Oh the joys of college applications. Hours of standardized tests, filling out mind-numbing paperwork, and the ominous duty of constructing a meticulous essay highlighting what makes YOU so special – and now YouTube?
Applicants for Tufts University’s Class of 2014 had the opportunity to submit a video as an application supplement. About 1,000 of the 15,000 applicants submitted a video, with some becoming viral online sensations.
My personal favorite is local North Carolinian Amelia Downs, with more than 6,000 views for her video combining “two of my favorite things: being a nerd and dancing,” in which she performs a bar graph, a scatter plot and a pie chart, among others.
I’ve never been a very tech savvy or artsy individual – when given the option to write a ten-page paper or construct a diorama, I always went for the paper. But not everyone is like that, just like not everyone has to ability to move a story along visually.
The problem that arises with this new option is whether students will have to channel their inner James Cameron, in addition to scoring good grades, being able to write and filling in the correct bubbles on a standardized test. Is this increased pressure and competition going to be too much for already overburdened 17-year-olds?
Roses, chocolates, candy hearts and…AP Style?
10,000 Words, a site that follows journalism and technology, managed to add Romance to the school-yard staples Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmatic with its second annual “Happy VDay: Valentines for Journalists” blog post. The site hilariously incorporates newsroom mainstays such as bylines, crime beats, quotes and word counts into sweet, bite-sized sentiments.
For more fun, check out more AP Style lovin’ on 10,000 Word’s Valentines Day post from last year.
During my time away from the agency, I volunteer with the Durham County, Special Olympics. Before this past season began, I made a deal with my soccer team. If they could go the entire season without arguing (too much) AND win a gold medal at the North Carolina Special Olympic State Games – they could shave my head.
You see, last year my team was set-up to win the gold, but their in-fighting cost them dearly. My strategy was to use this incentive when they began to argue. A quick reference to my long flowing locks would usually hush them up.
The state games were held November 7th & 8th. They did very well. Let’s just say, I now know the exact shape of my head. Every nook and every cranny!
Bravo to the Durham County Bulldogs. Champions of Division 3. They are a VERY Special Group of athletes. And their barber skills aren’t too shabby either.
You have to think through your communication carefully or else it could send a different message than the one you intended. This one, for example, makes me want to run out and buy a bottle of JD just as fast as I can.
New work has been added to the agency website for Cordura, Dixie and Precise Dog Food. It’s good stuff. Nice job to all who played a part in its creation. Check it out when you have a moment at www.merrellgroup.com
Well actually, as the N&O reports, it’s tiny organisms. But, it looks like something out of a b-rate horror flick. Let’s hope it stays out of our pipes.
We don’t usually like focus groups here at HM&P, but this one was different. While pitching a sock manufacturer, we got a little group together and asked a few questions. Very insightful.
It was a Civil War to end all Civil Wars. Foot soldiers from creative and interactive recently got together on the vacant floor of an office building and had at it with Nerf guns. Nobody broke an ankle (or fell through a window) so all in all it was a good day to die.
This is from last week when they were in the office. He (Sharvis) is a musician and she (Chantiel) sings, so they decided to do a little interactive jingle on a whim. Check it out.
