Media Relations in Higher Education

With a world that is quickly changing its media and social-based outlets, keeping up with the Jones's is getting more and more difficult. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace and Flickr can all be successfully used to communicate information to prospective students and their parents. As a college-seeking student, it is imperative to be informed about what is going on at your choice colleges. How can you do that?

The best question is: how can you NOT do that?

The best way to get an overall feel for a college is to visit campus, but with all that goes on in the life of a high school senior, those visits can be a lot harder to accomplish. This is why being connected to your top schools through various networking outlets can be a key way to keep up with the day-to-day of an institution.  Let us look at a few of the most popular:


Facebook
Let's face it, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone that has Facebook.  This top social networking site does a great job at keeping friends and businesses connected.  Many institutions and their respective Admissions offices are on Facebook, so look them up!  This is an easy way to receive updates on the FAFSA, scholarship opportunities, visitation days, and general news about your college of choice.

Twitter
Similar to Facebook, Twitter uses text-based, 140-character messages called "tweets" to convey their information.  You choose to "follow" a certain person, company, or organization, and you're able to receive their updates, pictures (i.e. Twitpic), posted articles, and blogs.  Twitter is a great way to receive small "bursts" of information without much interruption of daily life.  Just search for the institution and choose to "follow" them; many of their Admissions Counselors may have Twitter, too!

Flickr
Flickr is a photo and video-based website that allows both individuals and organizations to host slide show and videos of people, places and events.  This is a great way to get a snapshot of a college campus without actually being on campus.  You can subscribe to certain Flickr accounts, and you will be notified when that user changes or adds to their profile.

There are far too many networking opportunities to name, but these three are great places to start your in-depth search.  College's main websites are great for hard facts such as direct cost, application deadlines, visitation dates, and contact numbers, however some can be lacking on handing out information that is vital to a students' happiness on campus: social scene, organizations, residence hall life, etc.  Use what is around you to get connected and get in the know!

Just an Introduction

Thanks for stumbling upon my blog! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Erica Byrd, and I am an Admissions Counselor at Alderson-Broaddus College, a small, private institution in North Central West Virginia. I have been working in Admissions for almost two years. My hopes for this blog is to not only let students know more about the Admissions process, but to also keep our future leaders up-to-date on information that will assist them in making their college choice. Choosing a college is a big decision that encompasses many factors. It can be difficult, it can be time-consuming, and it can be a struggle. I hope I am able to make this next step a little easier for at least one person. "Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." - Malcomb Forbes