Beginning Monday, prospective Ball State University students will have a new resource to aid high school students in the college decision-making process.Through a link on the Ball State home page, users will be able to access an interactive Web site containing blogs from 12 current Ball State students. The Web site will include text, photos, audio and video all written and recorded by the students."Brochures don't tell the whole story," Nancy Prater, web content coordinator for University Communications, said. "For example, what is everyday life like? What about laundry and parking? The goal is to help students get a good feel for if Ball State is the right fit for them."The Ball State students were selected through recommendations from deans, department chairs and faculty. They were required to participate in an interview and submit a writing sample as well."We hand-picked 12 students from various colleges," Prater said. "Those include one undecided major and also an international student."Senior Reed Levitz said he appreciates the opportunity to participate in the site."I viewed it as a way to get to know the university as a whole," Levitz said. "I think it's going to be really helpful for students."For sophomore Sean O'Key, the blog provides an outlet for his interest in communication, "I was eager to get involved in the project, because I love communicating, and telling stories," O'Key said. "This is a great opportunity to do just that."
As compensation for their participation, the 12 students received items such as a 20 gigabyte iPod and an Olympus Verve Digital Camera to use on their blogs. The students get to keep these incentives, which were fundedthrough the university's marketing budget.
"The whole package cost about $1,000 dollars per student," Prater said.
Levitz said that the students are not only receiving the free items but also training to go along with them.
"It's a really good bonus," he said. "We're also receiving training that is really beneficial not only for working on this site."
Maintaining the blogs will be an ongoing process, but Levitz already has plans in mind for his blog.
"It will have weekly or bi-weekly themes such as where to get cheap books," he said. "It will also talk about things such as intramural sports and academic aspects."
The idea of student blogs is not unique to Ball State. However, there are two characteristics that make the Ball State site stand out. The main differences are that the Ball State site uses multimedia elements, which make the blogs interactive.
"No other school has done this before," Levitz said. "It is the only truly interactive blog site."
Through first hand perspectives, the blogs will be a valuable resource for potential students.
"The site gives an important insider view of student life straight from those who know best: the students," O'Key said. "It also allows direct contact between potential freshmen and current students. They can ask more personalized questions, instead of dealing with a public relations or admissions officer who may not know the answers students really want to know."
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