Video Killed the Admissions Search
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Posted by: Admissions_Daniel | 
October 3 2006 | 
Comments (10)
It’s another Monday evening and I am now in Seekonk, MA (just outside of Providence, RI). I have just finished enjoying three hours of some good old Monday night TV, and now I am preparing for my return to Baltimore for one grand day. Just four more visits in Rhode Island tomorrow, and then a nice long drive to NJ to see the family (Happy Birthday Mom!!!) and then back to B’more. I get to enjoy my home for one day and then it is off to Pittsburgh. Such a world traveler I am — Waltham, MA; Seekonk, MA; Rhode Island; Concord, NH; and Pittsburgh, PA — I know you are all jealous.
My travels have progressed well this past week and a half and I have met with many great high school seniors and juniors. Aside from the traffic and one visit where I saw no students, I have no major complaints. In fact, on Sunday I hosted an Explore Hopkins program at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA and it was by far the best area information session I have ever hosted. My final count was 202 people attended the information session. Why 
such a great turnout? Well, simple — JHU is hot in New England and everyone wants to meet Admissions_Daniel. Actually, when I really think about it, the turnout was so high because the Red Sox were not playing a meaningful 
final game of the season, the Patriots had an afternoon game, and it was raining so no one was outside enjoying the fall foliage. Beyond being the largest group I have ever had for an Explore Hopkins program, the questions I was asked were quite good and I feel the whole group left with a better understanding of what makes Hopkins unique and distinct. (Check out the before and during pictures – sorry to those who were at the event and got cut out of the picture.)
- Can you believe it is October already???
As I head to bed, I want to finish by asking you all for some help and feedback. Over the next few months, myself and the Hopkins Interactive students will be working as a focus group looking into how VIDEO is used by colleges and universities to recruit prospective students. As some of you know, next fall the Decker Quad and the new Admissions Welcome Center (Mason Hall) will be opening, and with this new welcome center will be a number of interactive options and video presentations. We have been tasked with researching how other colleges and universities use multimedia content on their web sites as well as brainstorming what content and images would work best for a Hopkins intro video. It is the first question, I pose to you all.
So here is your task: Use the comments section of this blog and let me know of videos and multimedia content you have seen at other college and university web sites that you have liked. Either just post the link, or post a link and also your comments about why you liked the video or multimedia approach. Who better to ask, than prospective students in the midst of their college search — you all are visiting college web sites delay. I look forward to seeing what sites you all suggest.
Cheers!!!
Oh yes, it’s still COMING…
10.16.06
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By Jon, October 3, 2006 @ 8:20 PM
Haha…yep….definitely cut out of the picture. Oh well. It was a really great presentation though! (minus the crazy changes in temperature…..you may remember my mom…the one who walked out of the room before the presentation began saying “oh WOW it’s cold in there!” It was nice kinda-sorta meeting you!
By rajarshi, October 8, 2006 @ 3:28 AM
Hi ‘Admissions_Daniel’ ! I’m going to apply to hopkins this year and i just had a question regarding supplemental materials: i enjoy drawing cartoons (you know those one-box cartoons that carry a punchline). if i send a few cartoons that i have drawn as my supplemental material would that be ok or would it look cheap beside all those piano concertos that students send?
i look forward to your opinion.
By Daniel Creasy, October 8, 2006 @ 7:11 PM
Jon – Sorry you were cut out of the picture, but I am glad you enjoyed the Explore Hopkins program (despite the fluctuating temperature.
Rajarshi – Absolutely you can send in supplemental materials such as cartoons. Supplemental materials are welcome additions to the application, but do note we will review these materials, but are unable to spend much time with them.
Everyone else — why no responses about my video task??? I am so sad…
By Phil, October 9, 2006 @ 2:14 PM
You’re right, the pictures can make all the difference.
By Michelle, October 11, 2006 @ 8:34 PM
Hi, my name is Michelle. I just signed up to attend the presentation in San Francisco this Saturday. I was just clicking on links, and I found this message board. So, the website that I liked was Stanford’s. I may be biased though because it is one of my top three schools. Still, I like the pictures that they chose because they showed a lot of different parts of their beautiful campus, not just the architecture but also student life. I didn’t find any videos, but I thought the guided tour was a good idea. I thought they could improve it though by making it more interactive and colorful; it was a little bit dull. I also liked the front page, where you could scroll over the pictures and reveal a fact. I look forward to the presentation on Saturday!
By Jon, October 15, 2006 @ 12:09 PM
So I finally decide to chime in about the video thing!
I know that Columbia College in New York City recently posted their little “Introduction to Columbia” video on their admissions website, which I think was filmed by some award-winning documentary filmer….but I’m not sure. Watching it, it was similar to a promotional dvd I got from Emory in Atlanta, talking about academics, social life, etc, with lots of footage of the campus.
I think it’s a great idea for colleges to start using this, especially posting these videos on their website, for it gives a visual idea of what the college is life as opposed to what is provided in pictures and brochures.
and though a lot of schools aren’t on there….how do we feel about “theU.com”?
By Daniel Creasy, October 15, 2006 @ 3:27 PM
1347 views since I posted this entry, and all I got was 3 answers to my question (and only 2 actually mentioned schools using video). How sad. :(
Michelle, Thanks for your comments about Stanford’s web site (though without video it really doesn’t help with the project I am working on.) Hope you enjoyed the Explore Hopkins program.
Jon, I can always count on you. I’ll check out Columbia College’s video and add it to my list. As far as “theU.com”, I am not a fan. I am actually not a fan of any of these “uncensored” type of web sites as they relate to the college search. Why? Well, almost always you get two kinds of responses — you get the student who hates their school and finds every way to bash it. Or you get the student who is getting paid by a marketing office to post “canned” statements. If these web sites really spent the time, asking a lot of students, and getting a wide range of viewpoints, then I might consider it worthy. I could talk for hours on this subject…but will choose not to.
FINALLY, a huge thank you to Tanya!!! Her comments about video was so long she coulnd’t post it in the comments section, but had to email me directly. I really do appreciate that assistance.
Cheers.
By Lilly Hensley, October 16, 2006 @ 8:45 AM
Dear Mr. Creasy,
I just turned 9 months old today. My question is, do you think it’s too early for me to be concerned with my educational future and be considering Hopkins? I don’t exactly know what I want to do or be when I grow up. Heck, I am still trying to move to two syllable words, but I know I want to follow in the foot steps of my Uncle Daniel, because he’s the best!
Signed, Sleepless in New Jersey :)
By Tanya Lukasik (Tanya922), October 16, 2006 @ 11:05 PM
Dear Mr. Creasy,
Thank you for your last post. :)
I wanted to point out one thing I forgot to mention in my original blog response:
When the Johns Hopkins web site multimedia video is complete, it would be extremely helpful if the prospective applicant had the option to choose their preferred media player (QuickTime, Real Player, Windows Media Player) and appropriate Internet connection speed (DSL, Cable, Dial Up, etc.) to ensure the best viewing experience possible.
Will you be attending the upcoming Open House this weekend? If so, I look forward to seeing you there!
With regards,
Tanya Lukasik
By Andria krewson, November 8, 2006 @ 10:07 PM
Youtube killed the official college video.
From a nosy mom who should be asleep:
Going to youtube and searching for johns hopkins is much more illuminating and cooler than a “hard-copy” video or CD. Cheaper too. Save school money for scholarships and grants.
Tried searching for Emory as well, and its student-made video is better than the one available for Johns Hopkins.
Why not post your official video on your website AS WELL AS youtube? Or just link somehow? Or get talented students to make a better video … Borrow the students’ style too.
Thanks for listening.