Create Introductory and Instructional Text on Your Home Page
The text you include on the home page will be applicants’ first look at your program and school-specific information in the application. You should include an introduction, instructions on how to be a successful applicant, and important details about your program and school.
You can also include information on your specific requirements. Some examples include:
- Previously-earned degrees
- GPA
- Test scores, such as GRE
- Needed experience
- State restrictions
- Deadline requirements
- Supplemental applications or fees, if applicable
- Any optional information from the Supporting Information section that applicants should complete to apply to your program
You can include a link to your program’s page within your school’s website, but make sure that all pertinent information included on your website is also included in the home page text. This makes it easier for applicants to find the information they need in one place.
The home page is a required section in both the Configuration Manager and the CAS application. Applicants will view your program home page before submitting their application, even if you disable the optional sections.
Content Formatting Tips:
- There is no limit to the length of text, but 1,500 characters or less is recommended for the best visual display.
- Use the bold, italic, and underline options to format your text, as needed.
- Use the bulleted list, numbered list, and indent options to structure your text.
- Use the link icon to add links to websites or email addresses. Links open in a new browser window.
- If copying and pasting content from a website, first copy the content to Microsoft Word (or another text editing program, like Notepad) and format it to your liking. Then, copy it from the notepad and paste it into the editor.
Set Up Your Program Home Page Introduction
- Click the Branding link to open the Branding section.
- Click Edit Instructions.
- Use the HTML editor to create your content.
- Click Save.
Best Practices
Effective instructions are clear and concise. We also recommend including:
- A brief overview of the institution, department, or program,
- Clear, specific, numbered or bulleted instructions for applicants, including how to submit required items (e.g., GRE codes or international evaluations, where applicable), and
- A brief profile of what successful applicants to this program from previous years look like.
Limit the content you provide to what's relevant to the application process. Including too much information may cause applicants to miss important details. Also, limit the number of hyperlinks you include. These take applicants away from the application. Instead, where possible, summarize the information you wish to convey on the homepage.
Review this checklist when entering your program instructions:
- Do your program instructions match how you advertise your program on your institution's website and any additional CAS or association websites?
- Do all your URLs work?
- If you have different requirements for certain groups of applicants (e.g., domestic versus international applicants), have you clearly stated these requirements here and on your program website? These can include differences in fees, deadlines, documents, questions, evaluations, transcripts, tests, etc.
- If you require test scores, have you listed this requirement here and on your program website? Have you also listed how to send them (to the CAS or to your program directly) and the applicable code? You can add a question or document upload, if applicable, to ensure applicants submit their test scores.
Poor Introductory Text (lengthy paragraph; too many hyperlinks):
Good Introductory Text (mission statement clear; bulleted points for applicant requirements):
