The way students are choosing higher ed is changing – here’s the evidence
At Unibuddy, we’ve long stood by our belief that student reviews and peer-to-peer interactions are among some of the most important factors for prospective students who are choosing their university.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t exciting to have these views reinforced while reading The PIE.
In a study of 32,000 prospective students from around the world, educations.com found that interest in digital content such as videos and blog posts is skyrocketing while rankings are becoming less of a draw.
Also a draw? Student reviews and other peer-to-peer interactions, which Gen Z prospects are becoming increasingly more reliant on to inform their decision-making process.
That’s why it’s so important that your institution prioritizes finding accessible ways to encourage real-time peer-to-peer communication between current and prospective students.
Why peer-to-peer communication is important in the higher education journey
Real-time interactions create a sense of belonging immediately
The educations.com survey also found that the vast majority of undergraduate students (81%) expect a personalized response to their questions. Further, more than 2 in 5 want it within a single day.
When they use a live chat app, they get exactly that – and you can guarantee that the responses they receive will be personalized rather than automated or canned, which is crucial.
But what real-time chat apps truly give a prospective student is the chance to interact with a student who currently lives on campus and attends classes. Through them, prospects will get answers to questions that matter most to them – like what dorm life is like, how the food is and what’s going on on a Friday night.
This level of personalized insight will feel like a backstage pass and help them to gain clarity when it comes to the matter of picturing themselves on campus. If they can picture themselves on campus and decide to enroll, having forged an authentic connection with another student before even moving into the dorm allows them a greater sense of belonging.
Prospective students love user-generated content
In today’s digital age, nothing bridges the dreaded authenticity gap quite like user-generated content (UGC). When you provide prospective students with a library of content created by current students – whether it’s a collection of blog posts, social media, videos or newsletters – the experience immediately becomes personalized and relevant to the viewer.
That’s true for personal interactions on chat platforms like Unibuddy Chat, too. Peer-to-peer conversations serve as a type of user-generated content that’s even more personalized! When utilized, prospects forge real connections with your current students and learn about your institution in an honest, authentic way.
Live conversations drive an increase in student enrollment
Your current students, along with your team of student ambassadors – digital and in-person – are some of the most valuable resources that prospective students have. So, why not give them a chance to connect with and get to know them during their higher education journey?
We promise: they’ll take it.
And when they do, you’ll see the payoff from all of the efforts you’ve put into lead generation and conversion increase exponentially. Universities from all over the world that work with Unibuddy have found that prospective students are more likely to enroll after using Unibuddy’s P2P solutions – with some schools even reporting increased rates as high as 85%!
Encourage peer-to-peer communication with Unibuddy
The survey is in line with what we have found time and time again from our partners using Unibuddy: peer-to-peer interactions work as a marketing strategy!
In a recent study, we learned that nearly 90% of students who use Unibuddy walk away from conversations with current students feeling more confident about university fit than those who don’t.
We powered over 100,000 conversations in April alone – and each of them is having a tangible impact on conversion. At Middlesex University, for instance, more than three out of four offer holders who chatted to a current student through Unibuddy would go on to enroll.
Unibuddy helps students thrive through sharing their experiences, effortless technology and the smart application of data. Together, the platform and student ambassadors provide a safe outlet for an institution’s authentic voice, a deeper insight into the market’s motivations and a more meaningful sense of belonging – even before applying.
Unibuddy works with more than 130 higher education institutions all over the world, each of which relies on us to promote and deliver effective peer-to-peer engagements. Our platform allows us to optimize conversion throughout the student application cycle, from lead generation through to enrolment, with some impressive results.
But don’t just take our word for it – have a look at our case studies and find out what some of our partners say. Or see Unibuddy for yourself with a personalized demo of our suite of higher ed P2P solutions.