Prize-Winning "Propaganda"

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Yesterday, Bob Turba (Chairman of School Counseling Services at Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville, FL) amused me and probably countless other readers of the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) listserv, when he wrote this:</p>

<p>
[quote]
... I know that colleges put a lot of thought, time, and effort into creating their viewbooks. Some are elegant, some are short and concise, while others are "yawn" (with all due respect). There are a few every year, however, that catch my eye and gain a nod of approval for their creativity and relevance. So, without further ado, I present my nominations for the Golden Globes of college viewbooks.</p>

<p>(a few disclaimers: I'm not being paid by any of my nominees; this post is not meant to offend any that aren't on the list; and, for those of you as old as I, I used to love to peruse the Whole Earth Catalog and the Last Whole Earth Catalogs and loved their formatting)</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Top nominee goes to the School of Visual Arts for their combined catalog/viewbook that I think they call "Proof." This <em>is</em> the Whole Earth Catalog reincarnated.</p></li>
<li><p>Ithaca College for their "fuse" publications. Wonderful stories, catchy formatting.</p></li>
<li><p>Colgate for "Just The Facts." The Whole Earth Catalog brought into the 21st century.</p></li>
<li><p>Swarthmore for their booklet. This is also up for the "Most Creative" award. It is just full of fun-reads and eye candy.</p></li>
<li><p>Pomona for My Pomona - The Owner's Manual. Nice to have a little Bucky Fuller still remembered.</p></li>
<li><p>Georgia Tech for its single sheets describing the various essential information for applicants, Applying for Financial Aid, Visiting, etc. Nice use of formatting and colored boxes.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I know I don't see every booklet that comes into the office, and my exposure is limited to those colleges that send their stuff my way, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Bob's hit parade (as well as his Whole Earth Catalog reference, which made me wax nostalgic, too), led me to wonder if CC members can suggest other great college publications ... especially those that helped to put an unknown school on the target-college list or to bump a lower-ranked one up the roster. </p>

<p>Any more nominees?</p>

2

<p>I always laughed at Harvey Mudd’s stuff.</p>

3

<p>Kenyon’s was amazing. They sent stuff often from postcards to really elaborate booklets. I signed up for it, though.</p>

4

<p>Yes, Kenyon’s is beautiful. Definitely the most attractive I have seen.</p>

5

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<p>That’s quite a funny title for people who remember a certain '80s song and its spoof by Weird Al. </p>

<p>I am beguiled by the University of Chicago postcard series, especially the postcard that looks like it is coffee-stained.</p>

6

<p>Agree about those UChicago postcards. I found them quite intriguing, although my twin juniors tossed them into the circular file. :rolleyes: I’ll bet they really appeal to “true” UChicago “wannabes.”</p>

7

<p>I thought Bowdoin had nice booklets, I didn’t apply, but the guide-books were great!</p>

8

<p>My dad and I were really impressed by the Skidmore material, and I always look foward to the Olin College of Engineering mailings!</p>

9

<p>Ball State has some great materials. Their blog is especially great!</p>

10

<p>I remember going through the Georgia Tech transfer application it was nine pages of information and two pages of personal information.</p>

11

<p>I, too, have loved everything that Kenyon’s sent me. I also loved Goucher’s mailings.</p>

12

<p>The best ones I got were from UChicago. They sent me so many different publication and all of them were definitely more creative than a regular view book. Mostly though I was just surprised that almost every week for a while I’d get another publication from them.</p>

13

<p>Hmm… they all seem the same to me. I thought Colgate gave out way too much information for just saying you were somewhat interested, way to waste money. </p>

<p>Best ads TV wise, I would say the Univ of Kentucky ones.</p>

<p>I have to say I second the blogs. I really like to see how the students feel about the university. You definitely get a whole new view.</p>

14

<p>I agree, Chicago does have some great materials. I’m holding my hand a booklet that they recently sent me following their postcard series (love the caffeine molecule on one!); half of it is devoted to the city, and half to the college, with a beautiful panorama of the city in the middle. It’s aesthetically pleasing, informative, and witty. </p>

<p>UChicago++.</p>

15

<p>I didn’t get anything from Chicago… I got in, too. Oh well.</p>

<p>I thought that Yale’s and Stanford’s were amazing. Tantalizing in the truest sense of the word, but still amazing.</p>

16

<p>Yale’s guidebook is absolutely amazing. It’s a little long, but it gives you everything you need.</p>

<p>Swarthmore’s is also beautiful - and I have no interest in it.</p>

<p>Dartmouth’s on the other hand…had a bunch of sections that you open out that just made the whole thing bulky and hard to read - and I love Dartmouth!</p>

<p>I remember Wesleyan’s was in some weird folder. Does anyone remember what it was?</p>

17

<p>Yale’s guidebook lies! There are no green fields in New Haven like you see in those pictures rofl. (I’m sure they’re pictures of courtyards within buildings but the first time I saw them I thought it was funny because it was nothing like the actual streets of New Haven even walking within Yale’s pseudo-campus.)</p>

<p>I remember Carnegie Mellon’s came looking like it was some kind of kilt or something hung on a hanger which was entertaining.</p>

18

<p>Olin’s viewbooks are really original and I’m always excited to get them, more interesting packaging as well.</p>

19

<p>Kenyon’s prospectus is amazing.</p>

20

<p>Yup, Wesleyan had an interesting packaging to their’s.</p>

<p>I think it was opened from the middle…not sure though.</p>