Let's address the elephant in the room—Nebraska is in the middle of the country. For local students, it's an everyday fact of life. But for out-of-state students, it can be a tough sell. Here's what my team did to make Nebraska appealing to someone who's never been.
1. Create a sense of urgency to spark excitement. Whether a student is a freshman or rising senior, it's never too early to prepare for college.
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2. Meet students where they're at. An estimated 30 percent of students start college undeclared, while up to half of students switch their majors. Providing resources to students who know what they want to study and those who can't, allows us to reach more students.
3. Cater to different expected outcomes. Students already know that most state schools have a redbrick campus. Showing students a preview of what they they can accomplish at Nebraska helps them form a lasting impression and make next steps (scheduling a visiting, applying, sending an enrollment deposit).
4. Make students feel welcome. One of the top fears of incoming first-year students is making friends. To facilitate community, Nebraska requires all first-year students to live on campus.
5. Give a preview of life beyond campus. What gives Lincoln an edge over many other college towns is its small-city feel. So let's show it off and give students an idea of all the ways they can learn and grow outside campus!
