How is the USCGA official chat?

Antoinette

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I just read this article about the Thursday online chat at the USCGA: http://campustechnology.com/articles/2009/01/19/coast-guard-academy-taps-university-webchat-to-speak-with-potential-students.aspx

Sounds like a great way to ask questions there. Has anyone tried it?

Here is the article:

Coast Guard Academy Taps University WebChat To Speak with Potential Students

* By Dian Schaffhauser
* 01/19/09

The United States Coast Guard Academy, a military college in New London, CT, has adopted University WebChat to aid in communicating with potential students online.

"Student recruitment is one of the primary benefits of utilizing University WebChat, but it also addressed our interest in providing quality customer service," said Leo Gonot, associate director of admissions for marketing at the academy. "Currently, we have three admissions officers who are collectively responsible for approximately 3,500 applicants. A chat session is a great way to offer instant feedback to questions raised by our applicants and their parents. It is almost always the case that if one student has a question that several others will have the exact same question. Chat is a great way to address the needs of several students during one session."

Gonot said staff and faculty hold a chat session every Thursday night to answer general admissions questions and cover special topics that would be of interest to prospective students, such as special visitation events, a one-week summer program, and the school's Honors Program.

The service, which is Web-based "was literally up and running the day we contracted with them," Gonot said. "I have interacted with recruitment technology in higher education for over 20 years and this has clearly been the easiest implementation that I have experienced." The admissions team did some practice chats then held its first live chat a week later.
 
It works Great!! I have been part of 3 and they have helped answer alot of my questions.
 
It works quite well. They will have a few admissions officers and sometimes a handful of cadets and parents as well. You get an instant reply and the benefit of hearing their answers to everyone else's questions. A lot of us have the same questions. Sometimes the sessions are open for anyone and anything; other times they will have topic specific sessions. So far, they have had special sessions for application process questions, EA applicants, EA appointees, EA deferrals, women, and parents. The only problem is that they run from 8 -10 pm ET and being on the West Coast, I'm rarely back from crew practice early enough to make the chat.
 
3 admin officers for 3500 applicants! Good night!

Whew! That is a lot!
 
Yea it's really great. We get to talk to people and ask them questions with instant feedback. And I have the same problem. I don't get home from swimming in time so I usually miss them, but the ones I do catch are great help.
 
Like USCGA hopeful said: the instant feedback is one of the best parts. but unlike her and zaatarmonster, i am home from crew/swimming just in time. Did anyone else feel like the other people were asking every question you could think of before u got a chance to ask? haha
 
The chats work very well! I have been a part of two and both of them were very helpful. During my second chat, they had three rooms, one with the admissions officers, one with a cadet, and one for all of the appointees so that they could get to know one another. It is very well run and I have learned about things that I never even thought of until another candidate asked the question.
 
Wow. I wish I could have made that one. I really wanted to and I got out of practice early, but on the way home we got stuck behind a cutter coming in. By the time I got home, it was way past seven. Sort of ironic, isn't it?
 
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Wow. I wish I could have made that one. I really wanted to and I got out of practice early, but on the way home we got stuck behind a cutter coming in. By the time I got home, it was way past seven. Sort of ironic, isn't it?

Was it from crew? Yea it would be. I think they are on every thursday from 8-10 est.

Like USCGA hopeful said: the instant feedback is one of the best parts. but unlike her and zaatarmonster, i am home from crew/swimming just in time. Did anyone else feel like the other people were asking every question you could think of before u got a chance to ask? haha

Also btw, I am a guy. No worries though. And people do ask every little question which makes it almost impossible to ask ones yourself. Well good luck to all.
 
The chats are quite helpful. Especially to get questions asked that you may not have thought of. It's a great way to communicate with other applicants for the USCGA.
 
Does anyone know if there are records kept of the chat sessions for those who were invited but could not participate? I was invited to the chat on Thursday night, but I'm in S. Korea and the time difference put it squarely during my AP Statistics midterm :tongue:
 
Does anyone know if there are records kept of the chat sessions for those who were invited but could not participate? I was invited to the chat on Thursday night, but I'm in S. Korea and the time difference put it squarely during my AP Statistics midterm :tongue:

In one of the chats my daughter was in, they stated that they do not keep a them. :(
 
so btw, I am a guy. No worries though. And people do ask every little question which makes it almost impossible to ask ones yourself. Well good luck to all.

haha ok so now i feel like an ass.sry dude lol
 
I have copies

I copied and pasted most of the chats onto word documents, or just printed them out. I can send you a copy of one of the chats that you wanted if you have the right date. If you'd like to send me a message with your email and the date of the chat you want I can try and get it to you.
 
does the chat only apply to the seniors that are currently applyinf or for all prospective people in the future?
 
I think it is only for those who are applying for addmission right now. they tack it through your acount I think. But this is just an educated guess
 
So when do we start stalking the mail carrier again????
 
i plan on starting the stake out on like the 20th of Feb.! lol
 
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