Three Wins This Week: Your September Success Plan

The first week of September feels like drinking from a fire hose, doesn't it?

No matter how much you plan, the demands just keep coming—urgent requests from admissions, last-minute event changes, endless meetings added to already packed calendars. Some days, it can feel like you’re constantly putting out fires and never truly gaining ground. The to-do list grows, but the sense of progress? That’s harder to come by.

Here’s the truth: You can't do everything—but you can do three things exceptionally well.

As students have moved in and families watched anxiously, below are three things to focus your energy on where it matters most.

Thing One: Perfect Your Fall Event Promotions

Your September recruitment events are crucial for next year’s enrollment pipeline. Here’s how to maximize them:

Key Actions:

• Audit your event messaging:

  • Review every promo piece for open houses, tours, info sessions, and fairs.

  • Ask: Does it answer real student/family concerns (Will I fit in? Is this investment worth it?) or is it just generic?

• Try the "One Parent Test":

  • Show your promo to someone outside higher ed marketing.

  • If they hesitate or seem confused, revise for clarity and value.

• Create urgency without panic:

  • Use specifics, e.g., “Join 15 students and 3 faculty members for an intimate preview.”

  • Avoid sounding desperate (“Register now – limited spots!”).

Don’t Forget: Update event confirmations. Send “What to Expect” emails—cover key info like parking, what to bring, and who they’ll meet.

Thing Two: Master New Student Social Engagement

New students are forming lasting impressions—and sharing them with peers.

Steps to Take:

• Launch a #FirstWeekFeatures campaign:

  • Encourage sharing of authentic first-week stories with your branded hashtag.

  • Focus on real moments—getting lost on campus, finding surprise connections, trying new clubs.

• Engage authentically:

  • Comment meaningfully on student posts: reference their photo, mention a professor, etc.

  • Go beyond generic likes and emojis!

• Create content for parents, too:

  • Share reassuring behind-the-scenes glimpses (staff checks, support services, campus safety in action).

Pro Tip:Track what resonates. Is it study spaces, club life, or athletics? Use this data to steer future content.

Thing Three: Amplify Your Back-to-School Brand Story

September is a unique chance to tell your institution’s authentic story of transformation and belonging.

What to Focus On:

• Find real transformation stories:

  • Highlight transfer students, first-gens, returning grad students—genuine voices over scripted content.

• Repurpose stories for different audiences:

  • Tailor the same story for newsletters (alumni), social (prospects), email (donors).

• Tie success to your mission:

  • Spotlight how institutional support made a difference (career services, mentorship).

• Match timing to September’s emotional arc:

  • Early month = excitement; Mid-month = routine & challenges; Late month = homesickness.

  • Address these feelings in your content.

Bonus Idea: Start a “September Success Tracker” to capture and share wins all month.

Your Week Ahead

You have three priorities—not thirty. Not thirteen.

• Perfect fall event promotions—clear, compelling, and urgency-driven.

• Master new student social engagement—be authentic and inclusive.

• Amplify your brand with genuine stories and strategic timing.

Next week: three more priorities as students settle in and routines form.

Remember: You don’t have to do everything—just these three things well.

What will you tackle first?