By Jeremy Tiers, Vice President of Admissions Services
1 minute read
We both know that words are powerful. Slight tweaks in language can be the difference between a detailed response, a lackluster response, or no response at all.
During a recent yield workshop I encouraged a group of admissions counselors to start incorporating one persuasive word in their conversations with admitted students who were still undecided.
That word is because.
Think about it. “Because” is a word we use all the time to justify our actions or reasons to other people. Using it also gives the other person a reason to provide us with an answer.
You could say to an admitted student, “Jeremy, what do you have left to do before you make your decision because our first new student orientation in June is almost full and I want you to get your first choice.”
Or if you’re communicating with a junior, “Jeremy, I encourage you to talk with your family about coming for a visit because you’ll be able to get a feel for our campus and community and students say that’s super helpful for figuring out which schools to apply to.”
The next time you want more information or context from a prospective student, or want them to see things your way, add a “because” to your question or request.
If you found this article helpful, please forward it to someone else on your campus who could also benefit from reading it. You can also encourage them to subscribe to my weekly newsletter.