Seasonal Mission Ideas for High-Impact Student Engagement
Overview
This guide offers a set of mission ideas aligned to the admissions cycle. Each section reflects what students typically need at that time of year, helping you deliver timely outreach that supports recruitment, yield, and enrollment success. Use these ideas to plan ahead and keep your communications relevant throughout the year.
🍂 Fall: Recruitment and Applications
Fall is a high-activity period when students are exploring options, visiting campuses, and preparing their applications. Missions during this season should support application generation, event engagement, and early funnel movement.
Mission Ideas
Application pushes and deadline reminders
Campus visit invitations for in-person and virtual events
Follow-up messages after tours, interviews, or information sessions
International student outreach tailored to country or region
Promotion for open houses or regional counselor visits
Targeted missions based on academic or extracurricular interests
Scholarship application and deadline reminders
Direct Admit–specific yield support
☃️ Winter and Early Spring: Financial Aid and Commitments
As students shift from applying to deciding, your guidance helps them navigate financial aid and commitment milestones. Missions should reduce friction, clarify requirements, and encourage next steps.
Mission Ideas
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion reminders
Deposit submission prompts with clear instructions
Financial aid next-step guidance, including document checklists and timeline clarity
🌻 Spring: Yield and Onboarding
Admitted students begin shaping their plans. Missions should reinforce excitement, answer questions, and direct students toward required onboarding tasks.
Mission Ideas
Invitations to admitted student events and yield programming
Housing application reminders
Health form and immunization requirement reminders
Other onboarding task prompts tailored to each program or student segment
☀️ Summer: Melt Prevention
Students benefit from consistent, supportive communication as they prepare to arrive on campus. Summer missions should reinforce connection, surface helpful resources, and keep students moving toward enrollment.
Mission Ideas
Anti-melt check-ins that maintain confidence and belonging
Reminders for any outstanding onboarding tasks
Welcome messages that introduce campus resources, community expectations, and support structures
Sample Missions Chart
Mission | Objective | Timing | Audience | Success Criteria |
Campus Visit Push (Email) | Highlight the importance of visiting campus and include testimonials from current students about how a visit influenced their decision. Provide RSVP link. | Every 10 days, no more than 5 communications | Prospects in Tier 1 states (CO, WY, NM, UT, ID) and Greek life prospects | Prospect signs up for campus visit |
Scholarship Spotlight for High-Achievers (SMS) | Short, clear alerts such as “Apply now for [Scholarship Name]. Don’t miss out!” Include direct link to application. | Every 7 days, no more than 4 communications | High-achieving prospects (test scores, GPA, leadership involvement) | High-achiever applies for scholarship |
Explorer & Outdoor Interests Engagement (Email) | Showcase outdoor programs, clubs, and leadership opportunities. Include story links for information sessions. | Every 14 days, no more than 3 communications | Students with outdoor interests, “Explorer” CV archetype students | Position the campus as the natural fit for exploration and outdoor leadership opportunities |