Although many academic institutions, including schools and colleges, have relied on traditional spreadsheets, emails, and paper-based forms to manage student enrollment and admissions, it is often time-consuming and inefficient. On the other hand, the introduction of holistic admission management software has streamlined the admissions process and given academic institutions access to various features that make their enrollment and student insights more efficient.
Let us look at a comprehensive comparison of how an integrated admission management software competes with traditional admission systems.
Traditional Admissions Management System
Features
Paper-based school data management software processed by admissions staff.
Manual data entry into individual spreadsheets for data collection and enrollment.
Manual decision-making based on details submitted by the applicant.
Benefits
Cost-effective and inexpensive to implement and maintain.
Highly flexible, as the admissions committee has more control over decision-making.
It is easy to collect non-traditional data, such as essays and recommendation letters.
Possibility to track errors between paper-based forms and spreadsheets.
Challenges
Labor intensive, time-consuming, and inefficient as paper-based forms need manual data entry.
There is a high risk of human error due to manual data entry and decision-making.
Limited transparency and challenging to scale for large institutions.
Admission Management Software
Features
They are connected to an online application and a centralized school admission management software.
A central built-in communication system, such as emails, to message students.
It can be integrated with student information systems (SIS) and payment processing systems (PPS).
It can generate analytical reports based on applicant data and admission trends.
Real-time tracking of student applications.
Benefits
Automating tasks within the admission process, such as data entry, document review, and communication, can free up admissions staff’s time, which can be spent on more strategic tasks.
Cloud-based data storage reduces the need for physical storage on premises.
Decision support tools reduce errors during the admission and enrollment process.
Reduced workload can enhance admissions staff communication with current and potential students.
Data-driven insights can improve the admission and decision-making process.
Challenges
Small academic institutions with limited budgets cannot implement advanced school management software.
Lack of compatibility and technical expertise with legacy systems.
Payment processing system (PPS) integration can be time-consuming and complex.
Requires enhanced security and privacy due to cybersecurity risks.
Which is right for you?
It depends on an academic institution’s specific needs and budget whether admission management software or traditional admission system is right for them. However, a school management system like Skoolify can be an excellent start to move towards an automated admissions process. Even if it is a small academic institution, automation can help reduce human error risk and streamline school management processes.
Starting with a small admissions management system can provide schools and universities with trends and insights that can lead to strategic decisions, such as expanding premises or adding more teachers to reach an optimal student-to-teacher ratio. According to the University of Texas at Austin, classrooms with optimal student-to-teacher ratios scored higher on standardized tests and had fewer behavior problems than students in classrooms with higher student-to-teacher ratios.
These insights and many more trends can be analyzed by connecting advanced school management software to legacy systems.
Conclusion
Admissions Management Software can be a valuable tool for schools and universities looking to improve their admission process. It is essential to carefully consider the challenges involved before implementing AMS and choose an AMS system that suits the institution’s specific needs and long-term goals.
