At Western Kentucky University, recruitment isn’t just the work of one office—it's a shared effort that lives in every corner of our campus. Whether you teach in a classroom, advise a student organization, meet families on a campus tour, or simply show what it means to be a Hilltopper in your daily interactions, you play an essential role in helping future students find their place on the Hill.
This recruitment guide was created as a resource for our entire campus community. Our goal is to make sure every faculty and staff member has the information, tools, and context needed to support prospective students and help them begin their climb. When we all understand how the recruitment pipeline works, we are better equipped to serve students and strengthen WKU’s future.
As you connect with high-schoolers, community members, visitors, or even your own networks, we ask for your partnership in getting students into our recruitment pipeline. By submitting prospective student information at wku.edu/learnmore, you help us create a record for the student, ensure they receive timely communication, and start them on their journey to becoming a Hilltopper. Even one referral can make a difference.
Thank you for the work you do every day, for the pride you bring to WKU, and for the impact you have on the next generation of Hilltoppers. Together, we can continue to share the WKU experience with students who will thrive on this Hill.
Go Tops,
Morgan Gossett Director of Enrollment Marketing & CRM Solutions
APPLICATION PROCESS
QUICK REFERENCE
Application Homepage: wku.edu/apply
Alternative Application Source: Common App
Application Fee: $50
Required Documents: An official high school transcript is required for all incoming first-time, first-year students. Test scores (ACT or SAT) is required for incoming first-time, first-year students with less than a 2.5 unweighted high school GPA.
GETTING STARTED
Homescreen
Current applicants or returning students should login.
*If a student has applied to WKU before, such as for Dual Credit, they can login to their existing application account and simply begin a new application.
Students who apply via the Common App should still visit this page to view their Application Status Portal and keep tabs on their application progress.
*This will simply have Common App submitters to set/reset their WKU account password.
**This link also works for any student who has an account but forgot their password -- even those who did not apply via the Common App.
Students who have never applied to WKU should create a new application account.
After applying, a student can also visit this site to login to their application status portal and check the status of their application.
We encourage all students to become familiar with this portal after applying as this is where we will provide them with additional application checklist items and enrollment process next steps.
What this means for YOU!
You don't have to memorize every step and send students to multiple different places. Instead, this portal guides students based on their unique path.
THE ENROLLMENT CHECKLIST
Enrollment is not a single decision—it’s a series of small commitments made over time. Students may complete checklist items weeks or even months apart, and that’s okay. We've created an easy to follow enrollment checklist for students in their application portal so they can stay on track at their own pace.
From the application status portal, all admitted first-year students have an enrollment checklist. The checklist includes the following steps:
• Register for Orientation
• Apply for Housing
• Complete the TOPDollar Application
• Accept Scholarships
• Complete the Honors College Enrollment Form
• Register for M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan
Checklist items will be marked off in realtime as a student completes each task.
Note
Not all students have the same checklist. Items appear only when they apply to a student’s situation.
ORIENTATION REGISTRATION
Orientation is a key enrollment milestone, not just a formality. We consider orientation registration the "official form of commitment" to WKU for incoming students. Orientation helps students feel prepared, connected, and confident before the semester begins.
Orientation registration typically opens in November-December every year for students interested in enrolling the following fall semester.
To register for orientation, a student should log into their application status portal at apply.wku.edu/status/portal and select "Register for Orientation" from their enrollment checklist. This will then direct the student to their orientation portal where they can select an available orientation date from the calendar.
Once a student selects a date, they will confirm their information and add guest information on the registration form and then conclude with paying the orientation fee. Their orientation registration is not locked in until the fee has been submitted.
*Students do not need to have every detail of their college plan finalized to register for orientation, but orientation dates are determined by academic college, so it is important that a student confirm their major before registering. If a student decides to change majors after an orientation date has been booked, they should confirm that their new major is still available to attend orientation on that date by emailing top@wku.edu.
HOUSING APPLICATION
Applying for housing doesn't lock a student in, but it does ensure they keep their options open. Applying early gives students the greatest flexibility when it comes to housing options, roommate selection, and hall placement.
To apply for housing, students should visit their application status portal at apply.wku.edu/status/portal and select "Apply for Housing" from their enrollment checklist. This will open the preliminary housing application form. This form includes general information about living preferences before asking the student to sign the housing contract and submit their housing fee. For students who are under 18 at the time of application, the student will be asked for additional parent/guardian information and a copy of the contract will be sent to them as well.
After completion of the housing application through this form, they will receive additional information from HRL directly regarding roommate selection, hall selection, etc. Housing staff will guide students through next steps after the initial application is submitted—students are not expected to navigate the process alone.
ACCEPT YOUR SCHOLARSHIPS
Accepting a Scholarship at WKU does not create any financial obligation for
REGISTER FOR M.A.S.T.E.R. PLAN
M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan is WKU's five-day transition program for all new undergraduate students and is designed to help students smoothly transition to their new life as a Hilltopper. All new, full-time undergraduate students are eligible to participate in M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan which allows them early move-in opportunities, entrance to special events, and additional first-year programming.
To register for M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan, a student should visit their application status portal at apply.wku.edu/status/portal and click "Register for M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan" From there, the students will need to sign the participation contract, provide their t-shirt size, and submit their registration fee.
Participation in M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan is optional, but highly encouraged to assist students with a smooth transition.
Recruitment doesn’t end when a student submits an application—and it doesn’t belong to one office alone. Every conversation, interaction, and moment of encouragement helps shape a student’s decision to take their next step toward becoming a Hilltopper.
From the first introduction to the final enrollment checklist item, students rely on clarity, consistency, and support. When faculty and staff across campus understand the enrollment process and feel confident guiding students to the right resources, we reduce uncertainty and create momentum.
You do not need to have all the answers. Often, the most impactful thing you can do is:
• Encourage a student to stay engaged
• Reassure them that questions are normal
• Direct them to the Application Status Portal as their starting point
When students know where to go and what to expect, they are more likely to follow through.
THE ONE THING TO REMEMBER
If you are ever unsure where a student is in the enrollment process, ask them to log in to their Application Status Portal.
That single step gives students:
• A clear view of their progress
• Personalized next steps
• Confidence in what comes next
And it gives you confidence that the information they see is accurate and up to date.
Thank you for the role you play in helping future Hilltoppers find their place on the Hill. Together, we ensure that students don’t just apply to WKU, but they feel supported every step of the way as they climb to greater heights.
