Admissions

How AI in College Admissions Can Streamline Processes and Enhance Enrollment 

Liaison
Aug 22, 2024
Key Takeaways 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed numerous industries, and higher education is no exception. The admissions process, once a labor-intensive task reliant on manual efforts, is now streamlined by AI-driven tools and applications. Liaison’s Othot AI solution exemplifies this transformation, predicting outcomes through data analysis, identifying students with the highest likelihood of applying, and providing insights on how to best communicate with those students to increase applications and enrollment.  

By enhancing the admissions process for both graduate and undergraduate programs, AI offers significant benefits at different stages of the funnel, helping institutions overcome the challenges facing college admissions. 

The Role of AI in College Admissions Today 

AI technologies have become essential in modernizing admissions processes, enabling institutions to work more efficiently and effectively. Othot, for example, employs sophisticated, nonlinear modeling techniques that go beyond traditional linear approaches, offering deeper insights and more accurate predictions. This advanced technology uses AI to deliver real-time insights and actionable recommendations, enhancing the ability to forecast student behaviors and outcomes, providing a comprehensive view of potential scenarios, and making the admissions process more streamlined and personalized.  

By combining Liaison’s Enrollment Marketing services with Othot’s predictive analytics, institutions can craft highly effective recruitment strategies that resonate with prospective students. This integration of marketing efforts and data-driven insights ensures that institutions can target the right students with the right messages at the right time, significantly improving engagement and application rates. 

Understanding Where AI Is Used in the Admissions Process 

The admissions process, or funnel, represents the various stages a prospective student goes through, from initial awareness to final enrollment. At the top of the funnel—also known as the prospect, inquiry, and applicant stages—institutions focus on attracting a large pool of potential applicants through marketing and outreach efforts. The middle of the funnel involves engaging these prospects, providing them with information, and guiding them through the application process. The bottom of the funnel narrows down to the selection and admission of the most qualified candidates. College admissions AI tools can help at each stage.  

At the top of the admissions funnel, for instance, AI significantly enhances initial student engagement and application numbers. By handling difficult data analysis, admissions teams are freed up to focus on building relationships with prospective students. Othot looks at institutions’ historical data, as well as household and financial data, Census data, and other third-party information, to identify which students to target. Then, it offers personalized recommendations for communicating with those students, ensuring that messages resonate with individual interests and needs. This individualized approach can increase the effectiveness of marketing campaigns via Enrollment Marketing, leading to higher application rates. Additionally, AI can identify and target potential students who are more likely to enroll, optimizing recruitment efforts and improving resource allocation. 

AI also provides substantial benefits at the bottom of the admissions funnel, which includes the admit, deposit, and enrollment stages. Othot’s predictive analytics assess a multitude of variables to forecast outcomes like graduation rates and post-graduation success. These insights enable institutions to make informed, data-driven decisions, ensuring they admit students who are most likely to thrive. Othot can also help with financial optimization, analyzing how financial aid strategies can shape classes or boost enrollment. 

Challenges and Considerations for Implementing AI in College Admissions 

While AI in college admissions offers numerous benefits, implementing it in the process comes with challenges. Institutions must address ethical considerations, such as ensuring fairness and transparency in AI-driven decisions. Data privacy is another significant concern, requiring robust measures to protect student information. Additionally, integrating AI solutions with existing systems can be complex and resource intensive.  

Institutions can address these challenges and improve their college admissions process by: 

The potential benefits of AI in college admissions make taking these steps a highly rewarding investment for institutions focused on improving their processes and outcomes. 

AI is revolutionizing the admissions landscape, offering powerful tools to streamline processes and enhance outcomes. By leveraging AI solutions like Liaison’s Othot platform, institutions can improve their recruitment strategies, make data-driven decisions, and personalize interactions with prospective students. Although challenges exist, the benefits of AI in addressing the complexities of college admissions are undeniable. Embracing AI technology is a crucial step for institutions aiming to stay competitive and build better classes for the future. 


Discover how Liaison’s Othot can transform your institution’s admissions process. Visit our website today to get started on building a better class with AI. 

Liaison

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Over the last three decades, Liaison has helped over 40,000 programs on more than 1,200 campuses more effectively manage admissions through its Centralized Application Service (CAS™) technology and complementary application processing and support services. The higher education technology leader supports its partner institutions’ total enrollment goals by pairing CAS with its Enrollment Marketing (EM) platform as well as the recently acquired TargetX (CRM) and advanced analytics software Othot.