Importing students

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Start your Student Import by clicking the "Student Import" button as shown below:

Alternatively, on the Students tab you will see an "Imports" subsection with a similar butto

Clicking the button will take you directly into the workflow for importing students:

Note: Spreadsheets must be saved as either an .xls, .xlsx, or .csv file.

Depending upon the number of students in your file, it may take a few moments for your data to import. When the upload is complete you will see a portion of your spreadsheet  and you'll be able to map student attributes:

Note: First names, last names, emails, hometowns, and zip codes are all required.

Then just verify your student previews and map any parent emails :

You can then begin to customize your message to students:

You will see {{name}} in the body of your email. This text acts as a placeholder for the student's first name. Do not alter the formatting for this field. 

Note: You may change your default welcome email at any time by going to your settings page.

You can edit the welcome letter directly from this screen or click Preview Welcome Email to see a sample of the email notifications your students will receive:

If the student email meets your approval, click Looks Good! If not, choose the Go Back option to make changes.

Note: Merit always provides an easy opt-out method at the bottom of every email notification.
 

Frequently asked questions about importing students:

What happens if I import a student that already has a page?

If the email address for the student matches up to an existing person in Merit, they will NOT have a new page created for them. If that student was previously enrolled at another school, they will become affiliated with your institution. 

If the student's email address DOES NOT match up to an existing person, Merit will create a new page for the student using the information in your spreadsheet. 

If you choose to send welcome emails as part of your student import, Merit will ONLY email students who had pages created as part of this import. Students with existing Merit pages will not be contacted.

Can I use the Student Import feature to update student profiles in bulk?

Yes. A student import is the best way to add or update information about all your students at once. For example, you may need to add class years, CEEB codes, majors/minors, or parent emails to student profiles in bulk if that information wasn't already included in Merit. Just include these new or updated fields in a spreadsheet and map them upon import. 

Note: If you're using the Student Import feature to do these kinds of updates, you will want to uncheck the "Send Welcome Emails" box to avoid contacting students at the same time.

Can I save my student import as a draft?

Yes. Merit will temporarily save your student import as a draft inside your account. If you're unable to finish the process in one sitting, just visit the  Achievements section of your account at a later time and click on Drafts to resume your import.