Prospective Students and Social Media

Higher Education Enrollment  - Understanding how prospective students use social media.

Interesting article published yesterday (9/24/12) at Inside Higher Ed.  The article references several studies conducted on how students use social media both in general and, more specifically, how they use it to help make their college decision.  One study examined the social media habits of 7,000 students and found that almost 75% check Facebook every day while less than 50% ever use Twitter.  The article make the point that too many institutions focus on having multiple social medial accounts rather than developing ways to engage with students through social media.  Additionally, not all prospective students are interested in the same social media connections.  Some prospective students are interested in connecting with current students while other prospects prefer to connect with an admissions counselor who can answer specific questions about the process.

What about you....
Did you use social media as a method to help you make your college choice?  If so, which social media too(s) did you use and how helpful was it?

Keeping Connected With Students

As Students Scatter Online, Colleges Try to Keep Up
Interesting article about how colleges strive to communicate with students through social media.  On one hand, students don't all use the same channels to get their information.  So - schools are pressed to use multiple methods to get information out.  On the other hand, students don't like to feel bombarded.  The article also discusses how the nature of social media allows students to comment on announcements put out by the school.  Schools can be put in an uncomfortable position if students trash an upcoming event online. 

1. How often do you check your email?
2. What other tools do you use for information?
3. Does it bother you if you get the exact same message through multiple channels?
4. How should MNU use social media for communication?