Just because school is about to wrap up for the year doesn't mean admission work goes dormant. You most likely have some spaces to fill—or even a waiting pool to build. Potential families will be visiting your campus, so your challenge is to make your campus as attractive and lively as possible during the summer months. What will be lacking is the usual hustle and bustle of students and teachers, the living atmosphere that gives your campus its “vibe.” Here are a couple of tips to help put personality into your summer tours.
Make sure you have one classroom in each division that is furnished as it would be during the school year. Of course summer is the time for classroom refurbs, but you need to show prospective families what to expect when their son or daughter comes to school every day. They should not have to imagine it … while looking at an empty room or painting in progress. Your model classrooms should be cleaned on a regular basis, and not be used for activities.
Science labs, art studios, music rooms, and other special-purpose rooms should also have their school-year personalities. During the school year, take photos of typical activities as well as student projects—and display them! Keep science and art equipment set up. In technology labs and other areas, keep computers running so that visitors can check out what the students in those classes will be doing.
Arrange for teachers and students to be available for summer tours. These tour guides will be the only members of the school family—other than you—that a prospective family could meet on a summer tour. Prospects will then have another valuable resource to field their questions.
Summer admission can be critical to your school’s bottom line. You need to make your campus as lively as possible, even if it is only a “taste” of life at your school.
More ISM resources of interest
Teaching Faculty How to Market, Recorded Webinar
Admission Funnel: How to Streamline the Private School Admission Process ISM publication
More Resources for ISM Gold Consortium members
To The Point Vol. 8 No. 1 11 Steps to Prepare Your Campus for Summer Admission Activities
Ideas & Perspectives Vol. 31 No. 14 Admission Office Challenges During Campus Construction Projects
To The Point Vol. 10 No. 4 Sharpen Your Marketing Tools
