August 20, 2008 — The University of Bridgeport is following in the footsteps of hundreds of other universities, by going virtual to attract today’s Internet-Savvy students.
Colleges now outpace Fortune 500 companies when it comes to marketing its programs via the Internet, according to a study from Society for New Communications Research.
And with the price of travel and gas rocketing, virtual campus tours and other online admissions programs are gaining popularity among colleges and the families they serve.
Students interested in UB, for example, can visit the campus with a click of a mouse thanks to the school’s virtual tour, which features a 360-degree vista of the campus and up-close views of residence halls, the John J. Cox Student Center, and other buildings.
In addition, UB has MySpace and Facebook pages, where current and prospective students swap music, ask questions about the school, and socialize, thus forging friendships before they even arrive on campus.
Virtual college fairs, such as College Week Live, which will be held Nov. 12 and 13, provide abundant opportunities to become acquainted with UB, too.
Students and their families who attend the forums by logging on to the fairs can view real-time streaming videos and presentations, communicate with admissions counselors through interactive Q&A sessions, and learn about available scholarships and other financial help.
Source: University of Bridgeport, www.bridgeport.edu
