Ball State U. students’ blogs offer insights into campus life

Varied collegians deliver insider glimpses and interactions with applicants and their parents

Student testimonials aren’t new to college recruitment marketing. Inevitably, a smiling student is pictured, saying something like: “I’m really happy at my college! I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.”

Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., has taken student testimonials to a new, unvarnished level by enlisting student bloggers to entice prospective students and parents. Experience Ball State blogs provide an unfiltered look at the university for those curious about campus life there.

“We’re taking some of that gloss and polish off our marketing messages; students today are very savvy to marketing,” says Julie Tuttle, Ball State’s associate director of Web development. “The intent is to give this real-experience aspect to them: We’re not telling bloggers what to say, we’re not reviewing their posts; it’s really our students talking about what it’s like to be at Ball State.”