7 Proven Ways to Personalize the Admissions Process Using AI

Last Updated on December 13, 2024 by iSchoolConnect

The college admissions process is evolving, and students now expect a more personalized and seamless experience. With AI technology, institutions can meet these expectations while improving efficiency and outcomes. At the forefront of this revolution is EDMO, whose AI chatbot, powered by Salesforce’s Agentforce, sets a new standard for tailored engagement and support.

Let’s explore seven proven ways AI can help personalize the admissions process:

1. Tailored Communication

Customizing communication for students can be incredibly time-consuming when done manually. Counselors often need to research individual student profiles, track their web activity, and create tailored messages—a process that can quickly become overwhelming.

EDMO’s AI chatbot, powered by Salesforce’s Agentforce, eliminates this burden by automating the personalization process. By analyzing students’ web activity, expressed interests, and other profile data, the chatbot generates custom messages for counselors to review and send. These communications are precise and aligned with each student’s journey, ensuring relevancy and timeliness without sacrificing human oversight.

Example: A prospective engineering student might receive content about the university’s engineering program, research opportunities, and faculty achievements, while an art major would see messages about the arts department and creative workshops.

2. Smart Chatbots for Instant Assistance

EDMO’s AI chatbot, powered by Agentforce, represents the next generation of student support. This advanced tool handles a high volume of inquiries, providing quick and personalized responses. Using natural language processing (NLP), the chatbot understands and answers questions about application requirements, scholarships, deadlines, and more in real time.

Key Benefit: Agentforce ensures students feel supported 24/7 without overburdening admissions staff, fostering trust and engagement throughout the admissions journey.

3. Customized Application Portals

AI can adapt application portals based on the user’s profile and preferences. For example, solutions like Slate or Technolutions allow institutions to create tailored interfaces for applicants, displaying personalized prompts and resources. These systems can provide custom dashboards that highlight application progress, deadlines, and even program-specific requirements.

For advisors, AI-powered dashboards like those offered by TargetX or Salesforce Education Cloud enable access to enriched applicant data, making it easier to track student progress, identify engagement patterns, and provide actionable insights. These tools streamline the workflow for admissions teams, enhancing their ability to guide applicants effectively.

Impact: This creates a more intuitive application experience for students while equipping advisors with the data needed to offer personalized support, ultimately reducing frustration and dropout rates.

4. Predictive Analytics for Admissions Guidance

Earlier waves of predictive analytics focused primarily on determining which programs a student might apply to, but today’s advanced systems take these capabilities even further. Modern predictive analytics tools can assess a wide range of metrics, including a student’s likelihood of performing well academically, their enthusiasm for the institution, confidence levels, and other nuanced factors previously difficult to measure.

These insights enable admissions teams to go beyond program matching, offering guidance tailored to the student’s potential fit and long-term success at the institution. By understanding these deeper metrics, institutions can make more informed decisions and foster better outcomes for both students and the university.

Example: An AI system could identify that a prospective student not only excels academically in business-related fields but also demonstrates leadership and collaboration skills, making them an ideal candidate for specialized programs like entrepreneurship or business honors tracks.

5. Hyper-Personalized Financial Aid Recommendations

Financial aid is a critical factor for many students. AI can analyze an applicant’s financial situation and recommend the most suitable scholarships, grants, or payment plans. This not only reduces the financial burden but also demonstrates the institution’s commitment to student success.

Programs like iSchoolConnect are specifically designed to help international students navigate the complexities of the financial aid process. These tools enable students to connect with relevant programs, find scholarships tailored to their profile, and help finalize their college choices, leading to more informed and confident decisions. Federal Financial aid has grown drastically in recent years and creating systems for instant financial aid recommendations can save admissions officers and students time.

Result: Students feel valued and supported, leading to higher acceptance rates and stronger enrollment outcomes for universities.

6. Dynamic Virtual Campus Tours

AI-powered virtual tours can be customized to highlight areas of interest for prospective students. For instance, an athlete might explore sports facilities in depth, while a science enthusiast could dive into lab spaces and research centers.

Why It Works: Personalized tours provide a more engaging experience, even for students who cannot visit campus in person.

7. AI-Driven Application Feedback

Some AI tools can provide real-time feedback on applications, such as essays and resumes. This helps students refine their submissions and ensures they present their best selves to the admissions committee.

Recent research from the National Institute of Health highlights how AI can measure personal qualities in essays equitably and transparently. By fine-tuning AI models with human-coded data, researchers demonstrated how AI can reliably assess personal qualities like leadership and prosocial purpose—key predictors of college success—across demographic groups. This approach offers a cost-effective, transparent alternative to traditional holistic reviews, which are often criticized for being opaque and resource-intensive.

Outcome: Higher-quality applications and a better chance for students to stand out.

---

The Bottom Line

AI is transforming the admissions process into a personalized journey that meets the needs of both students and institutions. EDMO’s innovations, including the Agentforce-powered chatbot, showcase the potential to redefine engagement, streamline admissions, and provide equity-focused solutions. By leveraging these tools, colleges can enhance the applicant experience, improve enrollment rates, and build stronger connections with future students.

As one expert pointed out, “By establishing clear, practical guidelines for AI tools from the start… schools can set expectations for prospective students and ensure AI tools are used ethically and effectively throughout their academic journey.”

Are you ready to revolutionize your admissions process? Let EDMO help you create experiences that matter.