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Chat rooms create good outlet to recruit students

Miami University is developing new ways to reach prospective students through online innovations. The university's admission counselors have been conducting chats with prospective students via online chat rooms and plan on doing more. There were a variety of chat rooms with faculty, staff and students answering questions about academic programs, honors, financial aid, diversity and student life at Miami. Students could join chat rooms related to their interests and ask questions using instant messaging.

The editorial board of The Miami Student believes chat rooms are a great addition to Miami's recruitment efforts. In a generation accustomed to instant gratification, providing almost instantaneous answers to questions will encourage more students to ask questions.

There has been positive feedback about the online chat rooms from both prospective students and their parents, therefore, their use should be considered in other areas of a prospective students' transition to Miami. Following summer orientation, Summer Orientation Undergraduate Leaders (SOULs) can schedule chat rooms for their small groups. The SOULs can schedule time slots where their small group members can ask questions they may not have thought of until their drive home, or questions their parents would like answered. Some students attend the orientation session at more than one school because they are still deciding between two universities. By helping students stay in touch with other students and their SOULs after they leave campus, the students will feel more connected to the university. Although these orientation chat rooms may only influence a small number of students, admission numbers fell short this year, and this could help those extra few 100 students select Miami.

Resident Assistants (RAs) can also use chat rooms to help their corridor get to know each other before the school year starts. RAs can make themselves available to answer students' questions about life in a residence hall and introduce members of their corridors to themselves and each other.

The board believes by using more modern technology to reach students, in addition to the traditional methods, Miami can leave a stronger impact on prospective students and make them feel comfortable in Oxford before classes even begin.