The college decision journey isn’t linear — it’s a roundabout. Students may enter with commitment in mind, but the journey rarely feels straightforward. They need to navigate factors like cost, rankings, and social pressure, merging from different paths, and sometimes circling back entirely. In this data-driven session, we’ll break down insights from a survey of over 2,200 recently enrolled students on how Gen Z makes enrollment decisions—and what institutions can do to improve yield, reduce melt, and build lasting student connections. All survey findings are shared in the MeetYourClass enrollment survey report – The 2025 College Decision Playbook: Social Media, Platforms, and Factors Driving Student Enrollment Choices.