a community of practitioners

Surviving the economy!

How are you, as a school, keeping your brand alive during these challenging times? What have you noticed...more enrollments or feeling a little stuck?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Shulte on October 29, 2009 at 12:59pm

Class size is starting to shirnk. The hardest hit is our public clinic.

Permalink Reply by Stan Dawson on October 30, 2009 at 9:42am

We are holding steady in enrollment for the year. That is up significantly from 2007, when we added Title IV. Our website and word of mouth are sustaining us

Permalink Reply by Gina Simpson on October 30, 2009 at 9:45am

Does your school offer federal funding as a way to pay for your program? It isn't too late to get started because it opens doors you didn't know ere there.

Jennifer Shulte said:

Class size is starting to shirnk. The hardest hit is our public clinic.

Permalink Reply by Angie Patrick on November 4, 2009 at 3:01pm

Do you offer Tuition Equipment packages that are rolled into your tuition prices? I have seen this become a deciding factor when students are torn between two relatively close schools...They look at what they will have in hand at the end of their education; some have certification and licensure, and some have these plus the tools and equipment they need to begin practice.... Have you found this can help you increase your enrollment?

Permalink Reply by Gina Simpson on November 5, 2009 at 10:29am

We have found that packaging everything (books, table, handouts and all licensing expenses required for Colorado) has really helped students to enroll right away because money is tight and they really don't have any expendable income to put out there for these additional expenses. Title IV programs will assist in paying all of the expenses included in a student's enrollment contract as the total of tuition and fees.

Angie Patrick said:

Do you offer Tuition Equipment packages that are rolled into your tuition prices? I have seen this become a deciding factor when students are torn between two relatively close schools...They look at what they will have in hand at the end of their education; some have certification and licensure, and some have these plus the tools and equipment they need to begin practice.... Have you found this can help you increase your enrollment?

Permalink Reply by Angie Patrick on November 5, 2009 at 11:16am

I have found this to be true all over the US... I deal with literally a thousand + schools directly, and they all seem to be looking for a fix. I share with them th same idea; "Package it all, and they will come...." If the package sales we drive are any indicator, it seems to be helping.
My office ( Corporate Sales for Massage Warehouse) puts packages for Equipment, Lubricants, and Supplies together for schools, and we can customize them depending on volume. We have worked to build packages for all sizes and all budgets. It is a powerful marketing tool in your arsenal in that you have what many others do not offer, a means to begin a practice at the end of the education...That, and being rolled into tuition as well is a far more effective draw than offering a fine education only....

Gina Simpson said:

We have found that packaging everything (books, table, handouts and all licensing expenses required for Colorado) has really helped students to enroll right away because money is tight and they really don't have any expendable income to put out there for these additional expenses. Title IV programs will assist in paying all of the expenses included in a student's enrollment contract as the total of tuition and fees.

Angie Patrick said:
Do you offer Tuition Equipment packages that are rolled into your tuition prices? I have seen this become a deciding factor when students are torn between two relatively close schools...They look at what they will have in hand at the end of their education; some have certification and licensure, and some have these plus the tools and equipment they need to begin practice.... Have you found this can help you increase your enrollment?

Permalink Reply by Stan Dawson on November 9, 2009 at 11:59am

We have been packaging table, books, etc. for several years. I recently added board and licensing fees after talking to Gina at an ABMP meeting. I find that this feature is very attractive to prospective students and is one of the reasons they site for choosing our school out of the 20 plus programs in the Atlanta area.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Shulte on November 9, 2009 at 1:14pm

Thanks Gina. Cant wait to see you again this year. We are title IV. Our program double in size from 2008-09. But now we are slowing down just a little.

Gina Simpson said:

Does your school offer federal funding as a way to pay for your program? It isn't too late to get started because it opens doors you didn't know ere there.

Jennifer Shulte said:
Class size is starting to shirnk. The hardest hit is our public clinic.

Permalink Reply by Emmanuel Bistas on November 10, 2009 at 10:25am

It has been a great year. 2008 was not, but 2009 more than made up for it. We are not Title IV, students pay out of pocket.

Permalink Reply by Gina Simpson on November 10, 2009 at 11:12am

Good for you Emmanuel that you have not had to refer to the Title IV programs, you are unique in the fact that this year is better than last for your school. Keep up the good work!

Emmanuel Bistas said:

It has been a great year. 2008 was not, but 2009 more than made up for it. We are not Title IV, students pay out of pocket.

Permalink Reply by Melissa DeFrancesco on April 26, 2010 at 3:57pm

Hey Gina! As I said at the forum this year, I started a page on facebook for our massage therapy program. My initial intent was for students to be able to connect and chat with each other but it has turned out to be a wonderful, and FREE, marketing strategy. Other people follow the page and contact me regarding how to get enrolled. Let me know if you need help starting your own page!