This article is part of the Slate AI series. Each article focuses on one practical prompt, how to refine it, and how to review the output before using it.
The prompt
"Can you rewrite this text message to sound friendly, concise, and natural for students?"
Use this prompt when an SMS draft has the right information but reads like an email, a formal notice, or a copied announcement. Text messages work best when the reader can understand the purpose quickly and knows what to do next.
This kind of revision can help with common enrollment communications, including event reminders, missing-material nudges, deadline prompts, and yield-stage follow-up.
Why it works
The prompt gives Slate AI a specific editing task. It asks for a rewrite, defines the audience, and names the qualities the message should have.
Friendly keeps the message approachable without making it overly casual.
Concise helps remove extra context, repeated details, and phrasing that belongs in email instead of SMS.
Natural for students gives Slate AI an audience to write for, which helps the response avoid institutional wording.
You can make the prompt more useful by adding a character limit, a specific audience, or the next step the message should include.
What Slate AI might suggest
For a draft message like this:
Dear Student, this is a reminder that Fall Preview Day is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Saturday.
Please arrive 10 minutes early. Contact the admissions office with questions.Slate AI might return a shorter version:
Quick reminder: Preview Day starts at 9 AM on Saturday. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. Text back if you have questions.
It might also offer a warmer version:
We're excited to see you Saturday. Preview Day starts at 9 AM. Arrive a few minutes early if you can. Text here if anything comes up.
When you review the output, look for whether Slate AI:
Removes unnecessary formality.
Replaces "contact the admissions office" with a text-friendly next step.
Keeps date and time details easy to scan.
Adds warmth without changing the purpose of the message.
The best version is usually the one that keeps the message short and still tells the student what to do next.
Add a follow-up prompt
After Slate AI rewrites the message, ask for versions for different audiences:
"Can you give me three versions of this message: one for students, one for parents or guardians, and one for counselors?"
This can turn one SMS draft into a small communication set:
Student: Preview Day starts at 9 AM on Saturday. Come a few minutes early if you can. Text me here with any questions.
Parent or guardian: Preview Day begins at 9 AM on Saturday. Your student can arrive a few minutes early. Reply here if you need details.
Counselor: Preview Day starts at 9 AM on Saturday. Students can check in a few minutes early. Text back if you need roster updates or attendance details.
Review each version before using it. Slate AI can adjust tone and length, but you should confirm that the message matches the audience, the sender, and the communication plan.
Reframe for a specific use
Small changes to the prompt can help Slate AI produce versions for different enrollment goals.
...to encourage students who have not confirmed attendance: Focus the message on confirmation and avoid assuming that the student already plans to attend.
...and include one reason to attend: Add a brief value statement about the event, community, or next step.
...for incomplete applicants who still need to submit materials: Turn the message into a task-completion reminder.
...and keep it supportive for students who might be nervous about visiting campus: Use a reassuring tone without adding extra length.
Use one reframe at a time. If a prompt asks for too many changes at once, the output can become longer than a useful text message.
Prompt template
"Can you rewrite this text message to be [tone] and fit within [constraint], ending with a clear next step for [audience]?"
Use these examples to fill in the template.
Tone
Friendly
Encouraging
Urgent but polite
Warm and welcoming
Constraint
Under 160 characters
Mobile-friendly
Written at a seventh-grade reading level
No jargon
Audience
Prospective students
Parents or guardians
Counselors
Admitted students
Incomplete applicants
Try another prompt
Use one of these prompts when you want to revise or draft an SMS message:
"Can you make this text shorter and more personal without losing any important details?"
"Can you rewrite this message so it sounds more encouraging for students who have not started their application?"
"Can you draft an SMS reminder for an upcoming event that includes a friendly next step?"
"Can you create three text variations for admitted students who have not submitted housing forms?"
Use Slate AI to get to a stronger draft, then review the result before sending. Confirm the message is accurate, short enough for SMS, and clear about the next step.