Webinar Recap: How Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business is Turning Student Advocates into Enrollment Boosters

In the competitive world of higher ed, making authentic connections with prospective students is key. Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business has nailed this by using the voices of their current students to engage with prospects in a way that feels real and personal. In collaboration with GMAC, Christina Sakowski, Associate Director of Admissions for Specialized Masters Programs at Gabelli, and Amanda Hearn, VP of Marketing at Unibuddy, hosted a webinar to share how Gabelli leverages student advocacy and technology to boost enrollment and create personalized experiences. If you’re looking to level up your graduate recruitment strategy, this webinar was packed with insights.

Personalizing Graduate Recruitment: It’s All About Connection

One of the most compelling points Christina shared was how Gabelli uses its student ambassadors to create real, meaningful connections with prospective students. Instead of relying solely on traditional marketing, Gabelli lets its current students—those who are actually experiencing life at the university—tell their stories.

By offering prospects a peek into the everyday lives of enrolled students, Gabelli makes the recruitment process feel more relatable. These aren’t carefully curated PR campaigns; they’re authentic conversations that help prospects imagine their own journey. It’s a simple yet powerful way to build trust and show what it’s really like to be part of the Gabelli community.

Supercharging Enrollment Conversion with Student Advocates + Tech

One of the biggest takeaways from the session was how combining student advocacy with technology—specifically Unibuddy’s chat platform—has transformed Gabelli’s enrollment strategy. Prospective students can instantly connect with current students via chat, creating a sense of belonging from the get-go.

This seamless connection not only builds relationships faster, but it also streamlines the admissions process. With the Unibuddy platform, Gabelli’s admissions team can monitor chats, making sure prospects get the support they need quickly. No more digging through email threads or waiting days for a response—everything is organized and efficient, which has led to faster response times and improved conversion rates.

Using Insights to Tailor Events and Communication

Another benefit Gabelli has seen from using Unibuddy is the ability to gather real-time insights from the questions prospects are asking. Christina explained how these insights have helped the team tailor events and messaging to address the concerns and interests of their target audience. By knowing what’s top of mind for prospects, Gabelli can create more relevant, engaging events, which in turn boosts attendance and engagement.

Best Practices for Institutions Looking to Boost Recruitment

If you’re an institution looking to follow Gabelli’s lead, Christina and Amanda shared some practical strategies you can implement:

• Leverage Student Ambassadors: Tap into the experiences of your current students. Their voices are powerful and can give prospects a much more personal and honest view of your programs.
• Use Technology to Enhance Engagement: Platforms like Unibuddy enable personalized, real-time communication. Integrating these tools with your CRM can help streamline the process and keep prospects engaged.
• Tailor Your Events to Prospect Needs: By listening to what your prospective students are asking, you can create more relevant events and messaging that speak directly to their concerns.

The Gabelli Impact: A Case Study in Success

Gabelli’s use of Unibuddy has not only sped up communication but also provided the admissions team with invaluable insights that have shaped their recruitment strategy. By knowing exactly what prospective students are curious about, they’ve been able to host events that speak directly to those interests, resulting in higher engagement and attendance.

On top of that, Gabelli’s ambassador program has brought the school community closer. The admissions team stays in touch with current students, keeping up with on-campus happenings and using those stories to engage prospective students. This keeps the recruitment process fresh, relevant, and deeply connected to the student experience.

Lastly, integrating Unibuddy with Gabelli’s CRM system has helped them expand their reach, add new leads, and keep better track of engagement, all of which have contributed to their success in improving yield and conversion rates.

Final Thoughts

This webinar was a great opportunity to see how Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business is making waves in graduate recruitment by combining student advocacy with cutting-edge technology. By providing prospective students with authentic connections and real insights into student life, Gabelli has successfully improved their enrollment conversion rates and reinforced their values of community and support.

Key Takeaways:

1. Student ambassadors can make recruitment more personal and engaging.
2. Combining technology with authentic student voices can improve enrollment conversion rates and build deeper connections.
3. Tailored events and faster response times can strengthen relationships with prospects and improve overall engagement.

If you’re looking to boost your recruitment strategies, the lessons shared in this webinar offer a great starting point. Stay tuned for more insights from future sessions!