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In the brave new world of podcasts and blogs, Facebook and CollegeConfidential.com, The Princeton Review and the College ******* book series, colleges and universities no longer have a corner on the market of what gets published about them. In one respect, a new admissions initiative called insideColby takes the if-you-cant-beat-them approach, encouraging students to join the fray.
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<p>But of course, the actual article itself:</p>
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insideColby.com is the new Web site, launched in April, thats at the center of a constellation that includes a new print magazine, blogs, podcasts, photos, profiles, and interactive featuresall content produced by Colby students.
<p>It's not only Colby, of course. I've been receiving quite a few print magazines recently, Ithaca, Mt. Holyoke, among others. Blogs, profiles, and photos have been around for a while. This is the first website dedicated solely to the promotion of a college I've seen, though. Anybody know of any others? It'd be useful if we could compile a list. I wonder if many colleges will soon start websites catering to student produced propaganda...</p>
<p>I like this move towards the student perspective :) Admittedly, however, it does mean more for me to read. Well, I suppose it certainly beats browsing US News Statistics ;)</p>
<p>Swarthmore moved to this kind of a "student voice" model several years ago. It started with an admissions DVD called "Swarthmore Unscripted" which featured interviews with a half dozen students and then followed these students around campus: to the classroom, to professors offices, to rugby practice, to the mail room, to a campus party, etc.</p>
<p>At the same time, the viewbook was changed to the same kind of format: featuring student stories.</p>
<p>The admissions website follows much of the same pattern. The online campus tour features students introducing their favorite places, a freshman student's blog each each, links to the student produced syndicated radio show "War News Radio", and so forth.</p>
<p>The whole idea (including the overall website concept) is to give voice to the students, faculty, and alumni of the college rather than a detached "institutional" voice.</p>
<p>I think there's a tradeoff. Along with increased "authenticity", you also get students presenting a more "raw", unpolished perspective than the old days of the slick brochures of old, with nothing but perfect lawns and perky students. For example, freshman blogs may include entries about being homesick or feeling the pressure of work during exam week -- the sorts of things an "Ozzie and Harriet" college promo effort might not want to feature. For that reason, I'm not sure how widespread the trend will be.</p>