diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/start-here-roadmap.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/start-here-roadmap.yml
index 69050895..84f9717a 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/start-here-roadmap.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/start-here-roadmap.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-name: "Start Here: Student Course Roadmap"
-description: First-stop guide for students to follow setup, challenges, and support resources in order.
+name: "Course Roadmap Check-In (already enrolled students)"
+description: For students who already have a learning room. Enrolling? Use "Workshop Enrollment - New Student Fast Path" instead.
 title: "Start Here: Student Course Roadmap (@{username})"
 labels: ["onboarding", "student"]
 body:
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ body:
       value: |
         ## Start Here: Student Course Roadmap
 
+        > **Not enrolled yet?** This form does not enroll you. Use the
+        > [Workshop Enrollment form](https://github.com/Community-Access/git-going-with-github/issues/new?template=enrollment.yml&title=%5BENROLL%5D+GIT+Going+with+GitHub)
+        > instead - it asks for your name and email and creates your private learning room.
+
         Use this issue as your launch point for the full workshop path.
 
         ### Step 1: Open the Roadmap
diff --git a/.github/workflows/learning-room-pr-bot.yml b/.github/workflows/learning-room-pr-bot.yml
index c3fcc606..bc06a059 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/learning-room-pr-bot.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/learning-room-pr-bot.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,13 @@ jobs:
   welcome-issue-timer:
     name: Welcome to Your First Issue
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name == 'issues' && github.event.action == 'opened'
+    # Skip intake issues (enrollment/registration): those get their own
+    # automation comments, and a "first issue" greeting there confuses
+    # brand-new learners mid-signup.
+    if: >-
+      github.event_name == 'issues' && github.event.action == 'opened' &&
+      !startsWith(github.event.issue.title, '[ENROLL]') &&
+      !startsWith(github.event.issue.title, '[REGISTER]')
     steps:
       - name: Greet First Issue
         uses: actions/github-script@v8
diff --git a/.github/workflows/registration.yml b/.github/workflows/registration.yml
index 8c52bf11..1a4ce573 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/registration.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/registration.yml
@@ -247,7 +247,25 @@ jobs:
               '',
               `Hi ${displayName}, we could not process enrollment because some required values were missing: ${process.env.MISSING_FIELDS}.`,
               '',
-              'Please edit this issue and add the missing information, then comment `ready` so a facilitator can retry.'
+              'This usually happens when the issue was created from a different template than the enrollment form, so the name and email questions never appeared.',
+              '',
+              '**Easiest fix:** edit this issue and paste the lines below at the top of the issue body, filling in your details:',
+              '',
+              '```markdown',
+              '### Full Name',
+              '',
+              'Your Name Here',
+              '',
+              '### Email Address',
+              '',
+              'you@example.com',
+              '```',
+              '',
+              'To edit: open this issue, find the **Edit** option on the first post (in the `...` menu at the top right of the post), make the change, and select **Update comment**.',
+              '',
+              'When you are done, comment `ready` so a facilitator can retry.',
+              '',
+              'Prefer to start over instead? Use the enrollment form directly: https://github.com/Community-Access/git-going-with-github/issues/new?template=enrollment.yml&title=%5BENROLL%5D+GIT+Going+with+GitHub'
             ];
 
             await github.rest.issues.createComment({