7. Connecting students

Instead of confining student interactions with applicants to designated event times, some colleges are making connections through the chat platform Unibuddy. There, users who have questions are virtually introduced to student ambassadors, where they can correspond at their convenience. The company, which announced a $20 million Series B funding round in July, says it works with more than 500 universities.

University of California recruitment director Jessica Stern told EdScoop that the platform also offers potential international applicants a way to connect directly with current students to get authentic feedback on the institution.