Student bloggers give insiders' view to prospective students, families

How can prospective students and their families learn about life at the University first hand without setting foot on campus?

It’s simple: Head to UConn’s admissions web site and read the student blogs.

The blogs are designed to give prospective students, their parents, and other audiences a dynamic snapshot of life at UConn. On the site, six bloggers write about their daily lives at the University.

Patricia Fazio, manager of marketing services, says, “Today’s high school students use the web to get much of their information about colleges, and the blogs add a personal dimension.”

The bloggers – three men and three women – were recommended by Maria Sedotti, coordinator of orientation services, for whom they served as leaders during the summer.

“Because they’re already knowledgeable about UConn and the type of information incoming students are looking for, they were a natural fit for blogging,” Fazio says.

“They went through an interview process and were selected because they’re representative of UConn’s students. They are a diverse group, with a variety of interests, and are actively engaged in the UConn community.”

Each blogger has his or her own page, including a profile and photograph. They are encouraged to write briefly, several times a week, about their lives at UConn.

They post under categories including: classes; class work; my friends; “funny stuff”; my job; and student life. Their entries are not previewed or filtered.

“We ask the bloggers not to sugarcoat their experiences,” Fazio says.

“We’ve asked them to blog because we want them to articulate what life for them at the University is really like.”

Those who read the blogs may post comments or ask questions. Blog writers are encouraged to respond to and engage their audience.

This is the second year blogs have been used to share information with the public. Last year, the bloggers selected were student workers at the Lodewick Visitors Center.

“Prospective students are able to access the web from around the world, and get an insider’s view of living and learning occurring at Storrs,” Fazio says.

“Each student has had a very different experience. Their voices complement the informational material that prospective students receive. While brochures and other promotional materials certainly are important, we think prospective students appreciate the honesty they get from a student who is already here.”