Adult Student TV Ads

Thanks to one of my ad blogs, I came across these interesting TV spots for Westwood College in Colorado. I like how they focus on the adult student market through candid writing. Look, language about "getting a well-rounded education" isn't going to cut it with adult students. It's about jobs. I think many people can relate to the situations these characters find themselves in.





But the cynical part of me says that for most college grads today, their lives are like these ads, in reverse. Lots of career training at college, then, they get out and end up working at that big box store or restaurant because nowhere else is hiring.

Trying times these are.

Social Media To-Do List

Chris Brogan has a great little list of 19 things you can do to maintain presence and build a good audience on various social media sites.

The key behind all of them is being active. If you plan to just set up an account for your school and either never check it or check it once a month, don't even bother.

Social media requires weekly, if not even daily, attention.

And if you've set up an account already and need some ideas to spice up your online interactions, Chris's list will also come in handy.

Wait, so you don't want the entrepreneurial ideas?

In this current economy, you've got to think differently. Many of us are faced with doing the same or more with less. And this calls for unique ideas.

Some would say, entrepreneurial ideas. The spirit of trying something new, going out on a limb, taking risks, trying to bring money in, exploring new ways of doing old processes.

As much as we're encouraged to think like this, I began to feel that many of these ideas are getting brushed aside after reading this article about how Florida International University is cutting funding for its fourth-ranked cheerleading team.

And, they haven't responded to offers by the coach to work for FREE and fund the team entirely through donations and sponsorships.

Now that's some good thinking. Why not give them a chance?

Recruiters, I'm Jealous

I spend a few weeks working on each publication for our office of undergraduate admission, whether it's a postcard, brochure or our view book.

Then when the graphic designer and I send it off to print, I'm always a little sad to see it go, because I don't know what happens to it.

Sure, the recruiters come back and tell us if everything is well received at our year-end review of publications.

But some times, I wish I could be there in person to hear the students say "Cool photo" or even "this text is so boring, I'm not reading it." I wish I could be there to have someone ask a question and then say, "Here, let me show you right what you need in the view book."

I miss interacting with the students and their parents and seeing firsthand the difference our pieces make in the recruiting process.

It's official, I'm jealous of the recruiters.

And what better way to dispel my jealousy then by making fun of them with this great Web comic from Toothpaste for Dinner:

Trying Not to Be a Pessimist

I don't really classify myself as a "glass half empty" or "glass half full" type of person. Depending on the situation, I can be either.

It came as kind of a surprise to me, then, to realize that for many projects, I'm kind of a pessimist.

I was sitting in a meeting where we were discussing a guidance counselor event. Someone threw out an idea and my automatic mental response was, "I don't think they have ever let us do that before. There's not enough space. I don't think we'd have enough time between speakers," etc.

I then stopped myself. Wait, why was I thinking of all the reasons this wouldn't work, instead of thinking of all the ways to make it work?

Since then, I try to stop myself from lapsing into discouraging pessimistic thoughts.

Yes, it's important to be realistic about a project or task. But, you can't let that get in the way of accomplishing something great.

My new tactic is instead of thinking of all of the barriers, I try to think of the challenges and how we'll overcome them.

I'm hoping that this can-do attitude will give me an edge when it comes to seeing an open window where others see closed doors. It's still a work in progress, but DW is trying at least!