RE: Data collection

["Alan Meekings" <alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk>]

Here are some thoughts . . .

You ask:

"I am interested in doing some simple data gathering about 

1. Average time it takes for a prospective student to go from making out the
application to the time of acceptance or rejection, and

2. How effective our various methods of student recruitment are."

For Point 1, track individual application times (from application to
acceptance or rejection). 

Don't track averages - averages won't give you the insights you seek.

For instance, if you were an orthopaedic department in a hospital with, say,
around 500 referrals a month, track individual times from referral to
initial consultation. Then you can see the full extent of variation.

For Point 2, the necessary steps would seem to be:

(a) Define your 'various methods of student recruitment'
(b) Define what 'effective' recruitment means in this context
(c) Define appropriate measures against this definition of 'effectiveness'
(some may be subjective, others objective)
(d) Track and chart performance against these measures

I do hope this helps.

Regards,
 
Alan
 
Email: alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk
Mobile: 07785 258 741