Promoting Higher Education Through Web 2.0

Approximately 70 percent of teens online are avid social networkers. In fact, as of 2008, 47 percent of teens are active Facebook members, and it’s estimated that by 2011, 84 percent of teens will use some form of social networking. It’s indisputable that teens are attracted to, compelled by and influenced by these sites, and the Worldwide Web is what they are turning to for everyday information.

With the teen demographic huddled so densely online, it’s unsurprising that higher education has taken notice. A new report conducted in cooperation with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) shows that the use of social media in college admissions offices across the U.S. is on the rise. Universities are using social networking tools to attract, recruit and research prospective students. While some may view this trend as invasive, in reality, the evolution of the Web as a resource is also enabling students to take a front seat in the college-selection process. Social media has transformed the college search into something engaging, interesting and more exciting than ever.

More importantly, this trend is also impacting school counselors, who have the opportunity and responsibility to facilitate the college search, which the current economic tailspin has translated into a major financial concern for many college-bound students. These students approach their school counselors with a myriad of questions regarding their dream schools – from qualifications and courses of study, to dorm accommodations and student life. Yet, many school counselors don’t have the time or resources needed to visit the campuses of all of the colleges they recommend.

Social media has encouraged a move away from the once traditional hard-copy college guidebooks. Simply put, the Web 2.0 era has done away with the days of static text and pictures. As sophisticated online citizens, – 54% read blogs; 33% share files through peer-to-peer; 40-50% tag content; 25% have downloaded podcasts – teens are now looking for digitally compelling content.

There are a variety of Web sites offering virtual campus tours and admissions information to help students explore, compare and narrow down their college options. However, while some of these sites have been around for some time, their content remains stagnant. They do not serve as one-stop shops that provide the college information students need in a format they understand, trust and enjoy.

Riding on the wave of these new trends, YOUniversityTV has created a first-of-its-kind Web site that aims to promote higher education by providing comprehensive high-quality video tours of the country’s top schools. YOUniversityTV is the only site offering college video tours to receive the approval of the schools it features. The site’s social networking component further allows users to share content and connect with college-bound peers. By providing an all-access pass to the campuses of hundreds of colleges, YOUniversityTV.com helps its users compare schools and narrow down their options with the simple click of a mouse.

Keeping school counselors in mind, YOUniversityTV also developed a College Video Channel that can be embedded into nearly any Web site in the form of a “widget” or media player that streams full-length college video tours. School counselors can post the channel on their school or personal Web sites, granting their students virtual access to hundreds of college campuses across the country.

As the digital space continues to evolve, and as teens continue to adopt new technologies, it’s important that school counselors are aware of the resources available to their students that will appeal to them in an informative, entertaining and relevant way. Additionally, it’s important for school counselors to keep up with trends in teens’ social media use and participate actively in this growing space. By doing so, they will be able to better serve their students and encourage them to spend their time online more wisely – exploring services and tools that are useful and relatable.

With the dawn of the fall applications process just around the corner, and with the economy severely impacting many students’ college plans, it’s imperative that school counselors become familiar with new resources that will help their students with their college search. Today, having these resources at one’s fingertips has never been more invaluable.