As scholarship cycles move into late fall, many admins start wondering: Are we on track?
Applications are open, outreach is rolling, and the holidays are right around the corner, but it’s still too early to stress about final numbers. This is the perfect moment for a pulse check, a quick look at mid-cycle indicators that can tell you whether your program is trending toward success.
1. Don’t Obsess Over Total Counts (Yet)
Midway through an application window, raw submission numbers rarely tell the full story. Many students start their applications now but won’t finish until the final weeks, especially once winter break hits and they have more free time to focus on applications.
Instead, look for steady growth in started applications and return visits. These show your messaging is landing and students are exploring your opportunity, even if they haven’t hit submit yet.
💡 In Kaleidoscope, you can visualize started vs. submitted applications in your reporting dashboard to see how momentum is building week by week.
2. Measure Engagement, Not Just Activity
Healthy cycles show consistent applicant engagement, questions coming in, FAQs being viewed, recommendations requested, and partial saves increasing.
If engagement has gone quiet, that’s a sign to refresh communication: send a reminder, highlight a success story, or share a quick “how to make your application stand out” tip.
💬 Use Kaleidoscope’s built-in communication tools or SMS messaging to nudge applicants at just the right time, without overwhelming their inboxes.
3. Monitor Application Quality
It’s not just how many applications you have, it’s who’s applying.
Review a small sample of in-progress or early submissions to ensure your outreach is reaching the right students. If applicants seem off-target, you still have time to adjust your eligibility description or clarify criteria on your landing page.
📊 Create a custom report in Kaleidoscope to filter by demographics, school, or GPA to ensure your applicant pool aligns with your program goals.
4. Keep Your Team Aligned
The pre-holiday stretch is also a good time to align your internal stakeholders.
Make sure reviewers know the timeline, your team understands when communications are going out, and everyone’s expectations are calibrated heading into December. A short check-in now saves January headaches later.
Final Thought
A healthy mid-cycle doesn’t mean having record-breaking numbers; it means having momentum, engagement, and visibility into what’s working.
By taking a calm, data-informed pulse check now, you’ll roll into the holiday season confident that your scholarship is on track and ready to finish strong in the new year.
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