04/how-ambitious-plans-new-fafsa-ended-fiasco

https://www.chronicle.com/article/stuck-in-limbo

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse 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 next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register