On November 2, more than 26 admissions professionals attended the workshop on Recruitment and Marketing Strategies for schools of public health at the second annual ASPH Student Services Conference. The participants discussed successful recruitment strategies and outcomes. Most schools reported that their websites were a key factor in marketing their programs as well as a presence at select Graduate Recruitment Fairs, mainly those hosted by Idealist.org. Most schools were using the website as their primary recruitment tool, with some schools reporting a decrease in print material to advertise their programs. One challenge related to website maintenance for specific departments, as a graduate school audience has come to expect an up-to-date, dynamic website. Also, prospective students continue to seek out personalized responses to their questions. Many schools reported difficulty in managing large quantities of applicant and student emails.

Regarding representation at Graduate Recruitment Fairs, the majority of schools believed this to be a relevant recruitment activity since many prospective public health students want a personal connection when choosing a graduate school. The participants at this workshop articulated that showing a commitment to public health through participation in fairs was important to all of the schools.

SOPHAS has also become an important recruitment tool, as schools have combined forces to represent SOPHAS and promote the field of public health both on panels and at fairs. The majority of schools have reported an increase in both applications and enrollment as a result of the centralized application service.

Shannon Shelton
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health