Note: In this article, we provide an example based on an intake of 2,400 international students per cycle. If you’d like an editable version of the cheat sheet for your university, please reach out to cornelis@goinconnect.com.

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Setting Realistic Expectations in various categories

Aim for high outcomes, they are realistic and achievable. If your results fall into the low bandwidth, you’re paying too much and not getting the best value for your investment.

📌 Use this cheat sheet to evaluate your P2P platform provider and set realistic goals:

1 User Engagement

The key to real results is getting students to actually use the platform—a lot. And that’s not easy. With “community” now a buzzword in higher education, it’s essential to understand the requirements for not just having a community but getting actual results. And for that, you need much more than simple group chats.

Gen Z is used to platforms like TikTok, Little Red Book, Instagram, and Snapchat, many of them even consider WhatsApp outdated. The 😈 devil is in the details... Many have tried to copy TikTok or Instagram, but few actually get traction and engagement from this demanding audience.

So, what should you expect?

• Active Users: With 2,400 enrolled students per intake, you should see 600 (low) to 2,200 (high) active users. The more engagement, the stronger the community.
  
  
• Messages Per Cycle: Expect 80,000 (low) to 360,000 (high) total messages per cycle. High message volumes suggest strong communication and active participation among students. Note: This count should exclude messages sent by ambassadors.
  
  
• Active Students Post-Arrival: The best platforms don’t just work before arrival, they keep students engaged after enrollment. A 10% retention rate post-arrival is low, whereas 70% is high, ensuring ongoing engagement and integration.

2 Conversion and Retention Results

One of the key outcomes of a P2P community platform should be conversion, but there are significant differences in how each platform’s actions, algorithms, and features impact student conversion. As a result, outcomes can vary widely between platforms.

• Conversion Impact: P2P platforms can only increase conversion for students actively engaged in the community. Activation and user engagement are the first steps. However, once engaged, users should convert at a much higher rate than non-users. A 20% increase is considered low, while 400% is high.
• Retention Impact: Research has consistently shown that friendships strongly influence retention. They reduce dropout rates, improve student well-being, and enhance academic persistence. A 10% increase in retention among users vs. non-users is low, while 250% is high.

3 Operational Efficiency

Rule number one: A P2P community should save you time, not cost you time.

If the platform has the right level of engagement, features, algorithms, and services in place, it should drive operational efficiency, reducing staff workload while providing hours of free student support.

• Hours of Free Support: With an intake of 2,400 students, you should expect a significant number of free support hours generated within the community. Peer-to-peer support enables students to help each other, reducing the burden on staff. 1,000 hours is low, while 5,000 hours is high, creating a self-sustaining support network among students.
  
  
• Moderation Time: A highly engaged platform must ensure a safe, secure, and positive environment. Moderation is key, but you don’t want staff spending hours reading messages, taking action, or managing risks. Some providers fully handle moderation, accountability, and safety, while others shift this burden onto the university. Aim for less than 1 hour (high) to zero (low) of staff moderation time.
  
  
• Staff Hours Involvement: A P2P community should free up time, not add to staff workloads. 20 hours is already considered high.

4 Building Connections and Satisfaction

In the end, it’s not the platform that brings success, it’s the students. The true value of a P2P community lies in how well it connects students and fosters friendships. And when moving to a new place, nothing is more valuable than meaningful connections.

A P2P community platform’s effectiveness should be measured by its ability to help students build friendships and achieve high NPS scores.

What’s considered low vs. high?

• Connections/Friendships:
  
  • 12,000 (low) → 125,000 (high)
  • A well-connected community creates a spider web of impact that goes far beyond just conversion, positively shaping student lives and experiences.
    
    
• NPS Score:
  
  • 70% is low—yes, really.
  • 100% is high—this is what you should aim for.
  • Exceptional student satisfaction is a must, not a bonus.

Making Sure You Get Value for Money

Understanding these key metrics allows you to set achievable goals and negotiate better expectations with P2P platform suppliers.

While many providers promise comprehensive solutions, not all deliver the same level of impact. This cheat sheet helps you assess whether your provider’s results align with realistic and attainable benchmarks or if you’re paying too much for too little. A P2P platform isn’t just a tech investment, it’s a strategic one. When implemented effectively, it brings significant ROI by improving conversion, retention, and student satisfaction. 

Set clear expectations, ask the right questions, and use this cheat sheet to ensure your P2P platform delivers real impact.

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