Enrollment Catalyst
APRIL 10, 2025
In todays competitive market, private schools cant afford to guess how their families and staff are feeling. Yet far too often, school leaders operate on assumptions rather than insights. The most successful schools dont just leadthey listen. And one of the most powerful ways to listen is through intentional, well-executed satisfaction surveys for both parents and employees.
Grown & Flown
APRIL 26, 2025
My eldest son just turned 20. I dont even know what to do with that number. It means Im old, for one. Like, really old. And yet I remember exactly where I was when I turned 20: taking a Shakespeare midterm in college. I remember the shape of my bedroom, those who passed through it, and the 50s-era flowered thrift store blouse I wore that day because I was going through my ironic June Cleaver phase.
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The College Pod
APRIL 19, 2025
Choosing a college major can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re unsure about your future. But picking a major isn’t about locking yourself into one job forever. It’s about creating a smart plan that can guide your college journey, help you graduate on time, and even save your family money. Too often, students skip career assessments that could help them discover new options and avoid costly detours.
Ruffaloni
APRIL 18, 2025
How does student satisfaction at HBCUs compare to institutions nationally? Student satisfaction is a critical component for student success. At RNL, we have observed that satisfaction can vary based on the institution type. Student satisfaction levels at a four-year private may differ from a four-year public. In addition, we have seen that students at schools with a specific identity or mission (such as Christian colleges) may also have different levels of satisfaction.
Sara Harberson
APRIL 3, 2025
Almost all admissions decisions are in the hands of high school seniors right now which means the admissions cycle for 2024-2025 is coming to a close. I am seeing some trends with certain colleges. I am also seeing trends of who colleges are admitting (and who they aren't). Here are my observations on what is happening nationally.
HEM (Higher Education Marketing)
APRIL 16, 2025
Reading Time: 7 minutes Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems have become essential tools in higher education, transforming how universities interact with prospective students, current students, alumni, and other stakeholders. Whether youre trying to track your enrollment funnel, streamline your recruitment process, or boost retention, CRM systems offer many unique marketing benefits for your institution.
Admissions Mom
APRIL 16, 2025
Hello Juniors! Sometimes, it can feel like much of the application process revolves around what other people think of you. And because you cant control those perceptions, you might find the whole application process intensely frustrating. This is especially true when it comes to letters of recommendation. Its easy to get freaked out about which teachers to ask, if theyll agree to write your letters, and how to guarantee that they wont secretly write you a bad letter that will torpedo your chance
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Top Tier Admissions
APRIL 23, 2025
In my conversations with high schoolers over the years, Ive noticed a familiar theme when they describe their dream schools. Many are hoping for that perfect blendsmall, discussion-based classes and the energy of Friday Night Lights big college football; close relationships with faculty and access to world-class research; an academically challenging environment and a lively, balanced social scene.
Ruffaloni
APRIL 27, 2025
Marketing messages bombard students from every direction, so capturing their attentionand inspiring them to take actionrequires creative that truly stands out. Thats exactly what the RNL creative team delivers, crafting award-winning campaigns that engage, resonate, and drive results across every channel, from digital to direct mail. We work closely with our campus partners to ensure every undergraduate and graduate campaign is both strategic and impactfulproven by the many gold award-winning pr
Sara Harberson
APRIL 5, 2025
For my March Facebook Live Q&A, I answered questions from high school students and parents from across the country on topics like test scores, waitlists, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and much more! If you missed this session of Ask America's College Counselor, keep reading for a list of some of the questions I answered and to watch the full video.
HEM (Higher Education Marketing)
APRIL 23, 2025
Reading Time: 8 minutes To stand out amidst competition, private schools must ensure their online presence is strong enough to attract prospective students and parents. While traditional marketing methods such as word-of-mouth and print advertising still hold value, digital visibility has become crucial to school enrollment. Are you wondering how to market a private school to maximize visibility?
College Success
APRIL 20, 2025
Volunteering is a powerful way for high school students to give back to their communities while gaining skills and experiences that shape their future. Whether supporting local nonprofits, leading service projects, or mentoring younger students, volunteer work builds character, leadership, and resilience. Beyond the immediate. The post National Volunteer Day: Why Volunteering Matters in High School and Beyond appeared first on Kate Sonnenberg College Admissions Success.
Grown & Flown
APRIL 13, 2025
Here is the best-kept secret about the college school year. It is about 15 minutes long. No sooner do kids return to college from spring break than they are ready to move back home for the summer. Moving into the college dorm or apartment was fun. The sheets and towels were new, the mattress topper was tightly packaged in its original box, and your college student was full of enthusiasm.
Top Tier Admissions
APRIL 22, 2025
As families craft college lists and weigh big decisions about where their students will thrive, a new and urgent factor has entered the conversation: questions around federal funding in higher education. With elite universities like Harvard, Columbia, Penn, and Princeton facing billions in suspended grants, its clear that the ideological tug-of-war playing out in Washington is shaking the financial landscape of American higher education.
Ruffaloni
APRIL 27, 2025
What’s Working in 2025 (From Both Sides of the Desk) Ever wonder if enrollment professionals and students actually speak the same language? Fresh data from RNL’s 2025 Marketing and Recruitment Practices for Undergraduate Students and the forthcoming 2025 E-Expectations reports reveal some fascinating alignments (and a few mismatches) between how we recruit and how students actually make decisions.
Sara Harberson
APRIL 10, 2025
This week, I launched a new, free guide, "Ten Things To Do the Summer before Senior Year." In just three days, we have close to 800 downloads. Clearly, this topic is on the minds of many. But it got me thinking about what's on my mind these days too.
College Wise
APRIL 14, 2025
Since June 2024, ACT, Inc., (ACT ) has been slowly trickling out information about upcoming changes to its namesake test. A shorter test with fewer questions and an optional Science section, the Enhanced ACT promised to align the ACT more with the Digital SAT , allowing for a more accessible and streamlined testing experience in both paper-based and digital formats.
College Transitions
APRIL 10, 2025
Yes, this blog is about how to request letters of recommendation for college from a teacher. But first, lets engage in a mental exercise intended to do something quite strangehelp you imagine your teachers as real human beings. Dont worrytheres a purpose to this! Put yourself in your favorite English teachers shoes for a moment.
Grown & Flown
APRIL 30, 2025
Editor’s Note: Bestselling author Annabel Monaghan wrote this piece for Grown and Flown when her eldest was about to graduate from high school. We love it now every bit as much as we did then; we know you will, too. A year ago, a friend of mine whose child had just graduated from high school suggested I write an article about this big milestone.
Top Tier Admissions
APRIL 15, 2025
Are you dreaming of attending college in sunny Los Angeles? If youve been researching top-tier universities in SoCal, youve likely come across the age-old rivalry between UCLA and USC and now youre wondering: which school is the better fit? The truth is, theres no one-size-fits-all answer. Both UCLA and USC offer world-class academics, dynamic student life, and access to the energy and opportunities of L.A.
Ruffaloni
APRIL 27, 2025
Engaging students wherever they are is critical to enrollment success. With eight years of experience at Ruffalo Noel Levitz working with more than 100 campuses across the country and following more than two decades leading enrollment efforts on campus, I know firsthand the challenges you face in enrollment. And in todays environment it can feel like information overload on what you should be doing.
Sara Harberson
APRIL 24, 2025
Max, my middle child, is sandwiched between an older sister and a younger sister. He is in 9th grade and up until now hasn't expressed an ounce of interest in the college admissions process. Ninth grade is early, mind you. However, when he told me that he wanted to attend his school's upcoming college fair last week, I almost fell off my chair. When he asked if we could talk about the fair in advance, I couldn't believe my ears.
PrepScholar
APRIL 21, 2025
African American Studies is one of the newest Advanced Placement offerings, launched in Fall 2024. It's designed to give students a deep understanding of African American history, culture, and experiences. Because it's such a new offering, it can be difficult to know what to expect from the course and AP exam. You'll need to be prepared to understand a variety of historical documents, make connections between different time periods, and analyze major themes.
HEM (Higher Education Marketing)
APRIL 9, 2025
Reading Time: 9 minutes Todays schools need to get creative to promote their programs in a way that resonates with prospects. To spur action from your audience, you need to build trust, create engagement, and foster an emotional connection. How do you do that with so many other schools competing for the spotlight? One of the most effective strategies for making a strong impression on your audience is combining user-generated content and authentic storytelling.
Grown & Flown
APRIL 30, 2025
Eighteen is a year overflowing with contradictions. Eighteen wants to be a child forever, yet he cannot wait to grow up. He loves his house and cannot wait to leave it. Eighteen is our teen living in our home and an adult residing in another state in the same momentous year. On the eve of his 18th birthday, it seems almost as if nothing has changed, and then one morning in August, everything is different.
Solomon Admissions
APRIL 10, 2025
Visiting college campuses can be one of the most exciting and informative parts of the application process. However, with so many students competing for limited tour spots and information sessions, planning ahead is crucial. Many students can only visit a campus once before applying, so making the most of each college campus visit is key.… The post 7 Tips for a Successful College Campus Visit appeared first on Solomon Admissions Consulting.
Ruffaloni
APRIL 27, 2025
As AI continues to weave its way into our lives, it’s no surprise that high school students are increasingly turning to these tools for college planning. However, our recent study, The AI Divide in College Planning: Students Adoption, Resistance, and Impact , conducted by RNL and TeenVoice , reveals that students arent all the same when it comes to AI.
The College Curators
APRIL 27, 2025
Choose Challenge Beyond grades, test scores, and the rigor of the curriculum, colleges are looking for something more: students who have done something meaningful and difficult and grown.
Shemmassian Academic Consulting
APRIL 29, 2025
A step-by-step guide to help you get into your dream physician assistant program Learn everything you need to know to get into pa school Part 1: Introduction Part 2: How to apply to PA school Part 3: PA school application components Part 4: PA school personal statement - Part 1: Introduction Being a physician assistant is the second best healthcare job in the country, according to U.S.
AdmissionSight
APRIL 27, 2025
In college admissions, the word deferred comes up oftenand for many students, it sparks concern. Being deferred means your application wasnt accepted or rejected , but set aside for review later in the cycle. So, what does deferred mean for college and your plans? If youve been deferred or are worried it might happen, its normal to feel unsure about what comes next.
Grown & Flown
APRIL 2, 2025
Going away to college was one of the most significant transitions Id ever had to make. I sat in my dorm room that first day with a huge smile, but inside, I felt a mixture of petrifying fear and excitement. Youre thrown advice in graduation cards left and right… Study hard! Sleep! These friends will last a lifetime! But none of those quick sentences prepare you for what it will really be like.
Solomon Admissions
APRIL 25, 2025
The Common Application is an online college application platform used for first year and transfer applications. In the 2023-2024 application cycle over 1.4 million distinct first year applicants submitted over 9.5 million applications to over 1,000 member institutions. This is the most commonly used application platform. Majority of the member institutions are from the United… The post Do Ivies accept the common app?
College Essay Guy
APRIL 2, 2025
College admissions sometimes feels like a big pot of alphabet soup: AP, GPA, ACT, SAT, FAFSA, SRAR, SAI While youre probably familiar with many of these acronyms (maybe youre feeling a little too familiar with some), others, like IB, you might be feeling a little less sure about (we assume thats why youre here). So, if you came here looking for an easy-to-understand explanation of what the IB program is (welcome, by the way), were here to help.
Colorado State University
APRIL 15, 2025
Starting your college journey means you’ll probably run into words you don’t recognize or understand very well. That’s normal! We’re here to break it all down for you in the College Knowledge Basics series, specifically how and why these definitions matter at Colorado State University. When you’re first starting the college journey, you’ll find a lot of terms used in multiple places and for a variety of reasons.
Niche
APRIL 22, 2025
If you havent already heard, Google will stop displaying reviews and ratings for schools on Google Business Profiles starting April 30, 2025. This change, confirmed by Google, aims to prevent prank reviews and unhelpful commentary from negatively impacting schools. While this may bring relief to some schools, it poses a new challenge for schools that use positive reviews as part of their marketing strategy.
AdmissionSight
APRIL 29, 2025
Did you miss the applications for summer writing programs ? Or do you have prior commitments for the summer already? If youre still looking for a writing program to join, consider EmersonWRITES. EmersonWRITES is a writing program that takes place during the semester rather than in summer. If this is an opportunity youre interested in checking out, keep reading.
Grown & Flown
APRIL 10, 2025
My oldest son took driver’s education right after he turned fifteen. He planned to have all his driving hours in so he could send in for his license as soon as possible, which he did. The summer before, he had worked as many hours as possible to save for a car. He knew the exact one he wanted, and I watched him work two jobs and decline invitations from his friends so he could take extra shifts.
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