a: we are looking for at least a couple of answers like the ones given below:

　　· improve/enhance recruiting messages (e.g., understand target candidate group, refocus message on this group, understand competitive dynamic on campus)

　　· utilize referrals (e.g., faculty, alumni)

　　· come up with creative ways to target specific departments/clubs of the school

　　· rethink advertising spending - while increasing blanket ad spending doesn\''t seem to work, advertising might still be the most efficient and effective way to increase the number of candidates if it is deployed in a more systematic, targeted way

　　this question is a good one for demonstrating creativity because there\''s a long list of possible ideas. additional insights into how a given idea would be approached and how much it would cost are helpful.