Admission Dean Reveals the Admissions Funnel: The Moves That Matter

How do colleges move students from the first point of contact to enrollment, and how much of the admissions process is actually within a student’s control? In this episode of Your College-Bound Kid, Mark and Andy Strickler take a closer look at the college admissions funnel, from prospects and inquiries to applications, admission offers, deposits, and enrollment. They explain how student engagement can influence the journey and why meaningful connections with a college can matter. Important Takeaways for Families: How the college admissions funnel works The difference between prospects, inquiries, applicants, and admits Why do some students become more engaged than others How campus visits and interviews can influence student engagement What “Inquiry Plus” means in the admissions process Why yield matters to colleges How affordability, value, and outcomes influence enrollment Why interviews can give students another chance to show who they are How colleges communicate career and graduate school outcomes What does summer melt mean, and why may deposited students not enroll How colleges can help admitted students feel connected Why finding the right community can influence enrollment What students can do to take more control of the admissions process The conversation also explores how the admissions process has changed over the years, why students can now enter the funnel at different stages, and how families can think beyond rankings when evaluating a college. Most importantly, Mark and Andy explain that students control many parts of the admissions journey through meaningful engagement, even though the college ultimately controls the admission decision. 👉 What part of the college admissions process do you think students control the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and subscribe to Your College-Bound Kid for more college admissions insights. #YourCollegeBoundKid #CollegeAdmissions #CollegeAdmissionsFunnel #CollegePlanning #CollegeSearch #CollegeApplications #CollegeVisits #CollegeInterviews #CollegeAffordability #CollegeEnrollment