"It has all the advantages of letting kids clue into something that real undergraduates are doing," Matthews said. "Instead of talking to admissions directors - who can sometimes be very formal."
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions began interviewing prospective student bloggers this semester. Its Web site, along with technical responsibilities, is hosted by Hobsons EMT Chat University - a company dedicated to higher education communication.
"Those kinds of technologies are the new and hot ways to reach not only perspective students but also their parents," said Sara Snyder, a marketing specialist at Hobsons. "We offer this to universities so they can reach students in ways that they (students) want to be reached."
Senior Oliver Truong, a blogger, said that his experience on the site has allowed him to make meaningful connections with potential applicants. One family, he said, contacted him through the blog after they were unable to take an official tour of the campus. Truong met the family and spoke extensively about GW over lunch.
"(Calling the admissions office) is kind of intimidating for some students," Truong said. "So blogging and e-mail allow you to bring it down to the personal level."
High school senior Pat McLendon, who is attending GW next year, said it was good to hear a fair portrayal of the University before arriving in Foggy Bottom.
"It is one thing to hear the 'students' view' - the students being paid by the administration to say certain things," McLendon said. "It's another to hear actual students' views, saying 'Yeah, you have to stay up all night sometimes."
In Ghana, McLaurin said that his only major problem is keeping up the posts despite the sometimes unpredictable environment Ghana provides.
"It can be difficult to post at times because the power goes out a lot," McLaurin said. "But I have managed so far."
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions began interviewing prospective student bloggers this semester. Its Web site, along with technical responsibilities, is hosted by Hobsons EMT Chat University - a company dedicated to higher education communication.
"Those kinds of technologies are the new and hot ways to reach not only perspective students but also their parents," said Sara Snyder, a marketing specialist at Hobsons. "We offer this to universities so they can reach students in ways that they (students) want to be reached."
Senior Oliver Truong, a blogger, said that his experience on the site has allowed him to make meaningful connections with potential applicants. One family, he said, contacted him through the blog after they were unable to take an official tour of the campus. Truong met the family and spoke extensively about GW over lunch.
"(Calling the admissions office) is kind of intimidating for some students," Truong said. "So blogging and e-mail allow you to bring it down to the personal level."
High school senior Pat McLendon, who is attending GW next year, said it was good to hear a fair portrayal of the University before arriving in Foggy Bottom.
"It is one thing to hear the 'students' view' - the students being paid by the administration to say certain things," McLendon said. "It's another to hear actual students' views, saying 'Yeah, you have to stay up all night sometimes."
In Ghana, McLaurin said that his only major problem is keeping up the posts despite the sometimes unpredictable environment Ghana provides.
"It can be difficult to post at times because the power goes out a lot," McLaurin said. "But I have managed so far."
