Imagine if there were Google Profiles for colleges. Would yours get a five star rating? Or what if they came with ratings like the Michelin Stars? Well, the Ivy League would probably score a three or above.

But there are no stars to give—only opinions by enrolled students, alumni, and parents.

College is a big decision for every 18-year-old stepping out of their homes for the first time. And also a costly one without financial aid. For many, the transition from a community college to a four-year university is significant, and testimonials can provide valuable insights into this experience.

By offering student testimonials across touchpoints, you can inspire and assure applicants of why your institute is the right choice and show them why you’re indeed worthy of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.

Let’s see how.

Why do student testimonials matter?

Student testimonials are more than just words on a page; they are powerful narratives that offer a unique perspective on the student experience. These testimonials provide prospective students with invaluable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of an institution, helping them make informed decisions about their academic journey.

For prospective students, testimonials are a window into campus life, showcasing the real experiences of their peers. They highlight the quality of education, the vibrancy of campus life, and the support provided by faculty members. This firsthand information can be crucial in helping students choose the right institution for their higher education.

From a marketing standpoint, student testimonials are a goldmine. They serve as authentic endorsements of a school’s commitment to student success, encouraging students to pursue their academic goals with confidence. By sharing their experiences, students help shape the narrative of their institution, highlighting its values, mission, and culture.

Moreover, student testimonials provide valuable feedback to faculty members and administrators. They can identify areas for improvement and optimize their teaching methods, ensuring a better learning environment for future students. Testimonials also foster a sense of community and belonging, promoting a positive and supportive campus environment.

In essence, student testimonials build trust and credibility with prospective students and their families. They demonstrate a school’s commitment to transparency and accountability, showcasing student achievements and success stories that inspire and motivate current students to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits.

Why do student testimonials matter

When making a big decision—more than making the right choice, we want to avoid making the wrong one. The same goes for students choosing between colleges.

This is also when they lean into a psychological bias: Social proof. Students tend to follow in the footsteps of family, friends, or people they admire.

So, if we were to visualize, the college selection process would look like the image below.

Student testimonials give a peek into campus life beyond the classroom or what fits in the college brochure.

They provide a first-hand account of enrolled students and their experiences with sports clubs, volunteering, internships, workshops, and more. This is what informs and excites prospective students, helping them make a genuine connection and possibly apply or accept the offer. This firsthand information can be crucial in helping students choose the right institution for their higher education. Testimonials can also help students see how their education will impact their future career.

They serve as authentic endorsements of a school’s commitment to student success, encouraging students to pursue their academic goals with confidence. Testimonials highlight the support students receive in preparing for their future careers.

How to get student testimonials from prospective students?

You simply need to ask students for testimonials. But in doing so, there are two things to consider:

• Whom to ask?

• How to ask?

Firstly, what type of students should you ask for testimonials?

You want to ask (or attract) someone willing and comfortable facing a camera—if you’re going for a video testimonial.

Or someone passionate about building a personal brand, so they won’t mind seeing their faces appear in the public domain.

We recommend asking the following:

• Students who are aspiring leaders: Students actively engaged in clubs or those who are team captains are most likely to agree to an interview.

• International students: Many will have a story to tell, given they’ve traveled far for education. Having a diverse group of students is also a great bonus.

• Successful alumni who love the spotlight: If they’re budding entrepreneurs or ambitious, they’re likely to agree.

• Scholarship students: They’re usually coming from a place of gratitude. So, you can get some good tidbits about your institute.

5 Ways to ask students for testimonials (+ templates)

Now, singling out students for interviews is only half the work done. But how do you successfully approach students for a testimonial?

The following methods can help.

1. Personal outreach via email

This is the simplest way to reach the students you've shortlisted. You can also keep track of the emails sent and responses you get.

Below is a straightforward email template to use. (You can always modify the tone and content to fit your marketing needs.)

2. Share a form

In good old fashion, you can approach students using forms. Instead of handpicking students to interview or asking them to write a testimonial, simply send an interest form via email, share a link on your social profiles, or embed it on your website.

You can design the form to get their consent for in-person interviews. Or simply share specific prompts to help them write a testimonial. Here are five to consider.

3. Student ambassador/influencer outreach

If you have student ambassadors or student influencers on campus, you can directly reach out to them for two things:

• Ask for a testimonial: Since they’re already connected with the school as advocates, they also make the best type of students to interview. They’ll know exactly how to highlight and amplify your school’s story. Being a student ambassador also helps them develop valuable leadership skills, enhancing their communication and work ethic.

• Share the form URL: If they have built a solid following, why not politely ask them to share your testimonial form URL with their audience? And in exchange, you can offer a good incentive.

4. Get referrals from faculty members

After friends, students share the closest relationships with their teachers. So, who better to ask for referrals than the faculty? They can make some good recommendations and give you student leads to work with.

Here's a template you can use to reach out to them.

5. During in-person events

Timing is often key when seeking testimonials.

When are students most meaningfully engaged with your institute? It’s usually during special events like alumni reunions, career fairs, or expert-led workshops.

You can have a team ready with prompts and a camera. Do a quick round of interviews during such occasions as students are more likely to agree to one.

For example, Harvey Mudd College recorded its Alumni Reunion, moving from one student to another to grab interesting sound bites. And created a collage-like video for YouTube.

It’s paced well, engaging, and gives a ton of insights into the student's life.

Creating Effective Student Testimonials

Creating effective student testimonials requires a thoughtful approach to gather authentic and honest feedback. Start by asking open-ended questions that encourage students to share their thoughts and experiences. This approach ensures that the testimonials are genuine and reflective of the student’s true feelings.

1. Diversity is key. Collect testimonials from a wide range of students, representing different academic programs, backgrounds, and perspectives. This not only provides a comprehensive view of the institution but also ensures that prospective students from various walks of life can relate to the testimonials.

2. When crafting testimonials, aim for clarity and conciseness. Use language that is accessible and engaging to prospective students. Whether in video format, written quotes, or social media posts, the testimonials should be easy to understand and resonate with the audience.

3. Accuracy and relevance are crucial. Ensure that the testimonials reflect the current student experience and academic offerings. Outdated or inaccurate testimonials can mislead prospective students and damage the institution’s credibility.

4. Showcase testimonials in various contexts, such as admissions materials, marketing campaigns, and website content. Prominently displaying these testimonials demonstrates the institution’s commitment to student success and satisfaction.

5. Regularly review and update testimonials to keep them relevant and effective. This ongoing process ensures that the testimonials continue to promote the institution’s brand and values effectively.

Student testimonial examples: 5 Ways to showcase personal growth from current and past students

Below are some creative examples of how colleges use student testimonials to showcase expertise.

1. University of Portsmouth

There is a “Career in [discipline]” series on the University of Portsmouth’s YouTube profile, taking the viewers through a montage of perspectives from the professors and alumni.

What’s interesting is how they approach the topic from the employment standpoint: What skills are employers seeking? What skills will they learn at Portsmouth? The course material is designed to be relevant and applicable to students' future careers, ensuring they gain practical knowledge crucial for their professional and personal growth.

This works well in quelling the anxiety of students looking at colleges with or without a sense of what career they want in the future.

2. Cornell University

Most prospective students are curious to learn about life outside of academics. They want to know about the interests and hobbies they can pursue or continue in college.

Cornell University cleverly satisfies this curiosity on Instagram. They often share personal experiences of students finding acceptance and growth with extracurricular activities, like being the president of the school’s chess club.

3. University of King's College

The University of King's College uses a classic method to showcase student testimonials. They have ‘The King's Experience’ page showcasing interviews given by students and ambassadors.

It may seem like a simple interview, but the questions asked cover every important aspect: campus, extracurriculars, faculty, quality of life, and the university at large.

4. Johns Hopkins University

18%.) of the students surveyed ranked ‘Return on Investment’ as one of the top factors in choosing a college. This is a genuine concern, which is why Johns Hopkins University’s stress on internship opportunities is a marketing masterstroke.

They often share posts on Instagram cataloging where the students are interning (or research projects they’re working on). Students in software development programs gain relevant skills and confidence through these internships.

Great way of assuring prospective students who are probably snooping on social media.

5. UC Berkeley

What is studying at UC Berkeley like? What does ‘Be Berkeley’ mean to students?

To answer, Berkeley compiled a creative video with a montage of student interviews from diverse backgrounds, allowing for a broader representation. Students like to hear from students who look like them, adding a sense of security and affinity towards the institute.

In the video, students also take the time to bust myths like “It’s cutthroat” and talk about how brilliant the professors are. The video also covers the local culture, dorm life, and extracurriculars.

What’s even better? Berkeley has embedded the student testimonial video on their Admissions page. Excellent way of offering social proof.

Unconventional ways of gathering and showcasing student testimonials about campus life

Spotlighting alumni success

At 39%))), student outcomes (Like employability or graduate rates) are leading factors influencing the college selection process. Spotlighting how alumni of your institute are thriving in the real world is a card you should play well. Many alumni are pursuing or have completed their master's degree, showcasing the institution's role in their academic journey.

Prospective students not only get assurance, but they also start dreaming of achieving a similar feat one day. This emotional connection is what often boosts enrollment.

Falmouth University is brilliant at creating alumni success stories, especially for creative degrees (Think photography, graphic design, or filmmaking), which students are usually the most skeptical about.

For example, BA (Hons) Interior Design.

Amplifying student voices

If you provide a way for your current students to share their thoughts, many will. For example, Harvard College has a page dedicated to sharing “Student Life” nestled next to pages on “Admissions” and “Academics.”

This is a highly effective way to draw the attention of prospective students and get some behind-the-scenes content. And of their best are the student voices they highlight.

These detailed, reflective personal essays, while not direct testimonials, are excellent at setting expectations for potential students and representing the institute in a positive light.

Aggregating soft “reviews and testimonials” left on social media

Many alumni or families of the graduates express love, gratitude, and satisfaction by engaging with the institute’s posts on social media.

For example, the University of Iowa is often showered with praise on Facebook.

This post, in particular, was lined with positive comments, as shown below.

You can gather and aggregate the love you’ve received on socials (read: comments and shares) and curate a social media wall with Flocker, a social media integration tool. Let prospective students know what they can look forward to when they join.

You can also embed social media feeds on your school’s website to boost interactivity and present social proof to interested students.

The University of Liverpool uses Flockler to showcase a gallery of tweets spotlighting their DIE efforts with student volunteers.

Measuring the Impact of Student Testimonials

To measure the impact of student testimonials, start by tracking website analytics. Monitor the number of views, clicks, and engagement metrics to gauge how well the testimonials are performing. This data provides a clear picture of their effectiveness in capturing the interest of prospective students.

Conduct surveys and focus groups to gather direct feedback on the influence of testimonials. Ask prospective students how the testimonials affected their decision-making process. This qualitative data complements the quantitative metrics, providing a well-rounded understanding of the testimonials’ impact.

Conversion rates, enrollment numbers, and student retention rates are critical metrics. Analyze these figures to assess how testimonials influence student recruitment and retention. A positive trend in these metrics indicates that the testimonials are effectively contributing to the institution’s goals.

Content analysis is another valuable tool. By examining the content and tone of testimonials, institutions can identify areas of strength and weakness. This analysis informs marketing and recruitment strategies, helping to refine and optimize them.

Testimonials also provide insights into the effectiveness of academic programs, faculty, and campus services. Use this feedback to make data-driven decisions that enhance the student experience. Additionally, assess the impact of community engagement and outreach efforts by measuring the reach and engagement of marketing campaigns.

Regularly review and analyze the impact of student testimonials to refine marketing strategies, optimize website content, and enhance brand reputation. This ongoing process demonstrates the institution’s commitment to student success, accountability, and transparency, promoting a positive and supportive campus environment.

Finally, where to display student testimonials?

To maximize conversions through student testimonials, consider the journey a prospective student takes. Where do they look when researching a college?

• Admission pages because they’re often the first touchpoints

• Your institute’s social media profiles, where prospective students are often loitering

• Homepage if you have a high-quality video

• Alumni pages for testimonials by alumni

• Social profiles for alumni (if you have one dedicated solely to alumni association)

With Flockler, you can go a step ahead and aggregate student testimonials on social media by embedding them directly to Admission or related pages.

This is a highly effective way of giving your content a better shelf life while boosting engagement on the said pages.

FAQs

1. How to get student testimonials?

You can collect student testimonials through direct email outreach to students, sharing testimonial surveys, or creating a dedicated form for them to share their reviews of the institute.

1. What questions to ask for student testimonials?

Here are questions you can ask students to get testimonials:

• Are you enjoying your academic program?

• What made you pick our school? Have we met your expectations?

• How have your professors and peers helped with your academic and personal growth?

• What aspects of the university culture or values do you relate with the most?

• What are your classes/program like?

• How would you describe your time spent here?

• Can you share your experiences in specific programs like computer science and how the institution supports students in these fields?