The line graph illustrates the number of enquiries received by a University Admissions Office through three channels – telephone, letter/email, and in person – during the first six months of 2021.
Overall, enquiries made in person rose dramatically and became the most common method by the end of the period. Telephone enquiries also increased considerably after an initial dip, whereas correspondence by letter or email showed a steady decline throughout the six months.
At the beginning of the year, letters and emails accounted for the largest number of enquiries, at approximately 900, followed by telephone calls at around 800. In contrast, only about 400 people visited the office in person. During February, both telephone and written enquiries fell slightly to roughly 800 and 700 respectively, while face-to-face enquiries climbed to 600. By March, telephone enquiries had recovered to around 1,000, whereas in-person visits reached 800, overtaking written correspondence, which remained at about 700.
From April onwards, the pattern changed markedly. The number of people making enquiries in person increased sharply from approximately 1,250 in April to 1,600 in May, before peaking at about 1,900 in June. Telephone enquiries, after remaining stable at around 1,000 in April, rose steadily to 1,400 and then 1,600 in the final two months. By contrast, enquiries sent by letter or email declined continuously from around 550 in April to roughly 350 in both May and June, making this by far the least popular means of communication by the end of the period.