News on Relevant Science: 20 Awesome College Social Campaigns from This School Year

Studies show that a growing number of college students are using social media to help them choose a college, stay in touch with admissions officers, and keep up with campus events, a trend that has been shaped by the willingness of many colleges to embrace the marketing power that social media offers. From Facebook to Twitter to custom social sites, colleges have been stepping up their game in recent years when it comes to getting students involved on the web, and it has resulted in some pretty impressive social campaigns. Read on to learn more about a few of the best that emerged over the 2011-2012 school year, paving the way for bigger and better social media campaigns in future years.

SeeBlue.com:

The University of Kentucky has created an amazing portal for prospective students called SeeBlue. It offers videos and articles about real student experiences on campus, giving a very genuine impression of what attending the school is really like rather than the perfectly polished image that’s in most brochures. Students can also find out how to connect with admissions advisors, take an online tour, ask questions about the school, and even fill out their application online. The site essentially brings together everything prospective students could want or need in one easily accessible, seamless, and highly interactive space.
Highbury College Portsmouth QR codes:

This year, Highbury College Portsmouth decided to go high-tech with its advertising and postering campaign. In addition to the usual advertising information, the posters included a scannable QR code, which pointed students to the college’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter sites. This isn’t the first time the British school has used technology to get students to apply, as it has also developed a new iPhone application that allows students to both see all the courses the school offers and apply to the school itself.
Florida Atlantic University Foursquare check-ins:

In September 2011, Florida Atlantic University launched a host of social media initiatives for students, faculty, and staff, including Gmail-based student email and an FAU mobile application for smartphones. The school also created a Foursquare account that allows students to check in at locations around campus, connect with one another, and share information about the school. The account on Foursquare is also hooked up to FAU’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, making it simple for students, current or prospective, to stay in touch with the school.
University of Dayton social scholarship competition:

Prospective students at the University of Dayton can not only submit a video essay to the school, when they post it to Facebook, it can also help enter them to win a $40,000 scholarship to the school. Students can showcase why they think they should be given admission to the school (and a hefty prize to boot) through social media and friends, family, and school officials can vote on their favorites, also through Facebook, to select a winner. The contest is a creative way to connect with students, and offering to help out with tuition is a big lure in an age when college costs are skyrocketing.
Unigo college counseling:

Unigo is not a college itself, but a site designed to help students make smart decisions about what colleges to attend, offering rankings, reviews, and financial aid information. One of the coolest additions to the site, however, is socially based and allows students to connect with admissions experts, counselors, and financial aid officers directly through the site. The services come with a cost (which often isn’t exactly cheap), but for students hoping to get into top their schools, this social service could be worth it.
Loyola offers Facebook timeline photos:

Sometimes the simplest social campaigns are the coolest. Loyola University Maryland is an example of that, embracing the Facebook change to the timeline format by offering students free downloadable images that can help them to show off their school pride right from their Facebook profiles. So far, the images have proven popular and students have even requested special versions that highlight their graduating classes or school departments.
Duke admissions blogs:

Most colleges these days have some sort of blog, but not many have such a great collection of slice-of-life blogs as Duke. The school recently launched a series of undergraduate blogs that document the experiences of seven different students on campus, letting prospective students get a real sense of what their time at Duke will really be like. The site is also chock full of pictures from campus and makes it simple to get in touch with admissions officers if students decide they want to apply.
Stanford’s Facebook walking tour:

Not all students can afford a trip to every school to which they are applying, and some schools are starting to take note. Stanford recently added a section to its Facebook page that highlights some of the best features on campus called “Summertime at the Farm: A Walking Tour.” While it’s no substitute for a real-life visit, the shots, ranging from the typical snaps of campus buildings to students and staff actually using the school’s amenities, are a great first glimpse into life at Stanford. Other albums highlight major school events, sports, or even just the passing of seasons on campus.
KU school swag:

The University of Kansas has a pretty cool set of links on its Facebook page. Students can find wallpapers, e-cards, icons, and a wide range of printable materials showcasing the school’s logo. There are even downloadable MP3s of the school’s iconic steam whistle. Combined, the free materials help to boost school spirit and may just help motivate prospective students to tour the campus or apply as it gives the school a less stiff image.
University of Iowa admissions help:

Most of the campaigns we’ve highlighted so far have been through Facebook or independently created sites, but the University of Iowa is making use of a relative newcomer to the social media game: Google Plus. Through the university’s admissions page, students can get tips about applying to the school, reminders of deadlines, and even information about scholarships. The page also highlights some amazing things happening at the school, events, student experiences, and other things that can help give prospective students a better sense of what the school is really about.
Ohio Wesleyan University video chats:

It’s pretty simple these days to connect with students and their families through the web, and more and more schools are taking note. Ohio Wesleyan is one of those schools, creating an impressive video chat series that allows prospective students to ask questions and meet with school officials, admissions officers, and even current students. Students can attend live or watch archived videos of the chats later on, making it much easier to get personalized information about attending the school.
Are You New School?

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the cutting-edge New School would be creating some cool social campaigns, as new media is a big part of what the school is all about. Through their “Are You New School?” campaign, the school regularly posts videos about specific majors and programs, showcasing students who are currently attending the school. High production values and interesting stories are sure to engage future students and let them see a real-life take on what The New School is about.
Harvard social media dashboard:

Harvard is consistently ranked as one of the most social media-savvy schools out there, a title the school earns by putting out amazing social tools like their new social media dashboard. The dashboard brings together the bulk of Harvard’s social media into one portal, offering tweets, videos, info about Facebook, and links to all of the school’s social media profiles. It’s sleek, efficient, and will surely inspire other schools to create their own social media dashboards as well.
Columbia social media weekend:

The Columbia School of Journalism has taken online engagement one step further, creating an on-campus event that aims to not only engage students with social media but also to teach them a thing or two about it. Even cooler, the event was live tweeted, photographed, and videotaped so that even those who couldn’t attend could get information about what was going on. It’s an impressive level of social media savvy, and may just become an annual event.
LSU Digital Media Festival:

Students at LSU who are producing work through digital media got a chance to show it off during LSU’s Digital Media Festival. Sponsored by the communication’s department, students could showcase their work online and get votes from other students and faculty for favorites. Entries range from business plans to animations, and students use social sites like YouTube and Flickr to host their work. This isn’t the first year for the festival, but it was the first year that it was open to such a wide range of types of digital work.
University of Oregon social media index:

Students who want to connect with U of Oregon through social media only need head to the school’s social media index, which links to every department on campus that has a Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube account. It keeps things neat and organized and allows students to find social accounts they might not have sought out on their own. Additionally, the school is very active on Foursquare, with more than 17,000 followers who have checked in at dozens of campus locations. These more recent campaigns combine with the school’s existing mobile app, online tour, and other social tools to form a seriously well-rounded approach to engaging students through social media.
I Heart Princeton video:

Princeton is hoping to win the hearts of prospective students through social campaigns like this one, which highlights students, faculty (even the iconic Cornell West), and staff as they all show their love for Princeton. It’s short, sweet, and sure to give any prospective students a good feeling about the atmosphere at the school. While it’s the most recent, it’s not the school’s only YouTube campaign. Dozens of other videos about life at Princeton can be found on the school’s channel as well.
University of Miami school jersey vote:

This past year, the University of Miami used social media to help choose the new jerseys and hats the school’s baseball team would wear. Students could select one of three color and logo combinations, and get to see the winner announced live at a “Social Media Night” at the school’s Alex Rodriguez Park.
MIT Sociable Media Group:

MIT isn’t just the most buzzed about school on the web, it’s also trying to build new and exciting types of social media from the ground up. The iconic tech school recently launched the Sociable Media Group, a place to showcase the latest in social technology, through projects, papers, and classes. For the driven and bright students who plan to attend MIT, there is perhaps no better advertisement for the school than a chance to see up close the kind of work students will get the chance to create.
Berklee Music Network:

The Berklee School of Music has created an amazing way for students, faculty, and alumni to stay connected with their Berklee Music Network. Members can create a profile, read news about the music industry and the school, get access to discounts, and coolest of all, find links to jobs and gigs from alumni and outside providers. While Facebook and Twitter still dominate as ways to connect with students, sites like these that offer opportunities unique to Berklee’s students are sure to become increasingly popular as they grow.