Thiel College Admission team using new online platform to engage with prospective students

Posted October 16, 2020 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The Thiel College Office of Admission is using a new online platform to connect and communicate with prospective students. Admission counselors have been hosting events using PlatformQ Education throughout the fall semester to engage students by providing admission, financial, and campus life information.

The first event held by the Admissions office using PlatformQ Education was an application workshop that had 49 participating students. More than 40 percent of those prospects became inquiries, according to Admissions Counselor Caitlin DeSantis. Additionally, the events are held in the early evening to provide flexibility and convenience for high school students and their families.

“It’s enhancing our student engagement strategy through pre-recorded and live videos and events, email campaigns, live chats (including “office hours” for counselors), as well as providing to us analytics from the events to help us keep improving,” DeSantis said. “For our prospective students, it allows flexibility when learning about Thiel because they can watch our videos on their own time if they’re not available during the event time.”

PlatformQ Education is transforming the world of enrollment management. Presently, over 200 colleges and universities utilize its resources which enable institutions to connect with students at every stage of the recruitment process. The program is also designed to facilitate communications with other audiences as well, including international students, parents, counselors, education agents, and transfer applicants.

CollegeWeekLive was launched by PlatformQ Education in 2007 to bring students and institutions together in virtual college fair environments. Since then, the program has developed new features meant to aid in the admission process, which include online chats and live video streaming. PlatformQ is now widely utilized by institutions to develop stronger relationships with audiences and to find solutions for progressing enrollment efforts.

In September, through PlatformQ Education, the College hosted events with topics ranging from the application process to campus life and available scholarships. Future events will run from October through December and will be geared toward admitted students to provide them with FAFSA, student loan, and financial aid package information. Campus events including Fall Open House and Instant Decision Day will also be held virtually by the College using PlatformQ.

“PlatformQ has allowed us to hold more events, which has made us more accessible to our students during Covid-19. It’s being well received,” DeSantis said. “We’ve had great attendance at our virtual events that we may not have had at on-campus events due to Covid-19. Our virtual events will only get better from here as we are able to showcase more faculty, staff, and students.”