Social Media College Application
I mentioned in a previous episode about the Social Media College Application. Applying for a job is relatively easy, all things considered, but a college application is a whole other ball of wax. The gold standard for college applications is the Common Application (PDF), which is used by more than 300 colleges in the US. Here’s what a social media version of the application would probably look like.
First, you’d have the Common Application itself, filled out completely, and linked on your personal web site. It would need to be encrypted due to the ton of personal information in there. Next, there would probably be a blog that would contain your thoughts, as well as answers to each of the essay topics in the Common Application. Because you’ve got time (you’re planning ahead, right?) you can write out each of the essay topics in the Common Application as blog posts, then review and pick the one you like most (and your friends/editors like most).
I’d of course provide links to your various accounts, like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. as appropriate - and if it’s not appropriate, you’ll want to either create or clean up accounts on those services so they exist.
The Common Application asks you about employment experience. Obviously, spend the time during summers working, but also work on projects and things for which you can solicit recommendations on a LinkedIn profile. Having more of that will help not only your college application, but your career down the road.
Where the Social Media College Application can really shine is in rich media. There are two attachments, the arts and the athletic supplement, that are really static sheets of paper. For example, the athletic supplement asks you for basic details about your participation in sports. Wouldn’t it be much more effective to provide, in addition to the required information in the application itself, some video clips of your sports highlights? A good number of parents record major sports performances anyway, so it’s just a matter of isolating those clips into a single three minute video, kind of like the “life story in a flash” spots the networks profile athletes with during the Olympics.
Obviously, as you’re filling out the Common Application, you’ll want to include the URL to your personal homepage in each of the relevant sections where you have content that goes beyond the scope of a sheet of paper.
The other section is the arts supplement. The application asks you about the medium - music, theater and dance, visual arts, etc. and then asks you to enclose a 10 minute CD or DVD of your expression and technique. Follow the directions on the application, of course, but then load up your Blip or YouTube account with your stuff. Have a performance video and a “Behind the Scenes/Behind the Music” style clip that has you answering the Common App questions in a more human way, face to face.
Be sure in the CD or DVD you submit that you begin and end it with a very short clip letting people know about your web site and how they can find more information.
One last thing: the Common Application offers you a spot at the beginning for an IM address. I’d suggest offering something like a Skype account so that should you and an admissions officer be suitably equipped, you can do voice and video chat in advance. Make the offer in your cover letter as well - chances are maybe 1 in 100 will do so, but just by offering, you’ll be offering them new ways to communicate with you. (new to the admissions office, anyway)
Social media provides you with opportunities to demonstrate your talents beyond what fits on a sheet of paper. If you’re a college admissions officer, please leave a comment here with what would make an impact with you! If you’re a student, leave a comment with a link to your SMCA!
Super-interesting.
On my blog I recently announced the schools I’m applying to, and I’m working full-time on essays and applications (http://exposay.net/2007/11/11/let-us-begin-with-courage/), so this topic is on my mind.
I think that maybe a more simple approach than you described might work for someone who isn’t going with the arts or sports approach. On the “Additional Information” box, say something along the lines of:
“Regrettably, I think most college applications fail to capture who the applicant is. In order to correct this, here is a link to my personal blog online where you can see my writing, web design, and movies that I have created. http://exposay.net/”
I’ll play with this idea in my head.
November 12th, 2007 | #
I wrote up a few thoughts I had.
http://exposay.net/2007/11/12/social-media-college-application/
November 12th, 2007 | #
[...] writes: I mentioned in a previous episode about the Social Media College Application. Applying for a job [...]
November 12th, 2007 | #
Really appealing idea - the combination of the social app features giving trajectory to creative examples and providing a super means for applicants to become “memorable” to admissions professionals.
However, my colleagues at SoMD CAN /College Access Network recently had a discussion about a new app for online college applicant info and came to the following conclusions:
while this would be especially interesting for sports and artistic candidates for the same reasons, we also observed that admissions professionals would likely have limited interest or resources in checking out first what was on the online resource like the one we were discussing, then doing due diligence to see if the other social apps (Facebook, MySpace) were schizophrenic in comparison to the profile represented for admissions. Our former admissions counselor felt that if a school actually had the time and interest to do all of this due diligence that it probably wasn’t a school you’d want as your first choice.
After asking a recent top rated, smaller honors school Admissions director at a college night presentation about that site, he had not heard of it and from what he said, we realized that it was the in person, memorable details that his group was seeking and that the likelihood that they would routinely be consulting this kind of app was pretty small.
I’m still thinking about the LinkedIn profile. I think that will resonate (perhaps) with some savvy B-school officials, but may or may not be something the students immediately understand the importance of. You need to build up the LinkedIn over time usually, and some kids can’t stand do anything in advance :-)
I think that many students would enjoy the approach that you have outlined, but that mainstream adoption by schools and may take some cultural shifting. Parents may have some trouble with this, as they either may or may not be aware of what is going up and why. I like it cause I like things like this, but it would have to sit well and get traction with diverse user groups (schools, parents-guidance counselors & applicants!) Will pass this along to our group for discussion!
Great to read about and your idea about including SKYPE info. Very intriguing - I especially look forward to passing this on to one of my seniors who is applying to some super heavy hitting institutes of technology.
I guess my summary comment is - great outlet for students if they aren’t already overwhelmed with too many things to populate. Not sure if the other stirrers in the pot will adopt - at least in the near term. Will keep for consideration!!!!
November 16th, 2007 | #