In an increasingly competitive world, colleges are looking for new ways to attract and engage high school students. High school students represent an important source of revenue for colleges, and engaged high school students may be more likely to apply and attend a particular institution.
The best strategies for linking colleges with high school students are those that allow students to learn about the institution and experience college life. Here are some important strategies colleges can use to engage high school students.
Campus visits
Campus visits are one of the best ways to engage high school students and allow them to experience college life. Campus visits can include guided campus tours, presentations about academic programs, and opportunities to attend classes and student events.
Campus visits are an excellent opportunity for high school students to become familiar with the college environment and experience campus life firsthand. Campus visits also allow students to meet professors and students, which can be a great motivation for applying to a particular institution.
Scholarships for pre-career education courses
Another important strategy for linking colleges with high school students is to offer scholarships for pre-career training courses. These courses can include summer programs, workshops, and research programs.
Pre-career education scholarships are an excellent way to show high school students the academic opportunities an institution offers and prepare them for higher education. These programs can also help students determine their academic and professional career path, which can be a great motivation to apply to a particular institution.
On this point, I recommend you learn about the HPI Scholarship Program, which will deliver 12,000 full scholarships to high school students this year 2023, and is done through higher education institutions.
Incorporating new technologies for engagement
Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the lives of high school students. Colleges can take advantage of this trend and use new technologies to engage with high school students.
For example, colleges can use social media to connect with high school students and promote their academic programs and student events. Colleges can also use online learning platforms to offer pre-career courses and allow high school students to experience higher education virtually.
Colleges can also use chatbots and artificial intelligence tools to answer high school students’ questions and provide information about academic programs, as well as assessment systems that help provide vocational guidance to students and, with that, advise them in a closer and more personalized way to make the best future decision. In this regard, I recommend you get to know the Attracting Success tools that have helped thousands of students every year to get to know themselves better and make decisions about their student future.
Mentoring programs
Mentoring programs can be an effective way to help high school students understand the college admissions process and college life. Colleges can pair high school students with college mentors, who can provide advice and guidance on academic programs and student activities.
Mentoring programs can also help high school students develop leadership skills and establish college contacts. These benefits can motivate students to consider a particular institution and to apply to specific academic programs.
College workshops and events for high school students
Colleges may organize specific workshops and events for high school students. These workshops and events may include orientation days for high school students, company visits, and academic skills workshops.
These events can help high school students meet other students interested in college and learn more about academic programs and campus life. Workshops and events can also be an effective way to show high school students the academic opportunities offered by institutions, which can be a motivation to apply to a particular institution.
Scholarship and financial aid programs
High school students are often concerned about the cost of higher education. Colleges can address these concerns by offering scholarship and financial aid programs for high school students.
These programs may include scholarships for outstanding students, financial aid for low-income students, and work-study programs. These programs can help high school students understand the cost of higher education and find ways to finance their education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several important strategies that colleges can use to link with high school students. Campus visits, scholarships for pre-career training courses, and incorporating new technologies for engagement are just a few of the strategies that colleges can use to attract and engage high school students.
By effectively engaging with high school students, colleges can increase their applicant base and ensure that engaged students enroll and graduate from their academic programs. Through these strategies, colleges can prepare high school students for academic and career success and contribute to the development of a highly skilled workforce prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.