Comments on: Understanding why for-profits are growing http://www.forprofitedu.com Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:03:16 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Dale http://www.forprofitedu.com/admissions/understanding-why-for-profits-are-growing/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Dale Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:17:41 +0000 http://www.forprofitedu.com/?page_id=336#comment-113 You nailed it in when you state "You need to not think about yourself here as you are NOT the typical student growing to these schools." It's often the biggest mistake we make in terms of aligning marketing, admissions, student support and academics. The win-win scenario is when the marketing, enrollment and academic environment is designed to support those who are looking for a enriched experience, those who are just looking to get their degree and get out, and those who don't know either way. By "tagging" each lead (nothing wrong with that term) with a growing profile throughout their experience in the school we can use technology to apply the appropriate conversation and support environment. You nailed it in when you state “You need to not think about yourself here as you are NOT the typical student growing to these schools.” It’s often the biggest mistake we make in terms of aligning marketing, admissions, student support and academics. The win-win scenario is when the marketing, enrollment and academic environment is designed to support those who are looking for a enriched experience, those who are just looking to get their degree and get out, and those who don’t know either way. By “tagging” each lead (nothing wrong with that term) with a growing profile throughout their experience in the school we can use technology to apply the appropriate conversation and support environment.

]]> By: Paul Epstein http://www.forprofitedu.com/admissions/understanding-why-for-profits-are-growing/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Paul Epstein Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:43:14 +0000 http://www.forprofitedu.com/?page_id=336#comment-110 Good read, but I think there is a flaw in the overall process. One could argue the attrition rates schools experience is directly tied to the way the 'marketing machines' lack information (maybe do not care) about a prospective student's needs and wheter or not the degree program meets those needs. Perhaps you summed it up concisely "often a degree is a degree type thinking." Couple that with an aggressive marketing model and one can easily see where root cause of the problem exists: We are too busy taking care of the urgent (the school's bottom line) versus taking care of the important (the student's bottom line). I think we need to be more concerned about the needs of the individual sitting in front of a computer and instead of referring to them as a "lead," we start thinking about them in terms of potential long term relationships. I truly believe the education sector can reach a better solution that leads to a win-win scenario. Good read, but I think there is a flaw in the overall process. One could argue the attrition rates schools experience is directly tied to the way the ‘marketing machines’ lack information (maybe do not care) about a prospective student’s needs and wheter or not the degree program meets those needs.

Perhaps you summed it up concisely “often a degree is a degree type thinking.” Couple that with an aggressive marketing model and one can easily see where root cause of the problem exists: We are too busy taking care of the urgent (the school’s bottom line) versus taking care of the important (the student’s bottom line).

I think we need to be more concerned about the needs of the individual sitting in front of a computer and instead of referring to them as a “lead,” we start thinking about them in terms of potential long term relationships.

I truly believe the education sector can reach a better solution that leads to a win-win scenario.

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