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AI Gamification for Higher Ed Admissions

Universities lose millions each cycle because applicants stop midway. Change that by gamifying your enrollment experience and move your applicants through each stage from start to finish.

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1 in 4 applicants who start an application will never submit it. Here’s where the break happens

The friction sits in predictable places that compound into thousands if not millions in tuition fees.

  • Every abandoned application represents lost tuition revenue
  • Generic layouts fail to capture attention or create emotional connection
  • Long forms overwhelm students with too many fields at once
  • Students abandon when confused about requirements or next steps
  • Universities lose qualified candidates who simply give up halfway
  • Admissions teams spend hours chasing incomplete applications

Projected financial impact: This is how one US university avoids the leak

At AnyforSoft, we’re currently building a gamified application system for a US university to drive their completion rates and eventually reshape their annual revenue. The expected outcomes are:

  • only 7.5–13% enrollment growth needed to hit that impact, based purely on finishing what applicants already start
  • 30-40% increase in application completion rates
  • $7.5M projected annual revenue at an average value of $15,000 per enrolled student
  • 333–500 additional finished applications from the existing prospect volume

Raising completion is just the start. Here are more benefits of gamified admission experience

AI-powered program matching

The system suggests programs that align with student interests and past achievements. Students find their fit faster, and admissions attracts candidates who belong.

Content personalization

Content adapts to applicant type: athletes, adult learners, transfers, international each see tailored suggestions. Relevant info keeps them engaged throughout the process.

Early identification of strong candidates

The system flags promising applicants even if they haven’t completed the form yet. Admissions can reach out to top candidates before they drop off.

Reduced administrative load

The system tracks progress automatically and flags incomplete applications. Teams spend fewer hours chasing missing documents and more time reviewing qualified files.

Brand integration

Students discover your university as they move through completion levels. The application becomes part of your brand story.

Emotional engagement

Progress tracking, achievements, and guided assistance make the process feel rewarding. Students stay motivated and develop a positive association with your institution before they even enroll.

You don’t need more prospects. You need more of the existing ones to reach the end of the process.

Contact AnyforSoft and see a live PoC of what your gamified application might look like.

What the system looks like in practice

While moving through a branded quest, candidates build their avatar, unlock achievements, and progress through visual levels while your AI assistant guides them. Each completed step feels like a win and keeps them moving toward submission.

Core features your system might have

At AnyforSoft, we build all things custom, so the final system will be tailored to your requirements. But here are the most requested features we might build for you:

Structured micro-steps

The application form is divided into clear stages that students complete one at a time. Each level shows visible progress and reduces overwhelm.

Completion incentives

Students earn badges and see completion percentages as they advance. Small wins maintain motivation throughout the process.

Avatar evolution

The student’s avatar transforms as they complete steps. Watching their character grow makes students more committed to finishing.

AI assistant

A chatbot provides real-time guidance and answers questions during the application. Students get unstuck instantly instead of abandoning the form to search for answers.

Program recommendations in context

The system suggests programs based on student inputs and interests. Better program fit means higher yield rates and stronger student-program alignment.

University life updates

The interface shows real-time peer activity and offers quick actions like virtual tours or advisor connections. Students get to know your university while completing the application.

Application dashboard

Admissions sees finished and unfinished applications with insights into promising candidates. Teams identify strong prospects even before submission.

Who it’s for

Enrollment & Admissions teams

Gain more completed files, cleaner data, and earlier indicators of which applicants are truly advancing. Less time spent chasing missing pieces and more time spent shaping the cycle.

Marketing teams

Set your institution apart. The application flow becomes a controlled brand environment with consistent messaging and clearer behavioral data.

Leadership & Decision-makers

Drive your application completion rates which will translate directly to revenue growth. Get with clear ROI projections based on your current funnel data.

More higher ed projects from AnyforSoft

We’ve helped universities build custom solutions that solve enrollment, engagement, and operational challenges. See how similar institutions achieved their goals with tailored technology.

Our Process

1

Discovery

2

Design

3

Development

4

Testing

5

Launch

Looking for a reliable custom software development partner?

Share your details, and we’ll follow up to discuss how to build tech into your enrollment flow and get the max out of your pool of applicants.

Let’s talk
Vlad
Vlad

Business Development Manager

Anatolii
Anatolii

CEO

FAQs

How long does it take to implement the gamified application system?

The timeline depends on the scope of customization and integration requirements. A typical implementation takes 3-5 months from discovery to launch, including design, development, testing, and integration with your existing systems.

Can the system integrate with our existing Student Information System (SIS) or CRM?

Yes. We build the system to work with your current tech stack, with different integration points depending on your workflow.

We integrate with CRM platforms like Salesforce, Slate, and TargetX. This integration allows you to:

  • Sync gamified application progress with your prospect tracking
  • Trigger automated follow-ups based on where students stop
  • Flag high-potential candidates in your existing CRM workflow.

We connect the gamification block with SIS platforms like Ellucian, Workday, and Oracle. This integration allows you to:

  • Transfer completed application data directly into student records
  • Eliminate manual re-entry when moving from applicant to enrolled status
  • Maintain a single source of truth from first click to graduation

Beyond CRM and SIS, we integrate with application management tools, analytics platforms, and reporting systems to ensure the gamified experience fits into your complete enrollment technology ecosystem.

This list isn’t exhaustive. Tell us which platforms you use, and we’ll build the integrations you need to ensure seamless data flow without manual re-entry.

What happens to applications that students start but do not finish?

The system tracks all applications in progress and flags incomplete submissions. Your admissions team gets:

  • Real-time visibility into where students stopped
  • Insights into which steps cause the most drop-off
  • Ability to send targeted follow-up communications
  • Early identification of promising candidates worth pursuing

This data helps you both recover abandoned applications and improve the process for future applicants by identifying friction points that cause students to drop off.

How do we identify and reach out to promising candidates who have not completed the form?

The system includes lead scoring that evaluates applicants based on the information they’ve provided so far. Even incomplete applications surface candidates with strong academic backgrounds, relevant interests, or high engagement levels. Your team can reach out proactively before these students abandon the process.

Can we customize the gamification elements to match our brand and mascot?

Absolutely. Every visual element is tailored to your institution:

  • Avatar design based on your mascot
  • Achievement badges reflecting your values and programs
  • Color schemes matching your brand guidelines
  • Level themes tied to your campus culture
  • Content and storytelling aligned with your messaging

The result is an application experience that feels authentically yours, not like a generic template. Students recognize your brand identity from the first interaction.

How does the system help us stand out from other universities?

Most university applications look and feel identical. This system transforms the application into a memorable brand experience. Students remember the institution that made applying feel engaging rather than tedious, and that impression influences their final enrollment decision.

What does custom development of a gamified application system cost?

Costs depend on the features you choose and the level of integration with your current enrollment / CRM systems. Most projects begin in the $50K–$75K range and scale from there based on scope.

Many institutions see the financial return within a single admission cycle when completion rates rise.

We prepare a detailed cost breakdown during discovery, once your requirements and technical environment are clear.

How long before we see results after implementation?

You’ll see data immediately after launch. Meaningful trends typically emerge within the first application cycle (2-3 months), showing:

  • Completion rate changes compared to previous cycles
  • Drop-off points in the application flow
  • Engagement metrics and time-to-completion
  • Candidate quality indicators

Full ROI assessment requires a complete enrollment cycle (one academic year) to measure the impact on actual enrolled students.

What can we do if our target audience fails to engage with gamification?

The system is designed with flexibility in mind. During testing, we validate that your specific audience engages with the mechanics. If certain elements don’t resonate, we can adjust the gamification intensity, modify visual elements to be more subtle, focus on progress tracking and personalization over game mechanics, or A/B test different approaches with different applicant segments. The goal is engagement and completion, not gaming for its own sake. We adapt the approach to what works for your audience.

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