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1 Pre-Arrival and Enrollment: Turning Offers into Enrollments

Before students step foot on campus, a lot can happen. 

Between the acceptance letter and orientation day, they may feel uncertainty, isolation, and the fear of not fitting in. For institutions, this “waiting period” is where commitment can falter or strengthen, which directly impacts conversion. So ideally, it’s also when the foundation of belonging can be best targeted.

Goin’ changes that by giving your students access to their community where friendships and support networks begin forming immediately. These student-led spaces create real friendships and student support networks that reduce melt and boost confidence. The community is implemented with features designed to reduce anxiety and build excitement:

• Gamification elements that reward participation and encourage exploration that are Gen-Z proof
• Smart matchmaking and findability based on program, nationality, hobbies, and goals
• Focus groups for shared interests, cultural backgrounds, or practical questions
• Event boards to highlight digital and in-person gatherings
• Cross-layer engagement where offer holders connect with confident, current students
• 1:1 conversations and niche group chats for deeper relationships

At Utrecht University, 88% of students say Goin’ makes them more excited about starting their studies. At the University of Groningen, 94% feel less anxious about making friends. And at Erasmus University Rotterdam, 78% report greater confidence and reassurance about arriving on campus thanks to the platform.

This early sense of belonging becomes a powerful motivator to enroll and to stay

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2 Arrival and Settlement: Creating Real Community from Day One

Orientation Week is understandably one of the busiest, and most overwhelming, times for students. But it doesn’t have to feel isolating.

By the time students arrive on campus, Goin’ communities are already in full swing. Students are walking into lecture halls and student centers with 10, 20, even 30+ connections already made. At The Hague University of Applied Sciences, students begin with over 18 connections, and at Dublin City University, it’s more than 49, making it our most connected student community yet! In the end (or beginning :D) they know where to go, who to meet, and what to expect.

The community becomes a digital welcome mat, making campus transitions smoother and less stressful. Orientation becomes more about reconnecting or making that first physical touchpoint with new friends than figuring things out alone.

While numbers say a lot, the true impact comes when you hear stories like this from Umeå University for example:

“We’ve just finished the Orientation and Arrival for our new international students. I am happy to say that I discovered that many of our students have been using Goin’ to connect with each other. One lovely story I just heard about was a student who came with one of the last flights in the evening on Sunday. Our ambassador felt sorry for her, being the last one (alone) on the bus to the student areas and tried to explain where to get food and navigate her a bit.”

She replied: “No worries, I already got to know my corridor mates through Goin’ and they are cooking dinner for me as we speak so that we can have dinner when I get there”.  

That is just amazing what Goin’ can do for people. It almost made me cry.

Jessica Grahn, Community Officer at Umeå University

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3 Student Life After Arrival: Discovery, Identity, and Support - Goin’ Country Communities

University is a continuous journey of growth.

Even months into their programs, students are still figuring things out: how to manage academics, social life, part-time work, and their future. Many are still looking to discover who they are, where they belong, and what they want.

Our Country Communities, a product designed directly from the request of so many students, are especially popular among institutions, allowing students to meet others across the country, not just within their university. Whether studying in Groningen or Nijmegen, they can share housing tips, arrange meetups, or simply talk to someone who “gets it.

This student-driven system ensures ongoing engagement and support not just for first-years, but throughout the entire student lifecycle.

Current Students are now Champions

Goin’ supports this by offering students multi-layered opportunities to connect beyond the start of their studies. Students can still join new interest groups, regional and cultural networks, or get involved in student-led ambassador efforts. 

Additionally, 65% of students are open to become future champions on the platform because they know what it’s like and want to support the next generation. For universities, this means they can expect up to 70% drop in student questions that would normally be asked to staff, as the community organically supports itself.

This is highly more evident for larger universities like UCL, Hult International Business School, and The University of Toronto. Univerisity Staff are then able to focus on critical niche concerns from students.

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4 Global Mobility: Reducing Anxiety and Reigniting Excitement on Exchange

Leaving for a semester abroad can feel like starting all over again.

Students face new stressors: Will I fit in (again)? What should I prepare? Will I find my people again?

Through the Goin’ Abroad Network (GAN), students going abroad (and those arriving) can connect with other students from their university, and students from other universities going to the same destination ahead of time, share practical advice, and start friendships that last across borders. And it’s fully integrated with their home university community, making it easy to transition between communities.

Over 20,000 students are already using GAN to prepare for their study abroad journeys.

According to recent user insights:

• 90% felt less lonely when arriving to their host destination
• 85% felt more excited to go to their host destination before even arriving
• 58% of outgoing students say Goin’ made them feel better prepared for exchange

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Wellbeing as the Driver of Recruitment

Across all these stages, one thing remains constant: when students feel supported, they stay engaged.

The institutions that prioritize student well-being at every stage, from pre-arrival to graduation, won’t just attract more students, they’ll keep them, empower them, and turn them into advocates for life.

Goin’ creates student-led ecosystems where well-being, belonging, and recruitment naturally support each other. And because the platform runs with zero added work for staff, institutions can scale their impact without scaling their workload.

Over 110 institutions globally have led the way in proving what’s possible and we’ve now built over 400 thriving student communities, impacting over 1 million students worldwide.

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Want to build a student journey that’s as connected as it is successful?

Let’s talk about how we can help you increase conversions and well-being at every stage. You can schedule a meeting with us or Watch the demo to get ahead. We are here to ensure your students’ journey is one to never forget.

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