Judson admissions features live streaming chats with students, faculty
For students weighing the cost of another college visit, or for those who don't want to make the slushy winter drive out to Judson University in Elgin, another option is now available.
One you don't even have to dress for.
Thursday night, the University held an online chat in which a panel of students representing different majors and extracurricular activities took an hour to talk about their experiences and answer questions of students and parents from across the country.
About 30 high school seniors logged onto computers to attend the session, some from as far away as Hawaii, admissions counselor Jean Sharp said.
Questions were entered via keyboard or Webcam, Web technology director Doug Miller said. Panel members responded over live-streamed video.
According to virtual campus Web site ecampustours.com, more than 1,000 schools across the country now utilize virtual tours or admissions chats.
In November, 200 schools participated in CollegeWeekLive, where in a two-day span students could peruse various campuses, chat with admissions and financial aid counselors off one Web site for free. The next fair is scheduled for April.
Locally, Aurora University, Benedictine University in Lisle, Lake Forest College, North Central College in Naperville and Harper College in Palatine all use the recruiting tool.
Judson is believed to be the first in the Fox Valley, Miller said.
While virtual visits and chats can be pricey for a school to feature, Judson isn't paying anything for now.
Miller, who came to Judson from Los Angeles, learned of the external Web service Kyte from a West Coast radio station.
Currently, Judson is using the service on a free trial basis.
The college plans to hold about one virtual chat a month through the summer, Miller said.
"The idea really sprang out of meetings that we have of 'Hey, we need to take our campus and find a way for our potential students and parents to feel like we're here a little bit,'" he said.
"Across the board the response we hear from current students is that once they arrived here, they really felt at home. That challenge as new media purveyors is to convey that sense of belonging."