USCGA Admissions Blog/Twitter

Objee

Former USCGA Admissions Staff
15-Year Member
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Dec 2, 2008
Messages
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This is probably the wrong audience to ask, because if you like SAF you will probably like this idea, but do you think there would be any interest on the applicant/parent level for a USCGA Admissions blog or twitter account? We've only had a moderate level of activity on the USCGA Admissions Facebook Group we created last summer, so maybe additional online resources aren't needed?

The majority of Admissions Offices already have at least one or two staff (in addition to many more current students) writing blogs, so we're comfortable moving forward with that project. The twitter idea is a little more "radical" for us...do applicants/parents care about the daily happenings of an Admissions Officer?

Thanks in advance for your comments/thoughts...now back to reading files!
 
This is probably the wrong audience to ask, because if you like SAF you will probably like this idea, but do you think there would be any interest on the applicant/parent level for a USCGA Admissions blog or twitter account? We've only had a moderate level of activity on the USCGA Admissions Facebook Group we created last summer, so maybe additional online resources aren't needed?

The majority of Admissions Offices already have at least one or two staff (in addition to many more current students) writing blogs, so we're comfortable moving forward with that project. The twitter idea is a little more "radical" for us...do applicants/parents care about the daily happenings of an Admissions Officer?

Thanks in advance for your comments/thoughts...now back to reading files!

I'll be quick so you can go back to your files

Yes. During the looooooong wait it would be nice for applicants to know just how many files have been reviewed, when big bunches of appts. were being sent out, and the like. The mailmen of the U.S.of A. might appreciate it too....the constant stalking might have freaked them out a bit. :wink:
 
Admissions Officer blogs?

Yes, sounds good to me too...are there some current blogs I don't know about that are tracking the kind of info that Shellz just mentioned?
I recall my older son applying to another competitive institution several years ago, and one admissions guy did blog about where they were in the process until the very day they sent out the final responses. In such a competitive situation, it was helpful.
 
I echo same comments above -perhaps because of the lengthy process and the holding pattern continues - one often begins to think the mailman is snacking on mail!
 
I asked my husband about the Twitter thing because he uses that (I'm a Facebook and LinkedIn person myself) and he thought it was a good idea. I'm guessing that the kids are moving towards Twitter now that all their parents have joined Facebook.... they just move on to the newer technology while we parents work to keep up with them!:shake::shake:
 
I think a blog is a great idea. I'd read it.

Son and I have read the cadet ones. They were fun.
 
Thanks in advance for your comments/thoughts...now back to reading files!

Just pushing this topic back up to the top of the page...we're planning to discuss tomorrow, so any other comments/thoughts?
 
I think it would help put alot of people more at ease with the whole process
 
Just pushing this topic back up to the top of the page...we're planning to discuss tomorrow, so any other comments/thoughts?

Its a cute idea... but I think it has to be utilized for it to be effective and used. We opened facebook pages only because the CGA admissions said "hey we have this page..." but not much action on it from even the admissions folks..

I think a place where candidates can log into and get updated information would be better.. like a portal or status page that some of the other academies have.

I know its hard to give everyone answers, but just my ideas.... thing is too kids get these sites then have to close them down or not utilize them when they get into the CGA kinda sucks too.... Although I do understand the reasoning behind that...and agree with.. My daughter barely uses her FB site at all...
 
I thought the Facebook site opened for the CGA Scholars last year was great for my daughter. She met alot of the other scholars there before they met up at CGA. Of course, it was really active last year. I wasn't on Facebook then, but she told me about some of the cadets and I felt I even knew some of them before she got there. I believe LT Brunaugh also hung out on the site last year and offered information as the kids asked each other things and talked about their concerns, worries, etc. I also know that LCDR Meisenheimer (MMI Coast Guard advisor) hung out on the site because (1) he told me so and (2) he came up to my daughter on registration day at Marion and talked to her about her classes when he had never met her before! I was impressed!

My husband says that Twitter is designed to be quick in both directions. If CGA wants to ask the opinions of their "followers", they can get alot of answers very, very fast. Likewise, "followers" can get quick answers. It is designed for short bursts of information (unlike this post:wink:). He says that it strikes a chord among the texting generation (our kids:smile:). I suspect the kids would like it -- would they be able to use Twitter after Swab Summer? I would think that it might not be as time consuming as Facebook, but maybe I am wrong on this.

By the way, I LOVE the blogs on the Academy site from the cadets of each class. That is a great tool to help kids know if they think USCGA might be something they want to pursue. I certainly wouldn't get rid of that. And I like how the cadets are a good cross-section of majors/ athletics/etc.
 
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