From Vanity Metrics to Real Results: Rethinking Higher Ed Marketing

In this eye-opening episode of The Enrollment Clinic, we sit down with Robert Kadar, Senior Director of Marketing at Yeshiva University, to challenge one of higher ed’s most sacred cows: the lead form. Robert reveals the data behind why 85–90% of enrolled students never filled one out — and why most universities are optimizing their digital marketing for the wrong audience.
We unpack:
The fatal flaw in most higher ed ad strategies
Why your lead gen obsession may be costing you quality applications
The shift from form-filling to intent-tracking
The overlooked power of audience targeting and landing page design
How to talk to your leadership team about ditching vanity metrics
If you’re in enrollment marketing, admissions, or digital strategy, this is a must-listen episode—time to stop chasing ghosts — and start optimizing for the students who actually enroll.