Student vlogs are powerful recruitment tools. They offer a window into campus life that brochures and official websites simply can’t provide. But not all vlogs are created equal.
To truly connect with prospective students and drive conversions (like inquiries and applications), your vlogs need to be more than just a highlight reel.
They need to be honest, authentic, and follow a structure that builds trust.
Here is a breakdown of how to move beyond the polished promotional video and create student-led content that actually works.
The Power of Authenticity Over Polish
Prospective students are savvy; they can spot a scripted marketing video from a mile away. What they crave is a genuine look at what it’s really like to be a student at your institution.
They want to see the messy dorm rooms, the late-night study sessions, and the genuine interactions between friends.
This doesn’t mean your vlogs should be unprofessional, but it does mean you should prioritize authenticity over perfection.
A shaky camera shot or a slight stumble in speech is far better than a robotically delivered script.
Encourage your student vloggers to be themselves, to share their real thoughts and feelings, and not to shy away from showing the less glamorous aspects of student life.
Honesty builds trust, the absolute bedrock of any successful recruitment strategy.
Using the “Day in the Life” Narrative Structure
A rambling video without a clear focus will quickly lose a viewer’s attention. To keep your audience engaged, frame your vlogs around a simple, relatable narrative structure.
The most effective and easiest to implement is the “Day in the Life” formula.
This structure provides a natural beginning, middle, and end to your video. It allows you to showcase a variety of different aspects of the student experience in a cohesive way.
For example, a vlogger could start their day by showing their morning routine in their dorm, then take viewers along to a couple of classes, grab lunch with friends at the dining hall, and then head to the library for a study session where they might be overheard saying, “I need to find someone to write my research paper from scratch so I can focus on this exam.”
This structure strips away the ‘sales pitch’ vibe. Instead, it allows prospective students to mentally trade places with the vlogger and visualize their own future on campus.
What to Include
Within the “Day in the Life” structure, there are key elements you should aim to include to provide a comprehensive and engaging view of your school.
- Academics: Show, don’t just tell. Instead of just having a student say, “The classes here are great,” have them film a snippet of a lecture, a lab experiment, or a study group in action. This gives viewers a tangible sense of the academic environment.
- Campus life: Highlight the non-academic hubs where the campus community truly comes alive. This could include the dining halls, the student center, the gym, or the quad. These are the places where the campus community really thrives.
- Dorm life: For many prospective students, this will be their first time living away from home. Seeing a real dorm room, meeting a roommate, and getting a sense of the residential experience is huge.
- Future success: Don’t forget to also touch on what happens after graduation. A quick mention of the career center or a recent alum’s success story is powerful. This signals that your school champions students’ career trajectory, not just their education.
Managing Your Student Creators
Creating impactful student-led content doesn’t just depend on the videos themselves, it depends on the people behind the camera.
To keep your vlogs authentic, diverse, and engaging, you need a thoughtful approach to choosing and supporting the students who represent your campus.
With the right structure, your creators become powerful storytellers who naturally showcase what makes your institution unique.
The “Vlog Squad” Strategy
One student cannot represent your entire campus population. Relying on a single “face” of the university limits your reach significantly.
You need a rotating “vlog squad” representing different majors and backgrounds. Find a Pre-Med student to show the intensity of the labs. Recruit an Art major to showcase the creative energy of the studios.
This diversity ensures every prospective student feels seen and represented. It allows viewers to find a specific personality they resonate with. It also prevents viewer fatigue from watching the same person every week.
The Importance of Student Choice and Voice
The key to making this work is to let your student vloggers take the lead. Don’t give them a rigid script or a shot list.
Instead, provide them with the general “Day in the Life” framework and some guidance on the key elements you’d like them to cover.
Then, let them loose. Let them choose which classes to film, which friends to include, and what aspects of their day to highlight.
Their unique perspective and personality are what will make the vlog engaging and authentic.
This not only results in better content but also empowers your current students, making them feel like valued members of your marketing team.
Driving Results and Reach
To get the most value from your student-led vlogs, you need more than great storytelling, you need a strategy that turns attention into action.
This is where thoughtful conversion tactics and smart distribution come together.
When done well, your videos don’t just inspire prospective students; they guide them toward meaningful next steps with your institution.
The Conversion Element
While the primary goal of these vlogs is to build trust and engagement, you still want them to drive a specific action. This is where a subtle but clear call to action (CTA) comes in.
At the end of the video, have the student vlogger encourage viewers to take the next step. This could be as simple as:
- “If you have any questions about life at [University Name], drop them in the comments below!”
- “Check out the link in the description to sign up for a campus tour.”
- “Click the link in our bio to explore the programs we covered today.”
By including a clear CTA, you can turn passive viewers into active leads, moving them one step closer to applying to your school.
Distribution Strategies
Creating the video is only half the battle. You need to make sure prospective students actually see it. Don’t just bury the video on a hidden page of your website.
Post the content natively to the feeds where Gen Z actually lives. YouTube is great for the full-length “Day in the Life” cuts, while TikTok and Instagram Reels are perfect for short, punchy teasers. Link these snippets back to the full video to drive traffic and maximize your cross-platform reach.
Final Thoughts on Filming
You don’t need expensive equipment to film a great student vlog. A decent smartphone camera is often all you need. The most important things are good lighting and clear audio.
Encourage your vloggers to film in well-lit areas, preferably with natural light, and to speak clearly and directly to the camera.
Finally, don’t over-edit. A few simple cuts to keep the video moving are fine, but avoid overly flashy transitions or effects.
Remember, the goal is authenticity. The more real and relatable your vlogs feel, the more effective they will be at connecting with prospective students and driving conversions for your school.
