Do 9th Graders Care About College Yet?

About The Episode: In this episode of the High School to Higher Ed podcast, hosts Kevin and Emma Cavanagh explore the perspectives of ninth graders regarding college. They discuss the relevance of college messaging, the characteristics that matter to students, and how colleges can improve their communication strategies. Emma shares her thoughts on what colleges should focus on to engage students effectively, emphasizing the importance of social media and personalized communication.

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Key Takeaways

• Ninth graders are generally not focused on college yet, with most prioritizing grades and extracurricular activities.
• Schools should focus their messaging on tips for succeeding in high school rather than direct college recruitment.
• Personalized and grade-specific communications are more effective for engaging younger students early in their academic careers.
• Social media is a better platform for reaching students like Emma than email or physical mail, which are often ignored by this age group.
• Colleges should consider building early awareness without heavy-handed recruitment, by offering helpful, non-intrusive content like study tips and AP course suggestions.

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Episode Summary

Do Ninth Graders Really Care About College Yet?
As Kevin asks Emma directly, she gives a frank answer: not really. Emma rates her interest in college at about a "two" on a scale of one to ten, sharing that she and her friends are far more focused on adjusting to high school life, maintaining good grades, and building a strong resume. At this stage, students are aware that college is in their future, but they aren't ready to dive deep into specifics. Colleges that want to engage with ninth graders should avoid overwhelming them with application information and instead focus on more age-relevant content.

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What Characteristics Matter to Ninth Graders?
When thinking about college, Emma highlights a few factors that stand out to her, such as available majors (journalism is a key interest), the prestige of the school, and the presence of extracurriculars like fencing. Location is also an important factor, with Emma noting she wants to be close enough to home but still in a big city with a lively campus atmosphere. The discussion emphasizes that while college might not be top-of-mind for ninth graders, they do have preferences that start to shape their future search.

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What Should Colleges Focus on in Ninth Grade?
Emma shares that many of the communications she's received from colleges are missing the mark—particularly long emails, brochures, or invitations to open houses that don't feel relevant at this stage. Instead, she suggests that schools focus on offering helpful, grade-specific content, such as advice on how to succeed in high school, prepare for AP classes, or start thinking about extracurriculars that could bolster a college application down the line. Rather than pushing visits and applications, colleges should aim to be seen as a friendly resource.

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How Can Colleges Reach Ninth Graders Effectively?
Traditional communication methods like email and brochures are losing their effectiveness with younger generations. Emma points out that she rarely checks emails or looks at the mail that comes to her house, and suggests colleges shift their focus to platforms where students are already spending their time—social media and digital advertising. Additionally, personalized messages, such as birthday emails or fun, lighthearted content like quizzes, can help build a positive connection without being too pushy.

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Enrollify is produced by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

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