What is Typical?

I'm a big fan of demographics, pyschographics and sociographics.  So much so that I made them a key part of some of the presentations we've given at various industry conferences. They provide a useful way of creating personas that help your organization connect with prospects and students in a much more meaningful way than if you were to just fly blind.

However, despite how helpful it is to develop an archetype of your ideal student, it's always important to keep in mind that each person has their own individual likes/dislikes and motivations for seeking higher education.  

So while it's important to get an understanding of what your typical student looks like so that you can attract more "best fit" students just like them, know that there are always exceptions to the rules.  After all, as this National Geographic video reminds, that "typical" is relative.